This sofa by New Zealand design graduate Marvin Reber can be taken apart and reassembled to form play apparatus for children (+ slideshow).
The five individual components that make up Marvin Reber's Inclusion Couch are light enough to be easily moved, turned over or stacked up, allowing children to arrange them how they wish.
"Primarily, the main function is to be a couch," said Reber. "The secondary function allows the individual components to be rearranged into a playful set of playground-like structures. The inherent couch-like aesthetics remain yet develop sculptural qualities."
Two green L-shaped sections of upholstered foam positioned at each end form both the arms and legs of the sofa.
A 30-millimetre plank of ash-veener plywood rests on the lower horizontal portions of the legs, supported by a powder-coated steel stand in the centre.
To create a comfortable seat, a removable blue mattress is placed on top of the plank. The body weight of the sitters anchors the components in place.
These elements are arranged against a rounded backrest to complete the design, secured together with pegs that act as tenons slotted into the mortises cut into the base.
When taken apart, the different components offer various options for playtime.
The wooden base can act as a see-saw, or be propped at an angle using an upturned leg and used as a slide. The legs also create miniature seats for children.
"This is not a children's couch, nor is it purely for adults," said the designer. "It is designed to complement and satisfy the different needs that children and adults have without compromising on aesthetics."
Reber created the sofa for his graduation project while studying a Bachelor of Product and Furniture Design at Auckland's Unitec Institute of Technology.