Milan 2016: French design duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have created a customisable self-assembly sofa for Danish design brand Hay's 2016 range (+ movie).
The pair's Can sofa comes as two or three-seater versions in muted colours, and rests on a tubular steel framework that is put together at home.
The sides and back of the seat are formed from panels of material stretched across the supporting poles, and the cushions can be removed for the furniture to double as a sofa bed.
The seating range also includes matching armchairs, and has been designed to be "simple, relaxed and for everyone".
"The idea was to do something simple to buy, with different combinations of colour," Ronan Bouroullec told Dezeen at a launch event.
The designer said the product is a reaction to the rise of online furniture customisation services, such as Hem. "It was driven by internet situations where you can choose the textile, the structure, the size and receive it quite quickly," he said.
"The sofa comes flat-packed and is assembled at home as we believe people are keen to get things in a quick and simple way, it is better for all resources, it is less transportation, less volume, less stock, it is just much easier to do," Bouroullec added.
In a recent interview with Dezeen, Rolf Hay explained that the brand was developing new products with Chinese consumers in mind – focusing on flat-pack and compact furniture.
The Bouroullecs previously designed a collection of slatted outdoor furniture for Hay, and recently partnered with Danish brand Kvadrat to create the "Swiss watch" of roller blinds.
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Other furniture brands that have released flat-pack furniture include Artifox, which launched a bike rack and standing desk, and Greycork, which created a collection of quick-assembly pieces that it claimed were "a better alternative to Ikea".
Dutch furniture brand Moooi has also unveiled new pieces at Milan, including an upended sofa and origami bird-style lights, and Claesson Koivisto Rune revealed tables based on the forms of Minimalist sculpture.
The Bouroullec's Can sofa will be on show alongside the rest of Hay's 2016 collection at the La Pelota exhibition space in Brera.