Max Lipsey, an American designer based in The Netherlands, has created the ‘Woven Bench’, a modern bench made from colorful strips.

Max explains, “I particularly wanted to explore the paradox of soft yet strong qualities that result from weaving. The idea of ‘soft strength’ at first seems contradictory or silly. But I’m reminded of the saying, ‘The wind does not break a tree that bends’: simple wisdom, and a more effective approach than reliance on strength alone.”

Having already worked with steel in the past, Max was attracted to the idea of adding a ‘soft’ quality to the strength of steel. He used 2mm thick steel strips, which by themselves can be flimsy, but when woven together, they create a spring-like tension, allowing the bench to support weight. Each different strip of metal has been covered in a different color of the Kvadrat Canvas textile, adding to the feeling of softness. A solid powder-coated steel base provides a structure for the woven pieces to attach to, helping to create the finished shape.