The LOOP infinity bench is a sculptural furniture piece crafted from layered birch plywood. Its continuous, looped form integrates seat and structure into a single sweeping gesture. Designed for visual and spatial fluidity, the bench offers dynamic profiles from every angle, making it ideal for open-plan or gallery settings. The exposed grain adds tactile richness and material depth. Measuring 1700 mm in length, it maintains a compact yet impactful presence. Supporting multiple seating orientations such as side-sitting, leaning, or reclining, the bench invites interaction and flexibility, making it both a functional and architectural object.
The design of the LOOP infinity bench began as a study in surface with a focus on creating a sculptural form that disengages from conventional markers of a bench, such as backrests, arm supports or legs. The user first perceives it as a sculpture, and then begins to consider its function or support system. This reversal of design logic allowed the piece to evolve as an open-ended system of interaction and interpretation.
LOOP infinity bench’s ribbon like form was conceived as a flow of curves and voids that move through space without intersecting, giving the illusion of a floating backrest.
The core technical intent was to push the limits of how can we achieve a self- supporting form with layered birch plywood without visible joints, breaks, or separations.
LOOP is born of a rare collaboration between digital precision and craftsmanship. While digital fabrication ensures efficiency, handcrafting offers individuality and emotional resonance. CNC-milled components provide technical accuracy, while the wood artisan refines each piece, sculpting it down to its final silhouette. This process transcends the limitations of either method, empowering artisans to embrace advanced geometries while enhancing their livelihoods through evolving craftsmanship.
The goal was to approach the bench typology from a fresh perspective, to create a piece that looks and feels different for each person who interacts with it. A child may crawl through it, an adult might lean or perch; every encounter is unique. With no defined front or back, the bench can be approached and used from any side, encouraging spontaneous circulation.
This functional art invites multiple uses, interpretations, and placements across diverse contexts with a moment of pause and discovery. It is a celebration of the imperfections of hand and raw beauty of the material grains where the variations add depth and texture to the continuous form. It is as playful as it is iconic, as intuitive as it is deliberate. It is a reflection of andblack’s ongoing pursuit to push the boundaries of birch plywood furniture through precision, fluidity, and material honesty.
The LOOP series challenges the perception of Indian craft that is often viewed internationally through the lens of intricate detailing and figurative motifs. Products that are beautiful, but narrowly framed. The series offers a fresh global expression that is undeniably contemporary, yet deeply rooted in the intuition of Indian craftsmanship. In today’s design discourse, the LOOP infinity bench stands as more than a piece of furniture; it initiates a new conversation on how tradition and innovation can converge to shape meaningful spatial experiences.
