This fancypants sofa bench is actually a rainwater collector

[xchrom]

http://grist.org/list/this-fancypants-sofa-bench-is-actually-a-rainwater-collector/

?w=470&h=265&crop=1

Normally, you don’t want to leave a piece of furniture that looks an upholstered 18th-century chaise out in the rain. But this bench has a secret power. Water doesn’t destroy it; in fact, it slurps up rain and traps the water inside. Fast-forward about three minutes into this video, and you’ll see what I mean:

http://vimeo.com/75598217

The bench, designed by Mars Architects, is meant to be a cheaper and smaller-scale — and comfier — way to harvest rainwater and create more water availability, FastCoExist writes. The studio’s put out a few in a Mumbai park to test out how well it works. In theory, the bench, with an additional aquifer buried in the ground beneath it, can hold 264 gallons.

[pipoman]

1. Out there...

seems that there would be a more efficient way to collect and store rain water...I know what would happen if you tried to put upholstered furniture in most US parks..that said it does show ingenuity..