Shelving unit with chair and table  

.
". . .will inevitably develop a rather ugly little crack. . ."
Not if the joint was *fully* glued, and the piece was designed to avoid flexing the joint in question. I judge that there are enough joints in this piece that it should be able to resist such bending, even without a back panel.
A better question would be: What supports the chair back ? There'd have to be metal in *that* joint, in my experience.
Quite an over-wrought discussion, isn't it ? What could possibly be wrong, as a concept, with slightly tilting a shelf to keep its contents upright without the use of an accessory like a bookend ? Not that this is a new idea -- we've seen any number of slanted shelves in the past. No one will convince me that a perfectly vertical book is perfectly safe, while one standing at an 85 or a 95 degree angle risks somehow falling apart.
I mean, if you don't like the look of something, that's fine. Spurious justification for an opinion is just silly. I like the bookshelf as functional sculpture -- surely not a unique concept ?
Personally, I would have liked to see the chair seat angled too, for comfort, even if the little table beneath it had a level top. This would show that the designer placed function first -- and wouldn't the contrasting angles have "spoken to" the rest of the design ?
It has to be accepted, with a "conceptual" piece like this, that the concept is what drives it. You probably don't buy this because you're short one chair in your home. . .right ?
There -- I feel better. Thanks for your indulgence !

I gotta disagree, I don't thi...
I gotta disagree, I don't think its an overwrought discussion at all, if this piece is featured as 'good design' in an internationally districbuted magazine than its ripe for critisicm and the comments above all strike me as quite valid and considered.
The join I especially refered to was in the chair, at the join under the knee, a downward load forcing that front leg out will cause problems to the finish. There are no visible fittings, it looks totally smooth to me, so either there is an internal fitting and the pieecs have been finsih seperately (which it certainly doesn't look like in the image)or its ply and has been glued and screwed or box joined, from my experience cracks always develop in a pianted finsih over a join, especially when it is subjected to stress.
I still think its a 3 model.
sorry about the spelling, in a rush!

Yes. . .
the chair is a disaster, structurally -- at least. And I can see that damning the whole affair. But it bothers me a bit to see all of design being held to a single inflexible standard -- and design aficianados taking themselves and their subject so dreadfully seriously !
But then, next week it will be my turn to rip something questionable to shreds, I suppose -- so, carry on. . .

do you think its inflexible t...
do you think its inflexible to judge angled shelves in the negative? I can't begin to imagine how much good design there has been over the years featuring "ho-hum" horizontal shelves, its like music, it might seem there are only so many ways the notes can go together and obey the rules but the variation is still immense.
I don't think the angled or curved shelf is entirely bad, I'm sure a subtle angle could be worthwhile in some situations but if you look closely at this image the sizes of the openings and the acuteness of some of the angles further reduce any claim it might have to improved function, if the designer is even bothering to think that far.
And why does it sit directly on the floor? Kickboards are good for a reason, won't that gloss finish look nice after a few knocks from the vacuum cleaner?

Well,
you're just having so much fun kicking this thing to death, I'm certainly not going to take away your fun !
"And why does it sit directly on the floor? Kickboards are good for a reason, won't that . . ."
My mother would say, "if only you could hear yourself. . ."
My only reply is that I find pleasure in looking at the pattern of the openings. I do wish that it was just a shelf, and not a "clever" art piece. But it is what it is. IKEA has lots of inexpensive and practical bookshelves.

its a total piece of shite!...
its a total piece of shite!
Compare it to some Perriand shelves or those Duncan Gowdy cabinets or Dieter Rams for Vitsoe..the list is endless, I'll certainly praise something if its worth it and always do but this is so full of flaws I am enjoying kicking the crap out it, if only it would fall down on the strength of the abuse.
Have a close look at the openings, its not just the fact that the shelves are on an angle but that most of the openings are of a totally inconvenient shape for storing much of anything, I count 5 I could use. Attempt to stack anything in most of those shelves and you'd be gauranteeing yourself a short trip to an assylum.
Designers who want to sculpt should do so, not walk a tightrope and fall off.

I made an inferior similar...
I made an inferior similar art piece in 10th grade shop (sans the chair thingamajiggy slot) without even trying. I'm not bashing this, just making an observation: my regard for tools, like the level and the tape measure, was not very great. And speaking of height, the case here seems on the way too tall/dangerous side. On the bright side, the angular shelves could inspire a new creation, like angular books, which in turn would give the world a whole new collecting category, as in hey I just picked up a rare angled First edition of The Grapes of Wrath.

I will have to agree, there...
I will have to agree, there is no defending this piece.
I wouldn't say I am taking myself too seriously. This forum is just a favorite past time. I am doing this for pleasure.