With the H2Ottoman, Jeff Harrison’s goal was to match form with function and balance elegance with environmental conscientiousness.

The CCO of One Twenty Three West (123W) says the vision for the piece of outdoor furniture, which doubles as a rainwater reservoir, is to “remove the friction between intention and action when it comes to eco-friendly behaviour.”

Capable of storing up to 20 gallons of water, the H2Ottoman’s design accounts for water pressure, weight and weather conditions. Its louvered structure was engineered to support body weight and evoke the visual of a falling raindrop, Harrison says.

With droughts ever more frequent and the cost of living on the rise, 123W is positioning the H2Ottoman as a stealth-sustainability solution suited for patios, balconies and gardens alike.

“What began as a structural necessity ultimately became a defining design feature,” Harrison tells strategy. “The idea behind this project was to reimagine water collection through the lens of design, by integrating it seamlessly into something people already use and want, like patio furniture.”

“We knew from the beginning that for the H2Ottoman to truly make an impact, it couldn’t look like a traditional sustainability product,” Scot Keith, CEO and founder at 123W, tells strategy. “Many eco-products tend to wear their ‘green’ credentials on their sleeve, but that often creates a barrier to adoption, especially for people who care about aesthetics or live in space-limited urban environments.”

Keith says the agency has been laying the groundwork for a potential deal with a partner that boasts a distribution network of more than 180 garden centres. He declined to name the company while negotiations are continuing

For now, pre-orders for the product can be made through a Kickstarter page on the H2Ottoman website.

“Launching the H2Ottoman on Kickstarter was very much a strategic extension of its design philosophy,” Keith says. “Kickstarter attracts early adopters and design-conscious buyers who appreciate innovation, quality and purpose-driven products, exactly the audience we aimed to reach.”