It's taking a post modern architecture concept and applying it to just what the home owner can reasonably change.
The idea is that the building shouldn't hide or obscure what the materials it is made from. You'll see it in buildings with deliberate exposed pipes, exposed concrete, unfinished wood.
It's about honesty and function.
The problem is to make this work they needed to go further or not so far. A polished concrete countertop, industrial tiles and industrial appliances could make this work better. Or using plywood rather than OBS.
I think that might be a UK thing. I saw it and immediately assumed it was England, because I've never seen a washing machine in the kitchen, except in British television.
Holy shit! I've been on that street.
They've used the same type of chip board to make other stuff in the house too. I'm guessing the landlord was able to source it for free and fitted it themselves. Hope it's rated for interior use as others here have pointed out.
I don't know if it's different now, but when I studies cabinetmaking we were told that that shit outgasses urea formaldehyde for years. I wouldn't want that in my home.
There are different versions for interior and exterior use, using different types of glue. At least OSB/0 and OSB/1 can be used for internal applications and are considered safe. Not that I would trust a landlord doing this to select the correct board type, especially since the safe variants might have some issues with the humidity exposure in a kitchen.
But there still are many cases for using OSB indoors, e.g. behind drywall to give it some more strength (instead of more expensive plywood). Wouldn't want to leave it exposed in a kitchen though, it'll get messy if it's not properly treated, and in the picture it doesn't seem to be.
As someone who ADORES bare chipboard, and glazed brick tiles, and whose favourite colour is green... I ought to love this, but jfc it is nightmarishly bad.