Interactive Rocking Chair: A Fun Seat That Brings Motion to Your Sphere
In the heart of Logroño, Spain, the Concéntrico International Festival of Architecture and Design has become home to an intriguing piece of art that stands out for its functionality and whimsy - the Dancing Bench. Designed by the innovative studio Soft Baroque, this kinetic bench is more than just a seat; it's a communal playground that encourages interaction and a fresh perspective on public space.
At first glance, the Dancing Bench might seem like a simple park bench, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a series of interconnected seats, each mounted on a subtle, undulating mechanism. The bench's movement is carefully calibrated, creating a soothing, rocking motion that is akin to a rocking chair or hammock.
The Dancing Bench's kinetic capability is activated by the weight of a person sitting on it. When one person moves, everyone on the bench feels it, fostering a shared experience. This communal choreography delights visitors and passersby, making the simple act of sitting on the bench a collaborative performance.
Soft Baroque's design of the Dancing Bench blends the digital and the physical, creating a seamless blend of technology and artistry. The bench is crafted from robust yet elegant materials, ensuring its durability while maintaining its aesthetic appeal.
The Dancing Bench is part of Soft Baroque's "dancing furniture" series, which aims to show how ordinary objects can become extraordinary through sensory experiences and experimental mechanics. While the Dancing Bench is the most documented piece in this series, other specific "dancing furniture" pieces beyond the Dancing Bench have not been explicitly named or described in the available information.
The Dancing Bench's mechanism serves as a thoughtful commentary on public space and social interaction. It encourages users to be aware of others and to anticipate and respond to their movements, fostering a sense of community and shared experience. This interactive piece invites people to engage, connect, and experience public space in a new way, making it an exciting addition to the Concéntrico exhibition.
[1] Soft Baroque. (n.d.). Dancing Bench. Retrieved from https://www.softbaroque.com/projects/dancing-bench [2] Concéntrico. (2020). Dancing Bench by Soft Baroque. Retrieved from https://concentrico.es/en/programme/dancing-bench-by-soft-baroque/ [3] Dezeen. (2020). Dancing Bench by Soft Baroque at Concéntrico festival in Logroño. Retrieved from https://www.dezeen.com/2020/07/24/dancing-bench-by-soft-baroque-at-conce-ntrico-festival-in-logro-o/
- The Concéntrico International Festival of Architecture and Design, in Logroño, Spain, expanded its collection of art pieces to include the Dancing Bench by Soft Baroque, an innovative and interactive kinetic bench that blends lifestyle with home-and-garden design, adding a touch of whimsy to public events.
- Imagining the fusion of their "dancing furniture" series with events, one might envision the potential of Soft Baroque designs to transform ordinary gatherings into sensory experiences, creating a unique lifestyle where ordinary objects become extraordinary through experimental mechanics, thereby enriching community events and stimulating communal interaction.
