Berlin-based artist Martin Binder has installed the Balance Bench in Einbeck, Germany, which acts like a seesaw.
Made of oak slats on a galvanised steel frame, the bench was designed to rock back and forth like a seesaw, requiring users to work together to find the equilibrium.
“The idea behind the Balance Bench was to create an object in public space which fosters communication instead of creating barriers”.
“I observed that seating in public spaces is not meant to provoke interaction but rather to create distance,” Binder told Dezeen.
To ensure long-term durability, the bench was made from rust-resistant galvanised steel and locally sourced oak wood.
“The slats are 4.5 metres long and very thick, so they don’t curve under weather exposure and fulfil a static function,” said Binder.
“The wood is framed by steel but peeks out by a few millimetres so that on hot or cold days there is no direct contact between the legs, back and the metal.”
Binder developed the concept during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he was invited to design a temporary installation for an art festival and wanted to reflect the idea of social distancing.
“I wanted to create a usable sculpture which embodied social distancing, which resulted in the balance bench: a public bench which only works with a certain distance between two people and yet only works when at least two people use it together,” Binder explained.
To accommodate various weights, the bench features a ball-bearing-like mechanism with a brake disc and rubber buffers, allowing for smooth, intuitive movement.
For safety, Binder designed a mechanism that stops the bench from touching the ground whilst keeping it visibly appealing.
Other benches featured on Dezeen included limestone sculptural benches created by Najla El Zein and a collection of steel ring-shaped benches by Thom Fougere.
The photography is by Spieker Fotografie.
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