Stéphanie Marin — the founder of French furniture brand Smarin, designs a public seating installation that draws inspiration from sandbag barricades that were traditionally used as defense mechanisms in war zones. The cushions are made to mimic these and each is made out of a grey linen fabric. Due to the nature of the design, the soft seating can be rearranged based on need and space limitations.
The project is named 'La Barricade' and is situated in the Ballhaus in Kassel. The purpose of the military-style public seating installation is to offer a space for the audience to sit during the screening of the film Le Fort des Fous during Documenta 14 in Germany. Stéphanie Marin's designs subtly reference the violent subject matter of the movie.
Military-Style Public Seating Installations
Smarin Recalls War Zones for Aesthetic Development
Trend Themes
1. Military-style Public Seating - Designing public seating installations inspired by sandbag barricades creates an opportunity to introduce rugged aesthetics in urban spaces.
2. Flexible and Rearrangeable Seating - Creating cushions that can be easily rearranged based on need and space limitations provides an opportunity to enhance flexibility and adaptability in seating design.
3. Innovative Fabric Mimicry - Developing fabrics that mimic the look and feel of traditional defense mechanisms like sandbags opens up possibilities for unique and visually striking designs in various industries.
Industry Implications
1. Urban Design - Integrating military-style public seating installations in urban spaces revolutionizes the concept of public seating and adds character to urban landscapes.
2. Film and Entertainment - Adopting flexible and rearrangeable seating in film screenings and event spaces improves audience comfort and offers customizable seating arrangements to enhance viewing experiences.
3. Textile and Fabric Production - Exploring innovative fabric mimicry techniques inspired by traditional defense mechanisms like sandbags presents opportunities to introduce unique and captivating textile designs in the industry.