‘The Balance Bench’, a kinetic public installation situated in the Garden of Generations in Einbeck, Germany, Berlin-based is using communal seating to social interaction. Created by Berlin-based designer, Martin Binder, the bench is made from oak slats and supported by a single central cylinder, requiring the user to find a person to share the seat with to provide a counter balance. The "Balance Bench" only operates when two or more individuals co-operate to mutually distribute their weight, making it challenging to use by one individual. Artistically conceived as a metaphor for democratic space, the bench eliminates hierarchy—there is no fixed center, no dominant user, and no passive observer.Use of the bench requires coordination, communication, and mutual awareness, transforming the simple act of sitting
The bench only becomes functional through shared effort, requiring individuals to become aware of their influence and impact within the community. It has been designed a simple seating experience into a social negotiation shaped by those around you. Binder’s installation not only provides a functional seating option but also promotes a sense mutual cooperation. By integrating principles of cooperation and mutual awareness into its design, the Balance Bench exemplifies how public art can influence societal values.
The bench accommodates up to eight people along its 4.5-meter length, making it a focal point for within the garden as well as a catalyst for community connection and conversation.
