Operating like the organized system of shopping carts found at most grocery stores and large retail outlets, the Share chairs by Thomas Bernstrand are mobile public chairs that encourage users to keep spaces organized by chaining the chairs back up whenever they're not used.
The Share chairs are attached to a immovable base and connected to each other via a coin-operated chain-locking mechanism. When a user inserts a coin, a chair is released from the chain in front of it, and the coin is returned to the user when he or she puts the chair back.
Bernstrand was inspired by parks in Paris where, rather than fixed benches, there were chairs people could move freely but had to be moved and collected in order to allow the park maintenance to cut the grass. As the designer states, "Share chairs provide more flexibility than fixed seating, as they can be positioned to face the sun, enjoy the shade, or take advantage of the view."
What's Driving This Trend
- Mobile Public Seating
- Opportunity for innovative seating solutions that provide flexibility and encourage organization in public spaces.
- Coin-operated Chairs
- Disruptive innovation opportunity in the coin-operated seating market, allowing for controlled usage and incentivizing users to return chairs.
- Flexible Public Seating
- Potential for designing chairs that offer versatility and adjustability to suit different preferences and environments.
Who This Affects Most
- Urban Furniture
- Opportunity for companies specializing in urban furniture to create innovative seating solutions for public spaces.
- Coin-operated Technology
- Potential for businesses focused on coin-operated technology to create new products and services for the market, such as the coin-operated chain-locking mechanism.
- Outdoor Recreation
- Opportunity for outdoor recreation industry to integrate flexible seating options in parks, gardens, and other public spaces to enhance user experience.
