# Seesaw-Like Playful Benches Martin Binder Designs the Balance Bench with Oak Slats By Amy Duong | Published 2025-06-21 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balance-bench References: [bindermartin](http://www.bindermartin.com/)  Berlin-based artist Martin Binder has just created the Balance Bench located in Einbeck, Germany. It is crafted to function like a seesaw. The construction relies on oak slats on a galvanised steel frame. It is meant to carefully rock back and forth like a [playful seesaw](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-problem-halved). Due to this, it needs users to work together to find a common balance. Binder explained more about the Balance Bench, "The idea behind the Balance Bench was to create an object in public space which [fosters communication](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buddy-bench1) instead of creating barriers. I observed that [seating in public spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/leftover-bench) is not meant to provoke interaction but rather to create distance. 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." Image Credit: Spieker Fotografie ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 6% | Activity: 5% | Freshness: 43% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Collaborative Urban Furniture:** Furniture designed to encourage interaction and teamwork is reshaping public spaces through pieces like seesaw-like benches that invite shared experiences. - **Interactive Public Installations:** Playful installations serve to break the monotony of urban environments, engaging communities by inviting participation and collaboration. - **Functional Art in Public Spaces:** Blending art with utility, functional sculptures like the Balance Bench challenge traditional views on public seating by integrating playfulness with everyday use. - **Playful Seating Design:** Designs that incorporate elements of play into traditional seating can transform how we engage with space and with one another in public areas. ### Where This Applies - **Urban Planning and Design:** Innovative seating solutions that foster communal interaction have the potential to redefine public space usage and promote community-building in urban environments. - **Furniture Manufacturing:** The industry is witnessing a shift towards producing interactive furniture that blends aesthetic appeal with functionality, opening new avenues for design creativity. - **Art and Public Installation:** Artists and designers are finding new opportunities to influence social dynamics by integrating engaging art forms with practical utilities in shared environments. - **Recreation and Outdoor Activities:** Enhancements in outdoor public seating options provide unique ways for people to interact and engage, blurring the lines between leisure and utility. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Wooden Rocking Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rocking-bench.md) - [Dual-Seated Plate Aluminum Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/move-a-little-bit-further.md) - [Sculptural Gravity Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/floating-bench.md) - [Opposing Rocking Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/x-bench.md) - [Bold Motion Bench Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wheelbench-krllermller-edition.md) - [Dual Sculpture Seating Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/immaterial-0001.md) - [Muscle Loss-Combating Playground Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playground-bench.md) - [Kinetic Musical Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/musical-bench.md) - [Bike-Friendly Outdoor Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pinajarro-bench.md)