Created by designer Joe Paar, PlaySetting is a collection of furniture pieces that integrate movement.
Composed of Carousel, Roller Sofa and Swing Set, the pieces were created as part of Paar’s MFA thesis project at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan.
Each piece is an interpretation of traditional furniture that takes inspiration from playground structures and gym equipment.
“I borrowed aesthetic cues from familiar active contexts and created a feeling somewhere between furniture, playground, and gym equipment,” said Paar.
“The objects were designed to activate the body and encourage social behaviours,” added Paar. “By defying the typical typology of furniture, the ambiguity of these objects encourages playful participation in both personal and social interactions.”
Designed to tip and rotate on a central axis, the Carousel is a white oak, white ash and plywood platform with a steel bar for stabilization.
“This rocking and whirling in all directions allows the participant to engage their entire body through balance,” explained Paar. “Carousel asks how we should lounge after being sedentary. The current ideal of our furniture is monopolized by the idea of comfort, but the benefit of activity is just as important.”
Made from two upholstered cylinders that spin, the Roller Sofa is inspired by the playground log roller.
“When two individuals share the platform a conflict arises when the anticipated rotation is met with resistance as each adjust their postures,” explained the designer. “Participants must synchronize their movements to achieve the action they desire, forcing social interaction and negotiation. This connection becomes a new line of communication where body language is magnified and play becomes an important aspect of this interaction. It first feels like a game but as each member becomes more involved it forms a more fluid relationship and creates an opportunity to connect.”
The Swing Seat is composed of a leather saddle and a steel tube that rocks. “Swing Seat challenges the instinct to seek relaxation by planting ourselves in a lounge chair when we feel fatigued,” said the desinger. “Instead, it recalls the same purpose as recess for a child – to stimulate the mind through the body.”
