A Leisurely Teacup Ride Powered By The Sun? Solar Bench ‘Spins Ever So Slowly’
Image by Ben Weinstein for ENESS, featured with permission
Casual walks in the park and surprise trips to theme parks—these are some of the best memories people have from their days growing up. ENESS, a multidisciplinary art and technology studio based in Australia, appears to have combined the best of the two with A Solar-Powered Bench That Spins Ever So Slowly.
The whimsical outdoor furniture, assuming the shape of 60s-style flower graphics, is just as its name suggests. It rotates ever so gently, with the powers of the sun propelling its seats. With the added joy of motion, users are invited to admire their surroundings from a new perspective, effectively giving them a chance to stop and smell the roses.
Image by Ben Weinstein for ENESS, featured with permission
The benches are built with solar panels, interacting with natural light in the most delightful ways. On especially sunny days, they get an extra boost and oscillate faster. The display winds down when there are more clouds in the sky.
From above, the colorful crop presents as a plot of flowers, spinning to soak in the sun’s goodness. The benches adopt a retro look and feel with influences from mid-century modern furniture. Recyclable, rotomolded Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) adds to their rusty appearance, while providing a preview of an environmentally-conscious future.
Image by Ben Weinstein for ENESS, featured with permission
Image by Ben Weinstein for ENESS, featured with permission
Envisaged for all ages, the Solar-Powered Bench That Spins Ever So Slowly creates sweet moments for little ones, whose feet dangle above the ground during the gentle ride, and grownups too, who are reminded to “re-plant” themselves in nature.
Image by Ben Weinstein for ENESS, featured with permission
The bench “offers a unique interactive experience in public space enabling gentle interactions between friends, family, and strangers,” expresses ENESS founder Nimrod Weis in a statement.
“By harvesting sunlight the benches move under their own steam—without intervention. This intention makes a statement about the future of public infrastructure and what energy sources are being used for light, movement, and animation.”
Image by Ben Weinstein for ENESS, featured with permission
The lovely public artwork made its debut at the National Gallery of Victoria during Melbourne Design Week.
Image by Ben Weinstein for ENESS, featured with permission
For more interesting installations like this one, head over to ENESS’s website and Instagram for a look at its other fun projects.
[via Yanko Design, Design Milk, ENESS, images by ENESS and featured with permission]
