Sound of Silence by michael hoppe from australia

Sound of Silence is a garden chair which augments the sitters perception of the world around them. It helps to perceive the dwindling sounds of nature with biomimicry. The headrest/ears are reminiscent of those of a bat or fennec fox, funnelling sound waves into the ears. It implies the simple gesture of cupping your hands over your ears to hear better. It is an analogue solution to better hearing, similar to an old fashioned ear trumpet.

At the same time the rocking chair stimulates the vestibular region of the inner ear to create an awareness of ones spatial orientation via the sense of balance and proprioception. Acceleration and deceleration.

Simple curves create a flowing form that relates to both biomorphic and automotive inspiration.

The headrest is moulded from carbon fibre so that it is light and strong and won't over balance the chair. It is adjustable to suit a range of people. The seat is constructed from a tubular steel frame covered in a variety of fabrics.