the 3 sum by bart van meerbeek from belgium

We designed a piece of furniture that transports an intimate environment between friends to an open, public stage. Basically it is a whole consisting of three “chairs” that are only functional when joined and used together. Every user has his or her own chair, the ‘sit’-function is only possible when 3 “chairs” interlace, thus creating an environment where people are obliged to meet in order to be able to feel at ease. Once you are interlaced and able to sit, the 3 separate chairs will now function as one, enabling every person to feel the slightest movement of the other two, thus creating a second stage in meeting people.

The ‘3-sum’ is a social enhancer, it brings people together in a friendly and playful way, where connections can be both physical (the connecting of the chairs or the movement of the chair when everybody is seated) and mentally (you have to be willing to share a very intimate space with people, possibly complete strangers).

Available in an infinite range of colours to suit everybody’s taste in life.