The Move a Little Bit Further Bench Explores Relationship Dynamics Through Sliding Aluminium Plates

FDT Bureau

Garza Studio, based in Mexico, recently introduced a distinctive aluminium bench for the Collectible design fair in New York City. The bench, titled Move a Little Bit Further, features two movable seating plates that glide over a bed of steel bearing balls. This innovative design allows two people seated on the bench to adjust their proximity to each other as the aluminium plates slide across the ball-bearing surface. Know more about it on FURNITURE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (FDT).

The bench’s design includes an inset filled with bearing balls, which occupies most of the bench’s seating area, bordered by tight ledges to keep the balls secure. While the ball bearings do not cover the entire seating surface, their distribution ensures smooth and even movement of the seats in response to the occupants' shifting positions. The minimalist construction showcases polished surfaces and is secured by four steel fasteners attaching the seats to the bench legs. According to Founder Leonardo Garza the bench reflects the fluctuations in human relationships, inspired by his personal experience with a recent breakup. He intended the piece to represent the dynamic nature of human connections, where individuals can move closer or further apart, occasionally even colliding.

The design represents his attempt to channel his emotions into furniture design rather than traditional art. The result is a bench where couples can adjust their distance, embodying the changes in closeness experienced during various phases of relationships. Over time, he anticipates the bench will develop an organic patina from fingerprints and scratches, adding character. He envisions the bench as a fitting addition to living rooms or entryways, though its design has also drawn praise suggesting it could belong in a museum. Produced in collaboration with a metal shop in Mexico City, the bench measures just under 6ft in length (1.8m) and draws conceptual inspiration from Nina Farkache’s Come a Little Bit Closer bench for Droog, which features similar sliding plates on stationary marbles.

Image credit: Noldo