T.J Morrison

Centering Seat

Centering Seat is a sound-dampening seating space designed to help users connect with the present moment when in a public setting. Upon placing oneself inside the seat, the user is met with noticeably attenuated sound, and an increased awareness of the present inside this contained environment.

The goal of this chair is to help one bring their own presence and awareness to the current moment, to relieve building stress and to center one’s awareness in public and semi-public settings.

In high-tension, high-traffic public or professional settings, it’s not uncommon for one’s attention to be pulled away from the here and now, in any direction; past, future and any parallel or perpendicular imaginary reality in between. Centering Seat is designed to be a haven for the body and mind, a small oasis in places of stress and transition, allowing for a moment of clarity and mindfulness.

Center’s construction uses open-cell acoustic foam and felt to absorb and reduce incoming sound, reducing the outside stimuli that reach the user. This mindful moment can be achieved in any busy public space, and research shows it can be a source of mental and physical grounding, relieving stress and allowing one to refocus their mind.