Massproductions new launch during Stockholm Design Week 2020 is the lightweight and stackable outdoor bench Roadie. The inspiration for the design come from welded steel crowd control barriers and aluminium lighting riggings, which are assembled by ”roadies” at concert events.
In the spring of 2019, Stockholm City presented a design competition with the aim of designing new seating furniture for one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites, Skogskyrkogården in Stockholm, by architects Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz. The site has been a regularly visited excursion destination and a source of inspiration for Massproduction’s founders Magnus Elebäck and Chris Martin, who promptly registered for the competition. But rejection came quickly, Massproductions were not approved to participate and were never allowed to present an idea to the jury. “We were incredibly disappointed we had an idea we believed in. We decided to respond by implementing the idea ourselves” says Chris Martin, designer of Roadie.
Just like Massproductions popular sofa Dandy, Roadies’ curved form becomes a sophisticated contrast to the raw metal surface, whilst being beautiful to furnish with, alone or in groups, as it creates new patterns of movement in an outdoor, or indoor environment.