The Lift-Bit sofa is nothing short of magical. Designed by Carlo Ratti Associati and Opendot, and premiered at the Milan Design Week this year, it looks like an unsuspecting sofa, but has a vastly better user experience than any sofa you’ll see. Just hover your hand above the cushion and the sofa height adjusts, moving up and down, based on where you move your hand. The sofa comes as a single yet modular unit. Pair multiple pieces together and you have yourself a completely customizable 3D playground that also serves as comfortable seating!
‘Lift-Bit draws on the potential of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to transform our interior landscape, giving form to an endlessly reconfigurable environment,’ says Carlo Ratti. Underneath the upholstery, sits an array of sensors, distributed ingeniously, to make the sofa units hover upwards or downwards just by waving your hand over the fabric.
Individual units of the Lift-Bit can be used as seats with height-adjustment, but things get interesting when multiple units are paired together in a honeycomb fashion… allowing users to turn the Lift-Bit into a bed, sofa, or lounging chair… or just allow children to immerse themselves in experimenting with this highly interactive furniture!
Designers: Carlo Ratti Associati & Opendot
