Patrick Jouin: Audio Lab

We think this piece, although older, is still timeless. French designer and former head of furniture design for Philippe Starck, Patrick Jouin has pushed boundaries in furniture design, often taking inspiration from nature by creating organic shapes in his collections such as his 2004 work Solids. His Audiolab, although originally conceived in 2001 and commissioned in 2003 by the Museum of Modern Art is boasts a similar organic feel. This media "pod" is a module designed to allow museum visitors to discover and listen to the work of sound artist. Audiolab provides a comfortable alcove for listeners to immerse themselves in sound and at approximately 33 feet in size, allows ample room for up to 4 visitors to stretch out and relax. The lab has been presented in Beaubourg, Marseille, Berlin, Barcelona, and Copenhagen. Although an older part of Jouin's designs, the Audio Lab is still noteworthy and leaves us asking, "Will the US ever get a taste of this sense-stimulating, museum loungers dream?"