BAY SYSTEM is a flexible seating system designed by Foster + Partners and Poltrona Frau. It is a modular kit-of-parts that can be easily reconfigured to suit different spatial layouts and waiting spaces, whether it be airports, stations or offices. BAY can be adapted to cater to the varying needs of people and offers a flexible and enduring seating solution that can adapt over time.
The system comprises of two main ranges – BAY Gate and BAY Lounge – that have been designed to offer different levels of ergonomic support and privacy.
The primary structure is common between the two systems, with twin central beams creating a simple support for a single or two rows of seats. The space between the two beams conceals space for cabling and provides space to integrate future technologies. Power sockets, induction charging for phones, personal screens and lighting fixtures can all be integrated in a plug-and-play manner, allowing for infinite flexibility.
The seats vary across the two ranges.
BAY Gate provides efficient, high-density seating for areas with short wait times, such as the boarding gates. It is made entirely of hard-wearing, recyclable materials, with an ergonomically moulded plastic seat and slim armrest.
BAY Lounge’s curved seating is based on in-depth studies to understand how people like to sit when they are unaccompanied or in small and large groups. Taking a tailored approach, the system offers a range of layouts with varying levels of comfort, enclosure and privacy. It features a wider cushioned seat and premium finishes for longer periods of rest and relaxation. Due to the versatility of its configuration, BAY Lounge is suitable not only for airports, but also for other public spaces such as campuses, offices, health clinics, hotel halls, malls, museums and meeting rooms, transforming the way people experience moments of pause.
The entire system is fully demountable, allowing components to be separated, reconfigured and replaced, extending the relevance and lifespan of the range. It can be stored compactly, enabling a high level of efficiency during logistics operations, saving space and reducing transportation costs and carbon emissions. Easy dismantling at the end-of-life stage facilitates recyclability of each material.
Its unlimited choice of layouts, broad palette of modular elements and materials, and ease of installation will make BAY SYSTEM a compelling choice for designers, specifiers and transport terminal operators around the world.
