Jan 15
Float by Max Longin
2007 at 09.31 pm posted by Veerle Pieters
Sometimes I am surprised what is out there and one item that qualifies nicely into this category is a custom made bed called “Float”. I think it’s fair to call this bed design innovative.
Float my boat
In fact I only am aware of one other bed that raises an eyebrow or two. That bed is designed by a neighbor from Holland called Janjaap Ruijssenaars. It's a magnetic floating bed with enough magnets to keep 900 kilograms (1,984 pounds) floating in the air. The price will put you right down to earth since it costs a whooping 1.2 million euros ($1.53 million).
Float by Max Longin
The German designer Max Longin based the idea of this bed on a suspended bridge. He explained it as follows:
I sat in the middle of a suspension bridge and perceived its smooth movements—it seemed perfect for relaxation and sleeping.
Handcrafted and hand-finished
It's held in place by four stainless steel cords attached to a frame of wood rods connected by steel bows. That way the Float’s mattress platform rests free of the floor just like a suspension bridge. It is able to absorb shocks as well as a weight of 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs).
You can choose from the following hardwoods: ash, beech, cherry, elm, maple, oak or walnut.
Transportation case and patented connectors
Its components can be configured to become a compact transport case when the piece is dismantled. I always say, the perfection is in the details.
For the connection between the wooden rods and the steel bows simple and effective elements have been developed.
Since this is completely hand made the price is in the higher regions. It starts from 3,960 Euro/$6,200, included are taxes, freight, freight-insurance and fees. When you bought one I think it's safe to assume it will impress visitors. More info at the Max Longin website.
29served
1
This is tres cool. Comfortable as it may be, I don’t think I’d ever be able to get to sleep knowing I had spent that much on a bed!
2
They don’t say if the cancer due to the magnetic field is included in the price :)
3
I wonder if the magnetic field from the floating bed would do anything crazy.
It’d make you take your watch off before sleeping…
4
Not to be crass, but I can’t imagine owning the float bed would be very romantic, clanking around during anything performed on the bed besides motionless sleeping.
I haven’t seen the design in person, so maybe I’m missing something. Didn’t I hear something about good design having something to do with form following function? ;)
5
Oh wow! I wonder how long this will last before it starts to sink in the middle. I guess you’ll never really know until you wake up one morning and can’t get out of bed beacuse of the severe agony of backpain you have from sleeping in a sink. ;)
6
Oh my god, the Janjaap Ruijssenaars bed is awesome. The price is a weeeeee bit out of my range, though.
7
Hmm I dot think I’d like my bed to move..
Is it really that good to sleep in?
And how about… sex? ;D
8
I love the designs and creative thinking behind these beds, but really dont think I would want to sleep on one :)
9
I don’t think I appreciate that much of extravagance and luxuries. Ideal for those with shit loads of $$ in hand. A great products though. Very alluring.
10
So if you fall out of bed, do you just not hit the floor? *smirk* ...or is this more designed to keep one from hitting the ground when having a dream they’re falling? Sorry, couldn’t help myself. This is way too cool of a bed though. I’ll be dreaming of buying one.
11
With my luck, the thing would flip over, and I’d be crushed by both the magnetic force and the sheer weight of the thing.
12
Yeah, that is great for hiding under the bed from the boogeyman, until he pushes the bed….
and what if you have wood flooring versus metal supports?
13
Wow these designers are really bringing home furniture design to new heights! They’re breaking new grounds and making the impossible, well, possible ;)
I like the bed being floated off the floor with magnets! I guess he got that inspiration from Maglev trains. A great (and pricey) bed over there!
14
I find a magnetic bed rather hard to sleep on… I am not sure this million dollar bed is really that comfortable, it doesn’t look so on the picture…
But, I like the futurism of it. I almost hear that funny noice the gliders make in starwars ;)
15
What I think is a very nice element of this magnetic bed is that it removes the vertical elements from your room, so that you don’t have vertical lines going up and disturbing your balance, if you get what I mean. Nevertheless, I don’t think it looks very interesting other than for the purpose of spending money. This bed by Max Longin on the other hand looks really very nice and well-crafted. I guess I just like wood. ;)
16
For some reason, the very first image that popped into my head was that of Han Solo in his slab of carbonite, as Imperial soldiers push him along to Fett’s ship.
17
One more item on my wish list.
Veerle, I’ve only visited your site a few times but every new thing you have is very enlightening. Thanks for taking the time to share with us.
18
With magnets that powerful in the bed, I can’t imagine good things happening if you accidentally bring metal objects or sensitive electronics anywhere near it.
19
Very very cool :)
20
That bed is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Some rich guy’s going to get brain cancer, and you know if he could afford the bed he could afford a great lawyer!
21
I totally thought you meant the CSS selector with float..Mmm. Looks amazing though. I don’t think it’s _that_ expensive, sure it’s a lot of money but the bed looks like it’s worth all that cash.
22
That bed seems like a high tec death trap for anyone with a pacemaker. Interesting find in spite of the possible dangers.
23
Being pragamatic here… the only function that I can see for either bed would be to isolate the mattress from a vibrating floor.
They look pretty though and they might be fun for bed-time activity other than sleeping!
24
Just buy a good mattress, it’s cheaper. ;)
25
I don’t think this bed is very safe, because of all the magnetic fields.
26
Hmmm don’t we live on this big magnetic thingy ... called Earth? But seriously magnets are supposed to help with muscle and joint pain… right?
27
With a magnetic field strong enough to sustain over 1,00 lbs, I feel like you would have to keep any metal objects at least 10 feet away from the base. And you can kiss your metal teeth fillings good-bye. I wonder what the electricity consumption is for a bed like this. It probably isn’t very energy efficient. Then again, if you have an extra million and then some to pay for a bed, you can probably afford your utilities bill.
28
Wow what an amazing bed. I would be a little worried if i had braces or an old filling in my tooth, but terminator style worries aside its a great idea, I have often thought about using magnetic fields for hover cars - I need to get out more.
29
First: Great blog. :)
second: The float is freakin’ awesome!