This specially designed seat was conceived by Foster & Partners and developed by the Figueras Design Centre. The model, created especially for The Sage in Gateshead, (Newcastle, United Kingdom), posed a major challenge in terms of acoustics and technology. The model's central pedestal played a key role when it came to fitting seating to the concave floor surface, and also became a component of the heating and cooling system, resulting in significant energy savings. Careful selection of materials and wood finishings contribute to the excellent acoustics of The Sage Gateshead, whose auditorium is ranked fourth in the world for its performance in this area.