FC Home & Deco and Wunderman Thompson Lima present a design innovation that adapts to increasing rates of divorce and flat-sharing among young people. This new modular range of furniture divides in two, encouraging friendlier splitting of belongings between partners and friends.
Philosophy
To make this separation easier for young people, FC home & deco, a Fontenla company, and Wunderman Thompson Lima opted for a design solution adapted not to spaces, but to people. ‘The Friendly Break Up Collection’ is a line of furniture that breaks apart when people break-up. The furniture in the collection is named after celebrity breakups, including the BradIston Sofa, GarnAfleck rug, DemiLlis coffee table, CruisMan bookcase, KanyDashian table, and the LuisCarey painting, to name a few. Every item is the product of ingenious modular design that means it can be used either as one large or as two smaller units – making the range highly flexible, whether or not you are moving out. A whole room can be instantly redesigned: by splitting the BradIston couch into a pair of elegant armchairs, or dividing the KanyDashian table to instantly set up two separate workspaces. Considerable effort from an interdisciplinary team of architects, industrial designers, decorators and interior designers was needed to ensure each piece has functionality and personality, both together and apart. For people splitting up or moving out, the hope is to give everyone an equal share, so that each can keep their favourite part: “You like the left? Good, I like the right.” Following the launch, new items will be added to the collection following a social media campaign that will invite members of the public to suggest further names. The collection is available for people in Argentina to buy on the FC Home & Deco website and in store at their flagship outlet in Buenos Aires. To make things even easier for those cohabiting with friends, customers can use two separate payment methods to pay for their items, so they don’t have to worry about who owes who at the end of the tenancy. All in all, it offers a flexible solution for our increasingly flexible lifestyles – and a helping hand during those painful moments in life.
Problem
The pandemic has accelerated already existing changes in how we are living – as well as who with, and for how long. Many countries have seen huge rises in divorce rates since 2020, including an incredible 35% increase in Argentina. Meanwhile, growing housing costs are forcing young people to share homes, unable to afford their own place. As they move out, many of these partners and friends need to divide their belongings – which often causes even more conflict.