The United Nations headquarters in New York City is, in a building, the very embodiment of international peace and security. And while diplomacy is typically on hand inside of the building, the plaza outside of the structure also extends the organization's ethos of world harmony. For the past few decades, this has manifested itself in public sculptures such as Non-Violence , a gun with its barrel tied in a knot placed next to the U.N. headquarters. Recently, however, there's a new sculpture on the plaza, and it comes courtesy of one of the most exciting architectural and design firms in the world, Snøhetta.

For its design, which has been dubbed The Best Weapon , the Norwegian firm deconstructed one of the most ubiquitous objects on the planet: a circle. Specifically, the sculpture incorporates the arc of a circle that meets the ground at its lowest point. This, in effect, forces any two parties sitting on the sculpture to naturally move closer to each other, thus sparking a conversation that might otherwise not happen—in other words, the cornerstone of diplomacy.

"We wanted to create an object with a universally relatable form that effectively communicates the project’s vision," says Marius Myking, director of product design at Snøhetta. "The circle as a symbol carries positive weight behind it as a symbol of eternity and fulfillment. The installation could also be read as the start of something—a part of a circle that needs to be closed by the people inhabiting it, through conversation and togetherness."

The sculpture is located next to Non-Violence , a gun with its barrel tied in a knot.

Located in the shadows of the U.N. building, the sculpture sits on a slightly elevated platform, and on this platform there's a quote from Nelson Mandela that reads, "The best weapon is to sit down and talk." It's a public work that, sure, pedestrians can walk past and ignore. But for others who take the time, it can provide an eye-opening experience. "We believe that architecture and design play an important role in society, as these disciplines have the ability to affect people in very real ways," continues Myking. "Whether physically or psychologically, our built environment and physical objects have the power to influence how people move around, how they connect to others, and ultimately what they see and learn from the world around them. Imagine the physical and psychological effects of building borders—walls, for instance. The Best Weapon , as a bench for dialogue and diplomacy, represents the opposite of this."

The sculpture includes a quote from Nelson Mandela that states, "The best weapon is to sit down and talk."

Architecture, through its innate ability to communicate simply by standing before us, can be used for political and social objectives. Snøhetta has proved this to be true in the most elegant of designs. The Best Weapon will remain outside of the U.N. headquarters through October 15. From there, it will be transferred to Oslo to its permanent location near the Oslo City Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually.