Benches for Prague

Bridging Prague’s Past and Future through the traditional sculpting fused with modern design.

Brief

In 2016 Prague’s centre alone had countless types of benches, many of them little more than carriers for advertising. The competition brief described street furniture as the furniture of the city’s living room and set out to remove the visual smog of too many unrelated pieces.

The brief asked for a bench with a backrest and one without, as part of a set that also covered bins and a bicycle stand. Each had to stand on its own as well as with the other pieces, grow out of Prague’s character and history, and be dignified enough for important squares yet right for ordinary ones, in streets, squares and parks mostly in the centre and the wider inner city.

The open international competition ran anonymously in two rounds. The first judged the concept, safety and respect for ergonomics. The three finalists then built full-scale prototypes in the proposed materials, and the city tested them outdoors for three months, assessing comfort, resistance to damage, maintenance and the cost of serial production.

Design

The set stands between history and modernity. The cast parts carry a strong organic continuity, and the functional elements are cut from tube.

The structure draws on the Czechoslovak steel benches with their strut frame. The collection was designed either two or four legs, so the design can fit into the historical center and modern parts of the city.

The ergonomics follow principles defined already in the last century. Seat and backrest follow the silhouette of the spine, which is why the bench stays comfortable longer than a moment.

Red Dot Award 2019 Best of the Best

Park Table