The project was conceptualised as a submission for the “Pews & Perches” competition, where the brief asked to design a public bench to be installed in the realm of the Royal Docks. Designers were asked to design based on the theme “act; climate change” where the designers were encouraged to explore sustainable materials and innovative reuse methods.
Concept
Resilience of the Royal Docks
The Royal Docks holds immense historical significance for London. Once a bustling hub for goods and people, it endured a world war, economic shifts, and the changing shipping industry, yet continuously reinvented itself into a thriving area.
Inspired by its resilience, our design pays homage to a pivotal moment in its history—the 1917 explosion, London’s largest. From the ashes of that event, the docks were reborn, embodying a spirit of strength and adaptation that we aim to capture.
Tubey
Tubey is a bench inspired by the vivid history of the docks and our desire to make a statement regarding the current state of the world. This is shown through the material selection, the silhouette and the construction technique.
Material
Re-uses EPAL Palletes:
The pallets are discarded and available in plenty. This is treated with the traditional Japanese method of Shou sugi ban, which makes the wood water resistant, and fire retardant and prevents infestation by bugs.
The Tubes:
The Tubes:
The tubes will be sourced in junkyards. In a scenario where these can’t be sourced from the junkyards, they will be formed by bending sheet metal.
Construction
The bench is designed to be flatpackable. This gives us the freedom to easily dismantle it and move it to a new spot in the future.
