DETAILS / HONOR

Entry Name: Take a Seat!, Omaha
Firm: BVH Architects
Owner: City of Omaha

The concept for this bench design comes from a desire to combine technology and art. Plate steel is a durable material, and with the process of computer laser-cutting, it can be cut into any shape and inscribed with any pattern or image. Inspired by a simple cardboard box, a single piece of steel is laser cut to the desired shape and then bent into a seat with a backrest. Alone, this seat is not big enough for a single person. However, when copied and displaced several times, the combined pieces become a seating surface for multiple persons. Two sections of the bench are raised to become an armrest and to deter potential skateboarders.

Jury Comments: The exploration and application of contemporary fabrication methods facilitated the development of functional ornament in a thoughtful and useful manner. The modularity of the system implies infinite possibilities/assemblies making it relevant in any setting.