When you bring together a group of internationally recognized designers to conceive unique seating for a park in Sweden, you don’t get benches — you get Superbenches. At the end of April, a special installation by the same name opened in Järfälla, outside of Stockholm, as part of a broader two-year urban development program, and features intriguing takes on the traditional park bench by 10 designers or design duos.
Participants were invited to upgrade existing benches or create entirely new designs for a site in Kvarnbacken Park with the potential of becoming permanent if selected by residents of the area.
Doing what they do best, the partners of Dutch studio Scholten & Baijings combined exploration of color palettes and gradients in their Colour Benches. Green hues transition into pinks, almost reminiscent of watermelons, on a minimalist slatted seat and single-plank back.
Cushy by Swedish designers Märta Hägglund and Sanna Gripner playfully borrows from typical upholstered seating to bring the comfort of one’s living room to the outdoors. Here, metal wire grids outline the forms of cushioned seating.
Core by London-based Philippe Malouin appears more like a monument with its scale and height. The designer drew inspiration from local topography and geology, selecting natural aggregates to apply to his concept that serves as an outdoor meeting place.
Max Lamb with his 101.6 OD 305 CLR bench
Other participating designers included Jonathan Olivares, Ifeanyi Oganwu, Leon Ransmeier, Luca Cipelletti, Max Lamb, Naihan Li and Soft Baroque.
Soft Baroque with their Spring Break bench
One of several initiatives of the urban development project, Kalejdohill, Superbenches is a temporary installation in which design and architecture animates the area and promotes dialogue with the locals. “Kalejdohill is a unique project that uses the park as a community incubator for a new, diverse neighborhood,” explains Felix Burrichter, the curator of Superbenches. “The Superbenches are an important part of this process. Users will be given a say: After a year, locals will be able to choose their favorite Superbenches for continued installation, setting an example of community engagement.”
Ifeanyi Oganwu with his Rotunda bench
Jonathan Olivares with his Aluminum Bench – Concrete Pétanque Terrain
Rendering of Leon Ransmeier’s Resting Assortment benches
Luca Cipelletti with his Primordial bench
Naihan Li’s Extrusion benches