Studio Jeppe Hein - Blue Modified Social Bench
Starting on my first day of work as a project architect at Studio Jeppe Hein in 2012, I was assigned a project to design thirteen benches for permanent installation in Copenhagen, Denmark. The city commissioned Studio Jeppe Hein to create a visual connection that draws visitors from the Kastrup metro station to the new Den Blå Planet aquarium. Jeppe Hein had already established his concept of the Modified Social Bench in previous projects, explaining that the "bench designs borrow their basic form from the ubiquitous park or garden bench, but are altered to various degrees to make the act of sitting a conscious physical endeavor."
With this concept in mind, we started with the above concept diagram, wanting the series of benches to appear as if they were a single continuous bench that undulated below and above ground, a playful form taunting visitors to interact while pulling them in the direction of the new aquarium.
Design Proposal
For me, the most important goal of the project, titled Blue Modified Social Bench, was to create public spaces that allow passersby to "sit down and relax, but also promote conversation between users and viewers, visitors and locals." I believe that is the most essential purpose of public art, to create an unexpected encounter that transports you into the present moment and encourages dialogue with fellow community members. The final designs are mapped out in the plan graphic below, as well as a couple renderings we included in our final proposal. Though some benches were shifted around and altered between the proposal and construction, the diagram gives you a good idea of how the designs connect visitors along the path from train station to aquarium.
Completed Installation
Finally in June of 2017 I was able to visit the completed benches in person and have some fun posing for the photos below. The best part of seeing this project come to life was watching the community interact with the benches (and each other) in clever and unexpected ways, beyond our design intentions.
Let me know below which is your favorite (or least favorite) bench!
