Bronze Street Furniture Design · 2021

Fold Bench

by Chris Tsui

A' Design Award 2021 Bronze Winner in Street Furniture Design
Awarded April 15, 2021
CLIENT: Whiteground
Estimated Number of Design Views: 20,976
Verification code F379AA573B · Verify this award

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About Fold Bench

Fold is a public bench that also serves as a table. The design is formed from a piece of plywood folded back on itself at an angle. The fold creates a second surface that can be used as a table, without added extensions or appendages. The form remains simple and sturdy for use in public spaces. The plywood is steamed and shaped in a custom built mold, and bronze is used with it. The overall dimensions are 1480 mm in length, 1010 mm in width and 730 mm in height.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: What if a bench is also a table?
Fold is an interpretation to the question above, to fulfil multiple functions yet retain a simplistic and sturdy form to be used in the public. This piece of furniture is not much more than a piece of plywood folded back on itself at an angle. Yet, this simple manipulation creates another surface that can be used as a table, without sacrificing its unanimous form with extensions or appendages.
Dimensions & Packaging: Overall dimensions: 1480(L) x 1010(W) x 730(H)mm
Tags: plywood, bending, bench, curvature
Production Technology: Plywood and Bronze
Steam the plywood and put into a custom build mold for bending
Design Challenge: The most difficult part is bending the plywood in a specific angle which is also comfortable for the purpose of sitting with a table. and the placement of the legs are the second challenge to maintain the sturdiness while to balance with the proportions and ratio with the plywood.
Project Duration: The project staretd in early 2019 and completed in production in late 2019.
Operation Flow: Feel free to explore your uses and gestures with this table+bench.
Inspiration: Public bench design always strives for functionality but neglected the aesthetics, and also mostly only caters for the purpose of sitting. What if you are holding a coffee or you are looking for a place to sit down with your book or laptop? You don’t have a choice but to go to the café or restaurants. It’s time to think out of the box and create a piece of furniture that aesthetically addresses the convenience and flexibility of how a public bench can do for the people.
Image Credits: Image#1: ©Lit Ma & Hong Kong Design Centre
Image#3: ©XU Liang Leon
Image#4: ©XU Liang Leon
Image#5: ©XU Liang Leon