Art & Culture
Are you sitting comfortably? Pews and Perches winners have now been installed in the Royal Docks!
The Royal Docks Team is delighted to announce the winning designs of the LFA Pews and Perches 2023 competition have been installed on Royal Docks land.
There are now four new and idiosyncratic public benches available for public use.
Building on the success of previous years, the competition organisers invites architecture and design students, recent graduates, and emerging practitioners to submit their imaginative bench proposals.
The Judges were looking for entries that best demonstrated the diversity of materials within the Royal Docks, and selected designs made from three of the most abundant materials found in the Docks; wood, brick, and metal. The designs are functional, but also remind us of the area's history – as well as this year’s theme.
Responding to this year's LFA theme of 'In Common,' designers were challenged to explore how we can create shared spaces in our city to make the most of what we have in common.
These pews and perches will remain in the Royal Docks for at least one year, providing unique seating areas to help residents and visitors to appreciate the relative peace and tranquility offered by the surrounding water.
The Pews and Perches competition forms part of the Royal Docks LFA program. As an LFA Destination, the Royal Docks will host a range of LFA events that seek to delve into the area's history. There will be a walking tour of the Royal Wharf, an augmented reality experience showcasing futuristic farming, a tasting experience of cinema snacks from the early 20th century, and much more.
LFA2023 events are part of 'At the Docks,' an exciting summer season of arts, culture, and events in the Royal Docks, which includes contemporary art installations, the UK's first zero-waste theatre venue, cutting-edge performances, international sporting events, three festivals, water-sports, live music, delicious food, Royal Docks Summer Splash, and too many fun experiences to list.
The winning Pews & Perches 2023 designs are:
Chit Chat Chair by Studio Groove
© Luke O’Donovan
Chit Chat Chair by Studio Groove
Resembling two barrels that sit together on the quayside, the Chit Chat Chair's curved form hugs its sitters and creates a moment of refuge within the Royal Victoria Dock. The bench's S-shape brings two users into an unusually intimate composition, with the aim of sparking spontaneous conversation and encouraging people to discover what they share in common.
Location: Floating Gardens, Royal Victoria
They were hard to narrow down, but we have selected 4 fantastic designs that champion diversity; both in terms of the designers and the designs themselves.
Daniel Bridge, Programme Director of the Royal Docks Team.
Together We Hold by Akmaral Khassen
© Luke O’Donovan
Together We Hold by Akmaral Khassen
Together We Hold celebrates women standing together in the face of violation against them and their bodies. Four figurative women form a joyful and fluid ensemble of bench ‘legs’ that support the bench structurally, as well as its sitter. The bench’s playful form and bright colours create a collective moment of joy in Lyle Park for passers-by to engage with.
Location: Lyle Park
Round the Neighbourhood by Nicolos Makatsaria and Jericho Cabalan (student team from UTC College)
© Luke O’Donovan
Round the Neighbourhood by Nicolos Makatsaria and Jericho Cabalan (student team from UTC College)
Round The Neighbourhood reuses materials from one of last year’s Pews & Perches benches to create an interactive seating arrangement with circularity at its core. One revolving central seat is surrounded by others of varying heights, sizes and colours that each represent the different lives that coexist in The Royal Docks. The bench invites its users to ‘go round the neighbourhood,’ bringing people together to share stories, exchange cultures and learn from each other.
Location: UTC College
FLOAT by Akasaki Vanhuyse
© Luke O’Donovan
FLOAT by Akasaki Vanhuyse
FLOAT is a round, faceted bench that takes inspiration from maritime objects and the nearby curved wharf. By cutting and layering deadstock bricks, the bench draws on the material as a symbol of the local area – a nod to the industrial brick buildings that surround the bench – and subverts material conventions by creating a round, soft shape that provides an interactive seating area and meeting spot for the public.
Location: Royal Albert Wharf
Daniel Bridge, Programme Director said:
“We were delighted by the excellent, innovative and ambitious proposals put forward by 40 applicants. They were hard to narrow down, but we have selected 4 fantastic designs that champion diversity; both in terms of the designers and the designs themselves.
“The judges were interested in designs that challenged the conventions of both construction and the materials used. Fittingly, we ended up with benches made from three of the most abundant materials in the Docks; wood, brick, and metal. Each with its own striking visual impact.
“The range of materials align with the theme of "in common" while reminding us of the area's history and location. For example, the wooden pew is placed on the wooden floor of the floating gardens in Royal Victoria Dock and represents the barrels that were unloaded from ships onto the dock edge.
“We would like to thank Andre Kong – a designer from last year’s competition – for mentoring the UTC students in this year’s competition.”
