Smoker, welcome?

Smoking, is a bad habit which must not be practiced, this is commonly known by everyone. However, when I'm doing internet surfing this afternoon, I found out an interesting bench (search for the original website by clicking on the photo), this bench is encouraging the habit of smoking! Why did I say so?

This bench is integrated with ash receptacle, at the both end side of bench. People may smoke when they are sitting on the bench. The question is, is the bench user-friendly? May be it is friendly to smokers, friendly in the sense of it provides a comfy spot for smokers to enjoy the slow effect of black and poison lung, but not to the non-smokers.

I don't know what is the intention of this kind of design, to promote smoking?? Or to provide place for smokers as they have the rights too? Well, I do admit the smokers have the right to smoke in public space (certain places but not all), but this is not a habit that should be encouraged and promoted. Is it necessary to provide a seat just for smokers?

Bench just for smokers

Note: all words in this blog are just my own opinion

look at this benches....

Interesting benches from all over the world, lot and lots, special and unique design of benches, that we should know about that. May creative and amazing designed benches attract people to use them but not vandalize them.


Here starts the journey...

Organic / steel powdercoated bench

Plexiglass Slat Wave Bench

Slat Wave Bench

Powdercoated aluminium Wave Bench

Stainless Steel & Aluminium Wave Benches

It looks like butterfly, doesn't it??

Obviously, it's a crocodile shape. It is a rustic pine crocodile bench.

Leaf bench and table set

Seesaw bench by Louise Campbell

Partly normal and partly spaghetti bench by Pablo Reinoso

It's a recycle item!! Newspaper made bench.

Anyway, you can make this, tree trunk bench

Another recycle item, biodegradable bench

Curve bench in park, Theodore Berry Park

Book or bench??


Park bench in Havana, Cuba

Otlanda bench

Duck bench, popular attraction for all ages

'Social' bench?

Any kinds of public facilities always get involve in public (community), this kind of relationship cannot be ignored, depends on how strong is the relation between the public facility and community.
Bench, as a public facility, its design does have effect on the interaction between people in public. Some of the benches are certainly proved to be very cosy and social bench if we sit round the right way. Public may chat easily among each others with more eye-contact by sitting face to face on bench.

The design of bench below may encourage the social interaction among public. It creates a communal space for the community, perfect for not only groups, but also for individuals. It does whatever you need, social interaction or private space.

Chit-chatting within group, private space for loners

How about the following bench design? It is a bunch of cool design bench in Japan and it is said to be social bench! May be it does its task as social bench, but is it comfortable and convenient for public to have a sit?

This is a bench which is functioned as an advertisement, rather than a seating. This is totally not encouraging social interaction, this is a one seat bench and not practical at all! What do you think, people may just go and capture a photo, but not utilize it. It's a waste of public space!

pity benches....

Vandalism is not a common crime in our country, it can happen to any kinds of public facilities - public telephone, rubbish bin, public toilet, bench, lamp post........any facilities for public used are always cannot escape from vandalism and graffiti. Here are the pity benches that were being spoil at Bukit Jalil Stadium.

Rubbish is all around the bench although the rubbish bin just few steps away

Wooden Bench or Stainless Steel Bench??

Such materials used to make bench are wood, stainless steel, iron, concrete, aluminum, plexiglass and others. After all, the most common material of bench is wood. During a talk given by my professor in class, he said, "never and never make a bench with stainless steel, if not, imagine how you sit on the hot bench under the sun!!" I think it's quite a good point.

Well, everyone should know stainless steel and iron are heat conductor, a good heat conductor. However, there are still quite a lot of benches are made up of these materials. Yes, may be they can be used for mild climate countries, but for sure not in Malaysia!! Imagine you sit on a bench in park that is exposed to sun, it's hot and may hurt your ass!!

Wooden bench

Concrete bench

Iron bench

Stainless steel bench

Note: Photos took from other sources in internet

Introduction of Bench

According to Wikipedia, BENCH is a piece of furniture, which mostly offers several persons seating.

Usually, bench is defined as the long seat for more than one person placed in a park, with or without a back. To define in my own way, bench is a functional public facility that facilitates people by providing seating to various kind of people. Bench can be placed not only in the park, but also along the pedestrian mall, roadside, or street. Thus, in some cases, bench is a kind of street furniture, especially in doing a site analysis. The existing benches in a site is always considered as an important element.

Here are some example of benches in Malaysia.

Benches placed in park, KLCC park.

Benches placed along the street, Penang road.