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The Banco Bench Hopes to Enhance Your Experience With Nature

03.01.23 | By
The Banco Bench Hopes to Enhance Your Experience With Nature

Skagerak by Fritz Hansen’s new Banco Bench was originally designed by Hugo Passos as a one-off exhibition piece in 2019. After the event, Passos worked with Skagerak to develop a lighter version of the outdoor bench that would be more suitable for production. It’s now available in two versions – a double-sided or single-sided bench.

The premise behind Passos’ furniture designs is enhancing the experience in nature, with a backrest that’s organically contoured for comfort. “I wanted to make it as pleasant as possible for people to enjoy nature. The sun moves so the double bench can be used on either side, and while seeking to design a backrest for comfort I also tried to achieve beauty,” he said. “The end result is somehow reminiscent of a Japanese daruma or edamame bean, bringing a sort of unexpected softness and dynamism to the strong straight lines of the long teak planks of the seat.”

simple wooden bench in the outdoors

“When I first saw it in the exhibition I was really struck by its unique typology with the organic shape of the backrest and the way it can be used double-sided. But there’s also something familiar with the classic style of the two long planks of the seat,” says Skagerak design manager Ditte Buus Nielsen. “Our history is built on benches, and this fits into our family and storyline with its teak and functionality, but also offers new thoughts and expression.”

Sold as a flat-pack, the Banco Bench is manufactured in teak, a wood that’s warm in tone when new and silvery grey as it ages.

simple wooden double-sided bench in the outdoors

simple wooden double-sided bench in the outdoors

four simple wooden double-sided benches in the outdoors

simple wooden bench in the outdoors

detail of a simple double-sided wooden bench

detail of a simple wooden bench

detail of a simple wooden bench

simple wooden bench in the outdoors

detail of a simple wooden bench

simple wooden bench on a white background

simple double-sided wooden bench on a white background

To learn more about the Banco Bench, visit skagerak.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.