BENKERT BÄNKE: New perspectives on urban furniture

Street furniture often receives less attention than it actually deserves. This is because they make the difference between favorite places and average places. The company BENKERT BÄNKE shows what an alternative to the classic wooden bench looks like.

When you think of a typical park bench, you probably imagine a somewhat rickety, weathered wooden bench where you can enjoy the sun in peace. But what about contemporary, weather-resistant and environmentally friendly benches? Does a tree have to die for every bench? The company BENKERT BÄNKE is convinced: “A bench is not worth a tree!” This is why the company from Altershausen near Königsberg in Lower Franconia does not use wood. Instead, it uses stainless steel or a combination of stainless steel and Thermo-PET to create sustainable favorite places with modern benches.

Street furniture plays an important role for landscape architects and planners. Benches, for example, fulfill certain functions as places to linger, enjoy, sit, wait, observe and communicate, but also provide design identity, set accents and mark boundaries. Street furniture from BENKERT BÄNKE shows how the materiality of a place can be enhanced: Modern stainless steel benches allow planners and landscape architects to create an attractive environment. The contemporary design of the benches and the variety of colors, shapes and configuration options ensure that places are enhanced. Whether in the park, on the street, along paths, in front of main entrances, in squares or at sports facilities, benches are an integral part of the city.

It is important that benches are robust, weather-resistant and easy to maintain. Ideally, they are unattractive to sprayers, such as the Siardo model from BENKERT BÄNKE with its round tubular seat. The company’s benches also offer great seating comfort. They therefore enhance squares and green spaces in the city, making them a favorite place to linger.

At the same time, BENKERT BÄNKE shows that seating in the city does not always have to be made of wood. Although wood is a renewable and therefore sustainable raw material that can be used sensibly in many areas, it should be used with care and a sense of responsibility. After all, trees also have important functions such as air purification and supporting biodiversity. This is why companies like BENKERT BÄNKE are now carefully considering whether it is worth cutting down a tree.

This is because wooden furniture in the city is exposed to the weather. This creates challenges such as rapid wear and tear and intensive maintenance, which in turn leads to an unnecessary burden on the city and subsequent costs. Our regional wood in particular is not hard and robust enough to survive for many decades in the form of a bench in urban spaces. This is why tropical wood is often used for benches, which is harder but also has to travel long distances before it becomes a bench in Germany. In addition, it is important to stop the deforestation of the rainforests.

This is why BENKERT BÄNKE has opted for alternative materials for city benches: 100 percent recyclable stainless steel and 100 percent recyclable Thermo-PET protect the environment and at the same time meet the requirements of urban spaces. They are made from recycled materials and are fully recyclable. As a CO2-neutral, sustainable and climate-positive company, BENKERT BÄNKE shows how it is possible to make the urban environment truly sustainable.

Modern benches for the city must be durable and low-maintenance. They should also contribute to the responsible use of natural resources and be functional and aesthetically pleasing. Landscape architects select the shape and size of BENKERT benches so that they fit in with their surroundings. In a square or around a tree, for example, round benches are an option, while circular or semi-circular benches are also popular in school playgrounds or gardens.

With their focus on design, weather-resistant materials and easily replaceable components, BENKERT BÄNKE benches are an example of modern, durable street furniture. They are virtually indestructible and therefore also make economic sense. The diverse range of designs guarantees that there is always a suitable bench for different purposes, urban spaces and green areas. For example, the PET covers on the timeless Comfony model can be changed so that the bench can be given a new color if desired. However, it does not have to be completely replaced even after years of use.

The benches from BENKERT BÄNKE have already won several design awards. The Chalidor 700 and 800 series and the Linesca modular bench series have won the DNA Paris Design Award, the EPDA European Product Design Award, the German Design Award, the Good Design Award, the IDA, the LICC and the SIT Award. BENKERT BÄNKE offers matching bicycle parking stations, bollards and litter garbage cans for the bench models to create a uniform image in urban design and landscape planning.

The company has been manufacturing high-quality outdoor furniture for over three decades. Even the company site, designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, reflects innovation and a symbiosis of nature and architecture. BENKERT BÄNKE aims to harmonize aesthetics and functionality while treating nature responsibly. The entire production process takes place in-house, with innovative technology and craftsmanship intertwined. The result is a sustainable product that proves that no tree has to fall to make good benches.