August 30th, 2013

The Imagination’s the Limit for Park Benches in New York City

Visitors to New York City will find all kinds of bench styles as designers are pushing the boundaries of what one would expect to find in a park.

There are chaise lounges for two, bar stools overlooking the river and hammocks, among various other designs. The city is reclaiming more of the waterfront and giving designers the go-ahead to create something truly unique.

One such design is in Riverside Park South where curvy lounges provide seating for weary travellers. They are made of fibreglass and, as a result, they don’t get too hot in the summer.

In another park, the bench seems to rise out of the stone paving. Visitors will most often find the designer seating in the newer parks. The older parks still feature traditional benches with designs based on the World Fairs from 1939 and 1964.

One location, that has a wide variety of bench designs, is Battery Park. People who pass by are invited to stop and try out the Adirondack chairs, hammocks and rocking chairs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/nyregion/with-new-park-benches-designers-find-room-to-stretch-their-imaginations.html?_r=0