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