A bench may seem ordinary: heavy, immobile and often so familiar that it goes unnoticed. And yet it plays a part in the way the city is seen and used. It invites people to pause, meet someone, quickly eat a sandwich, play music or simply enjoy what surrounds it.
This walk places urban benches at the centre of attention. Where are they installed, what views do they offer, and what stories or historical layers are connected to their location? Are they there for practical reasons, as a deliberate intervention in public space, or simply by chance? Who uses them, and what encounters take shape around them?
From almost indestructible Belle Époque benches to contemporary designs from design competitions, every bench says something about the city. Some are very comfortable, others much less so. Some are hidden away in a quiet park, others stand in the middle of the bustle. Some even attract their own recurring public.