Swing Benches

Commissioned in 2022 by NE1 Business Improvement District, these swing benches were designed to enhance the public realm with seating that is both playful and architectural. Often sitting alongside our other interventions for NE1 - such as the Play Pavilion and Dichroic Maze - the benches contribute to a growing family of interactive, sculptural elements across the city.

The design centres on a powder-coated aluminium panel, cut with custom perforations that integrate NE1’s branding, then folded to create a seat that’s both robust and refined. These seats are suspended from a steel frame, with Millboard decking beneath to soften the base and define the footprint. The contrast between metal and composite wood creates a balance of texture and tone.

A polycarbonate canopy with dichroic film crowns each bench, casting shifting colours and reflections depending on the light and time of day. This lends a dynamic, ever-changing quality to the benches, inviting people not only to rest, but to look up and engage with the space above them.

Like our other pieces for NE1, these benches are built to last, encourage interaction, and enrich the everyday experience of the city. Whether encountered alone or as part of the wider family of public realm work, they bring a sense of lightness, identity, and delight to the streetscape.