Benches

You can tell how healthy the soil is in a certain area by how many benches have sprouted across the plot. The width of the bench provides leeway for various groupings to occur, and is a horizontal bridge between two or more people. They fold up out of the surface presentation , and provide the potential for a real situation and deregulated interaction. It may be a humble one, but benches provide the opportunity for something to occur. They can trigger, stimulate or catalyse social movements within a community, if on a tiny scale at first. They allow participation, and provide a sense of belonging without making demands. They are generous objects, they support your body, and allow you to rest in circumstances that are often rapid. They give the opportunity for anyone wanting or needing to spend time outdoors. You can rest your weight onto them, they pull you toward a space, giving a sense of rooted connection to a neighbourhood. They provide safety through multiple perspective people watching, which develops an awareness of a broad range of behaviours and helps to develop a collective social tolerance. They provide visibility and are an open gesture to passers by, sitting as symbols of what it means for space to be shared.