{Architect}, a designer who has won numerous awards for his concepts of urban spaces, recently made new urban furniture for Plaza Ayuntamiento. The distinctive benches stand in front of the city hall of the Spanish city of Logroño. The project was created at the invitation of the Concentrico International Festival of Architecture and Design, which focuses on finding new functions and meanings in public spaces.
Benches appeared in the square in front of the city hall designed by Rafael Moneo
Photo: Josema Cutillas © Pawel Grobelny
Pawel Grobelny's project is an intervention in the existing square and the city hall building, which the author tried to fit into the existing context of the surroundings. Minimalist benches ten meters in length were attached and matched to the decorative columns of the city hall building. The building was designed in the 1970s by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo - winner of the Pritzker and Mies van de Rohe awards, among others. Therefore, working with such a context was an additional challenge for the Polish designer.
The benches replicate the rhythm of the city hall columns
Photo: Josema Cutillas © Pawel Grobelny
I visited Logroño even before the pandemic, so the project slowly matured for the site. I have an extraordinary appreciation for Rafael Moneo's realizations - the opportunity to work with his building and plaza was an interesting but challenging experience for me. The space of this plaza and the building are very connected, especially through the rhythms and intuitiveness of moving through the plaza and the building. The only thing I missed in this place was more opportunity to rest and squat for a while. I also couldn't disturb the building, which is under conservation care, in any way, so the benches on one side surround the columns while not touching them," says Pawel Grobelny.
The design is minimalist
Photo: Josema Cutillas © Pawel Grobelny
temporary installation
The benches that were created are a temporary installation made for the Concentrico Architecture and Design Festival. Designed with four collapsible parts, they are very easily assembled and disassembled in the square. Polak's design action was very delicate - for conservation reasons among others, without the possibility of introducing vegetation or a canopy.
benches, drawing
© Pawel Grobelny
In addition, the furniture was painted the same color as the columns, so as to fit even more strongly into the context of the City Hall square. And what about the strong Spanish sun? As the author assures - the benches in this part of the square function mainly in the afternoons and evenings, when the shade has already added to the square.
The installation fits in with its surroundings
Photo: Josema Cutillas © Pawel Grobelny
After the festival, City Hall kept the benches and will install them during cultural events or film screenings held in the square. The entire installation takes a few hours, so it proved to be an attractive solution for Logroño City Hall, which organizes various events in the Plaza de Ayuntamiento, and my benches will assist these events, the Polish designer adds.
