Palm Bench

What drew us towards this design was the current situation our global community finds itself in. The Covid-19 pandemic has confined people across the world to their homes. As we are compelled to turn inwards, we unconsciously find ourselves looking evermore outwards to nature. I believe a bench incorporating elements of nature and set outdoors, or alternatively indoors but overlooking outdoor space – whether the sky or a tree or two – would go a long way during these challenging times.

The piece itself is inspired by features of the date palm tree. The bench colors are monochrome, resembling the tree’s color palette. In terms of materiality, the backrest is made from dried palm leaves. Dried leaves are woven around a metal frame that structures the backrest. The other material used is the mangaby stone, a type of coral limestone specific to the Hijaz region of Saudi Arabia. The reason behind choosing this stone, other than the fact that it carries cultural significance in the Hijaz region, is that it is a textured porous material. Likewise, a defining feature of palm trees is that every trunk is uniquely textured. The stone is used in the two bases and the seat plank, with the two base stones alluding to the sturdiness and shape of the palm tree’s trunk. Uniquely, the palm bench has two detached backrests. It’s somewhat of a hybrid between a bench and a chair, giving the user a cozier, more individualized experience.