THE PERSPECTIVE BENCH
2021
ALBERT PARK, AUCKLAND CBD
The Perspective Bench was a project designed to reimagine the way we approach the concept of ‘sitting,’ and what we think about when we take a moment to simply sit and reflect. Located in Albert Park, Auckland CBD, the site of this project was situated within the South African War memorial, opposite the flagpole. Nearby is a statue erected by the members of the N.Z. Battery R.A. and two life-sized statues of cannons on either side of the site, facing out into the city.
The Perspective Bench was to be considered a continuation of the South African War memorial, as something the users of this park space can interact with. The bench is designed to speak to the historical weight of the war memorial and emotionally engage the viewer/user, immersing themselves within the historical significance of this space.
The seat area on the bench is crafted using a traditional South-African upholstery technique made from riempies (strips of raw hide), used to signify this piece of history. The bench is crafted deliberately with two separate seats, for two separate people. The position of the seats is offset, giving the user the option to look forward or face backwards, encouraging retrospective outlook on the South African war.
Details of The Perspective Bench:
Grooves cut into the plywood for the leather strips to sit flush with the surface of the bench. The simplicity of the structure represents the favour of practicality over elaborateness during wartime conditions.