Note Bench

Note Bench

Note Bench is an innovative piece of street furniture designed by Bülent Ünal that reimagines public seating as an interactive medium for social expression and urban communication. This distinctive bench, measuring 150 cm x 50 cm and positioned 45 cm above ground level, features a unique interactive surface composed of 189 rotating circular covers arranged in a 7x27 grid matrix. Constructed from weather-resistant stainless steel and finished with electrostatic paint, the bench incorporates a dual-color system where each rotating element displays different colors on opposite sides, enabling users to create temporary messages, patterns, or artistic expressions by manipulating these elements. The design represents a significant advancement in urban furniture by transforming a traditionally passive object into an engaging platform for public creativity and social interaction. The bench's innovative mechanism allows for spontaneous pattern creation, even through natural elements such as rainfall, while its practical design prevents water accumulation through the freely rotating covers. This fusion of functionality and interactive design earned the Bronze A' Design Award in the Street and City Furniture Design category in 2021, recognizing its contribution to enhancing urban spaces through innovative design. The bench addresses the often-overlooked potential of street furniture to serve as a medium for creative expression and community engagement, offering citizens a unique way to leave their temporary mark on the urban landscape while maintaining its primary function as a comfortable seating solution.

street furniture design, interactive urban elements, public space innovation, social engagement furniture, rotating display mechanism, creative seating solution

— Adam Dawson