Special large Round Bench on Place du Rhône in Geneva

From the summer of 2016, the city of Geneva can claim a new landmark: the largest round bench in Switzerland is set to be opened to the public. The bench is the result of a successful collaboration between BURRI public elements and Atelier Descombes Rampini SA, following an invitation to tender by the city of Geneva. As part of the overhaul of Place du Rhône, traffic was diverted and the square was declared a pedestrian area.

The project was an ambitious process: over 1400 different types of slat were used for the bench, and the more than fifty individual brackets were sized using 3D laser technology. The wood is local steam bent ash from the workshops of 3R, and the frame is constructed using square steel tubing, welded into an arched form and galvanized. The gentle sloping of the bank provides continuously varying seat heights, meaning suitable seating comfort for passers-by of all dimensions.