Round the Neighbourhood is part of the fourth edition of the Pews and Perches competition, organised by London Festival of Architecture 2023; each offering a unique perspective and interpretation of the LFA theme ‘In Common.’ We caught up with our two learners Jericho and Nicolos to share their story behind their winning Bench... 

How do you convey your perspective on sustainability within the Docks through your design? 
Nicolos: We decided that the main materials that were going to be used were OSB and the metallic pipes from the previous winner's bench, Cautionary Benchmark and give it a new life in Round the neighbourhood. The OSB was picked as it is sustainable, being made of wood scrap, minimising wastage and delivering a unique surface texture. This along with reusing the scaffolding helped us convey our message to reuse, recycle and reduce carbon footprint.  

How does the project respond to the context of its location? 
Jericho: In order for our design to reflect the vibrancy and uniqueness of our community, we selected specific colours for the seats of the bench to mirror the surrounding architecture elements, for example the blue seats links to the factories across the water and the yellow matches the structural pillars of our college. By making these subtle design decisions, we hope to achieve a sense of cohesiveness and reveal the genius loci of the location. 

What is the message you want to inform the members of public who will be using/experiencing your bench? 
Nicolos: The most important message for "Round the Neighbourhood" is bringing people together to share stories, exchange cultures and learn about each other's lives and appreciate what we have in common. The seats are designed to be of different heights, sizes and colours representing people from different walks of life who will enjoy our bench. 

What were the challenges you faced in the production of the bench? 
Jericho: The bench will be on display for at least one year and a high volume of people will be using it so naturally, public safety is at the top of our priority. Design is an iterative process and we had to change the design numerous time to make sure it is robust and fit for purpose.  

What was your highlight for this project? 
Nicolos: We were invited to the LFA’s Opening Party where we met other bench winners and shared our experience of the process. We also got the opportunity to meet people from the architecture industry and have many meaningful conversations. I will say, however, that the most fulfilling thing is to see actual members of public enjoying our bench!  

'Jericho and Nicolos have taken on a challenging project whist balancing their academic progress. For the past six months, I have witnessed their personal growth as designers, their tenacious work ethic as well as problem-solving skills. They should be proud of their achievements,' Andrew, Teacher of Built Environment. 

Photos by Luke O'Donovan