Summary

These benches fight loneliness among elderly and empower them to get their own groceries again. The benches are located on a square which lies on the middle of a route from a group of elderly apartments to the supermarket. The benches facilitate a pleasant resting point for those who don't have enough energy to walk to the supermarket without resting. On top of this, the backrest of the benches can be layed flat, which turns the bench into a table which local farmers can use as a market stand. These markets allow the elderly to get their own fresh groceries and provide an opportunity for them to socialize. In this way, the benches both empower the elderly to retrieve some autonomy and fight social isolation. On top of this, it helps local food producers to gain some extra money and expand their clientele. The benches are optimized for elderly due to the arm rests, angle and height of the seats. The materials and construction of the benches make them especially suitable for public spaces where the weather and vandalism have to be taken into account. The design has been inspired by the nature-friendly environment in which the benches are placed. This can especially be found in the use of materials and fluent shapes of the metal elements.

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For more information about this project, click view essay (only Dutch). A presentation poster of the concept can be viewed via the view poster button (also only in Dutch). 

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This design project is specially dedicated to my grandmother.