This striking bespoke bench is a collaboration between artist blacksmith and sculptor Andrew Rowe and light artist Simon Fenoulhet.

Cardiff County Council commissioned the two artists to create the sculptural seating as part of the improvement of Delta Street - a key priority within the Cowbridge Road East Regeneration Strategy. The scheme reclaimed an area of highway to create new pedestrian public space at the heart of the busy shopping area of Canton. As well as designing a bespoke bench the artists also collaborated with the scheme engineer and planning officer on the overall shape of the space and location of trees. This was not a straightforward task since there are a number of services below the site including a gas pipe.

The bench itself is shaped like a small and a large ‘C’ interlocking. This shape is designed to allow groups of people to sit together in a more sociable way than is possible with a standard bench design. The two ‘C’ shapes are cantilevered from the central point and seem to hover over the pavement. At night, hidden lighting within the bench gives it a new lease of life, enhancing its shape and creating an attractive ambience for the night-time economy of Cowbridge Road East.

Delta Street is now a natural focal point along Cowbridge Road East and a popular resting place for shoppers and those on their lunch break!

press coverage:
http://www.welshicons.org.uk/news/cardiff/delta-street-regeneration/

The project is also featured on page 69 of http://issuu.com/hidesignpublish/docs/public_landscape_street_furniture_...