Foster 620 Bench

Overview

The Foster 620 Bench by Norman Foster is a modular bench system for sculptural seating, built from six upholstered units. The units are arranged as straight, narrow, wide, S-curve or hairpin-curve runs.

Construction

The structure is wood, and the seat and back are upholstered in cold cure foam in a sandwich construction. The base consists of beech blades painted black. An ingenious connection system joins the benches side panel to side panel or back to back.

Specifications

• Frame: wood
• Base: beech blades, painted black
• Upholstery: cold cure foam, sandwich construction

One question: how does furniture steer movement

Norman Foster developed the Foster 620 around two questions: how architecture can be accompanied by furniture, and how a piece of furniture can manage the flow of human movement. The bench is meant to bring people together in conversation and to offer a single place for moments of concentration. Its curved units give two views, one inward and one outward.

Six sections and blade-like legs

Every unit has a compact backrest and a generous seat area, and it rests on blade-like, almost invisible feet. Long decorative seams and gathered upholstery underline the design. The bench was used for the first time in London, in the European headquarters of the Bloomberg media group.