‘We are thrilled with the design Christian came up with for the benches.’

‘As part of the exhibitions we run in our side galleries we need to have humidifiers running at all times. These are not visually appealing, especially in a gallery setting. The benches now house the humidifiers still allowing adequate air flow but, at the same time, help making them look less out of place in the gallery setting’.

Ben Rowe - Facilities Manager and Academician, RWA

‘As the funders of the gallery benches, we're delighted with them.’

‘They're practical and much-used, but just as importantly the beautifully crafted design fits well with the aesthetics of the RWA's Grade II* listed building.’

Andrew Nixon - Chair, Friends of the RWA

Project details

Client: Royal West of England Academy

Brief: To design and make benches that incorporated a cabinet to house the gallery humidifiers. Money was then raised by the Friends of the RWA to commission a further two benches for the gallery.

Key project points:

+ the seating complies with accessibility guidelines;

+ the humidifier cabinets needed to be open to the environment but still contained;

+ incorporate storage for information about the art works;

+ fixed budget;

+ sustainable, managed European oak.