Outdoor Benches - Sculptural Benches for Outdoor Use

I started this exploration of contemporary outdoor benches when my indoor benches started to get too large for the average home.  The lure of the outside bench is the limitless scale and the possibility of public placement that the series can now reach towards.  The benches in this series differ from my other benches in two important ways.  The finish and underlying wood is calibrated towards surviving the the great outdoors.  The introduction of Cast Concrete is integral to my approach to the modern outdoor bench as it gives me a durable and maintenance free material.  I intend on introducing my first concrete only bench in the months to come.  Many of the benches in this series have been made for indoor use in modern homes.  The benches in this series can be made for you but note that no two will be the same.  My style allows for spontaneity in the composition so other versions will be about 85% similar but equally balanced compositions.
Bench #1 from Series #2
Sapele 17"H x 81"W x 21"D
Bench #1 was my first attempt at an indoor/outdoor bench.  My roots as a woodworker are apparent in the shifted stacked legs.  This bench is perfect for use on a patio or any other hard surface.  If the piece is to be used as pictured here at the Berkshire Botanical Garden it should be placed on the optional cast concrete pads.  They are part of the composition and solve the problem of wood to dirt contact.  This bench can be finished for indoor use.
Bench #2 from Series #2
Mahogany and Cast Concrete 33"H x 120"W x 26"D
Bench #2 is a massive expression of my attempt to incorporate cast concrete into my work in a integral way.  The bench no longer sits on concrete pads to solve the wood to dirt dilemma that is at the core of designing outdoor benches.  The legs are now made of concrete which allows for new movement and a new dialogue in my work.  This bench measures 10' and it can hold its own even in the massive scale of the Longhouse Reserve in East Hampton NY. LHR
Bench #3 from Series #2
Mahogany and Cast Concrete 17"H x 84"W x 22"D
Bench #3 is a versatile bench in that two people can easily move it.  The bench was designed for the outdoors but the combination of concrete and wood within a 6' bench make it perfect for the indoors too.  The seat has a pleasant angle that so many of my benches have.  The subtle angle towards the middle improves comfort and allows water to easily shed.  The cast legs compliment the form of the bench and do not get lost- even when placed on the grass.
Bench #4 from Series #2
Sapele and Cast Concrete 30"H x 117"W x 24"D
Bench #4 is the latest installment in the outdoor bench series known as Bench Series #2.  The introduction of stainless steel brackets has allowed for a new approach to attaching the back when compared to Bench #2 where the concrete legs served to hold the back.  The back now floats on the brackets and the concrete legs have come up to double as arm rests.  The sapele seat is comprised of three layers of wood that make for a dynamic and massive presence. This outdoor bench is designed to be placed outside and then left in place due to its weight.
Bench #5 from Series #2
Sapele and Cast Concrete 28"H x 72"W x 22"D
Bench #5 is the latest installment in the outdoor bench series.  The stainless bracket continues to evolve the presence that the benches in this series have.  In this case the brackets allow the seat back to mirror the length of the bench.  The Cast concrete legs are buried under that expanse of wood unlike the massive leg/arm rests of Bench #4.  The legs connect tot he casting in a new way for the series- they connect like the traditional woodworking joint the mortise and tenon.  This transition allows for the stretcher to add to the mass of the bench but in a different way than the layering that I employ in the other benches in the series.
Bench #6 from Series #2
Sapele and Cast Concrete 18"H x 72"W x 18"D
Bench #6 continues to evolve the leg to stretcher construction that was introduced in Bench #5.  This expression of the structural detail allows me to generate maximum volume without needing to search out massive pieces of wood.  The volume of the Sapele stretchers and seat is paired with stout concrete legs.  The legs have a relief detail that enlivens the contact with the ground.  It goes without saying that the bench is well suited to the outdoors but its sleek combination of materials allows it to enter the home with ease.   The final feature of note is the signature concave seat which makes it a pleasure to sit on. This bench was designed with pairs in mind making it perfect for dining seating. These are the outdoor benches for your outdoor dining table.
Bench #7 from Series #2
Sapele and Cast Concrete 18"H x 68"W x 17"D
Bench #7 represents a major moment in the development of the series.  The secondary material has become the primary.  As a result this bench removes the nominal maintenance that the wood benches in the series require.  The construction is clearly related to the structure of the other benches in the series.  Bench #6 is clearly its predecessor.  This bench is also well suited to being made in pairs as a means of completing outdoor dining areas and showing off the flexibility of my style.  The techniques that I have developed while working with cast concrete allow me to clearly demonstrate that this is a unique composition that was composed at one particular moment in time. The all concrete bench is a piece that i will revisit in the series. I would like to design another one that is a bit lighter so that it could be used as an outdoor bench that is more easily moved.
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