Published: 17 July 2024
Industrial design students' project presented in Vienna!
Author: Magdalena Szczuka
We are happy to announce that an urban furniture project by Agata Germain, Liza Nalewajko, Witold Holeksa and Daniel Haddock is now presented in the capital of Austria. The bench "FALBA" celebrates Polish-Austrian friendship and marks the 50th anniversary of the Polish Institute in Vienna.
Polish design in the heart of Austria
The bench "FALBA", created by students of the School of Form, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Polish Institute in Vienna. Designed with accessibility in mind, it invites people to relax, connect and reflect on their surroundings. "FALBA" represents Polish design in a city consistently rated as the best European capital for quality of life. The bench is beautifully located in Vienna's oldest district, surrounded by historic architecture.
With its curved design inspired by comfort, softness and openness, "FALBA" creates a welcoming space for everyone. The main seating area is curved, with a smaller oval section offering various seating options to ensure comfort for all users. The bench also includes a handrail to make sitting down and getting up easier. The design features a subtle detail: the number 50, marking the 50th anniversary of the Polish Institute in Vienna.
The making of "FALBA"
The "FALBA" project was developed from scratch by our students under the guidance of Dr. Joanna Jurga as part of their coursework at the School of Form.
The design process included extensive research into the intended location of the bench. "FALBA" was designed to be a conversational space that is accessible and welcoming. The project team worked hard to create a stable frame and protect the materials through wood-impregnation, varnishing and painting to ensure durability in various weather conditions.
During the concept phase, we created 83 3D models before selecting our final design. The name of the project, inspired by the word "falbana" (ruffle), is reflected in our logo, where the letters form the shape of the bench. Over the past few months, we have spent more than 700 hours working on "FALBA" in project meetings and in metal and woodworking workshops. We proved to be an efficient and effective team, and the success of our project demonstrated our ability to achieve great things together. We are grateful for the trust of the Polish Institute and the Magistrate of the City of Vienna. Let's keep it up!
Project creators
