the aim of the student project that resulted in the r e s t bench, was to explore the limitations of reinforced concrete and to study the potential of the material to achieve qualities such as slimness, smoothness and precision.
two components the bench has two components. one is the surface on which you can lie and the other is the more massive structure on which this surface rests. this reflects the concept behind the bench of something light supported by something heavy. the reclined body lies on a surface which is as smooth as glass. it is actually a 6 mm thick glass sheet which is used as formwork. this creates a sharp interface where the two surfaces meet.
the word r e s t (h v i l e) etched on the surface reflects the idea of high precision encapsulated in this work. this high precision quality is however contrasted by rougher formwork used on other surfaces, achieved by using ordinary untreated wooden shuttering.
the bench is only 50 mm thick, but has a span of 1,200 mm. there are, inside, two layers of welded steel which forms a 3 mm untreated steel lattice of mesh size 30 mm.
facts total weight of the two components is 200 kg. formula: 1.38 litres water, 10 g white silica and 60 g plasticizer for every 10 kg of white mortar.
