two-level bench installation by andre kong studio highlights climate challenges ahead

‘a cautionary benchmark’ by andre kong studio

Large parts of London, including the Royal Docks, are predicted to endure serious regular flooding by 2030, reaching up to 2.6m above the current high tide level, according to research by NASA and Climate Central, an independent organization of leading scientists and journalists researching and reporting facts about our changing climate and its impact. In response to the London Festival of Architecture 2022 theme, ‘Act’, Andre Kong studio designed ‘A Cautionary Benchmark’ as a public seating structure that physically portrays the scale of the challenges awaiting us.

‘The bench intends to act as a cautionary tale, the same way Greek Tragedies did in the form of performance, to shape a communal behaviour or attitude,’ explains the studio. 

all images © Luke O’Donovan

warning against high-tide flooding with a two-level design

‘A Cautionary Benchmark’ by Andre Kong Studio (see more here) is set on two levels. The first one sits at ground level and is accessible for users to sit on. The second level, however, is still unreachable today. Passersby might be able to access that bench when a severe tidal storm hits London in 2030, setting the new ground level at above 2.6m. ‘The lower level invites passersby to sit looking out onto the water and onto London City Airport to consider and reflect on the bench level that looms above you, inviting you to join the action against the climate crisis,’ elaborates the team. 

The structural bracing of the bench resembles an arrow headed to the higher side, symbolizing a wrong trajectory. Additionally, the gradient coloring — reminiscent of a change in color with cumulative high level water marks and suggesting increasing risk levels — reinforces the urgency of acting now or never.

Both materiality and architectural language take cues from the maritime and dock context; Andre Kong Studio used galvanized pipes and standard connections, as seen in the Tidal Basin Pumping Station, The Royal Docks Pumping Station, or even the Thames Barrier itself. By adopting an existing system of parts, the design becomes modular. The entire structure is built from sourced from reclaimed/reused metal components, to lower the footprint. 

Construction was executed alongside a local community of design and engineering students at the Royal Docks UTC, encouraging them to reflect on the future and the importance of designing sustainably given the challenges ahead. The bench system can also be disassembled and re-used in upcoming student projects. 

the bracing resembles an arrow headed to the higher side, symbolizing a wrong trajectory

the gradient coloring suggests changes with cumulative high level water marks

project info:

name: A Cautionary Benchmark

location: London, UK
architecture: Andre Kong Studio

photography: Luke O’Donovan

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom