Client: Better Bankside
Date: London 2019
Designers: Wayward + Studio Mata
As part of Better Bankside's clean air corridor through the historic streets of Bankside, located between London Bridge and Blackfriars, the Better Air Benches have been designed to alleviate and raise awareness of air quality issues. Positioned on Stoney Street by Borough Market, and containing English Ivy, one of nature’s best air pollution disruptors, the benches are designed to further Better Bankside’s aim of encouraging people to choose to walk the lesser-trodden, low emissions routes through the area, immediately reducing their exposure to pollutants. Designed in collaboration with Studio Mata, and introduced as part of the London Festival of Architecture, the benches bring vegetation to the urban landscape, introducing extra surfaces for capturing pollution and creating a pleasant place to stop and admire the Borough Market surroundings. From now onwards, benches will be introduced on quiet routes between tube and rail stations and workplaces and landmarks, including a route from Southwark tube to the area around Tate Modern.