Foundation
In 2023, as part of the International MBA in Strategy, Programme and Project Management at the Faculty of Management and Economics of Gdańsk University of Technology, a project for intelligent small urban architecture was developed to meet the needs of a smart city.
The goal of the project is to create elements of small urban architecture that are aesthetic, durable, and functional, as well as environmentally friendly, supporting smart city trends and the idea of sustainable development.
Benchee products will not only enhance the appearance of public spaces but also create a platform for environmental education. They will also help companies, local governments, and institutions achieve their ESG goals.
The Idea
The guiding idea behind the concept is a product that combines two materials – steel and polymers made from recycled plastic waste sourced from the Baltic Sea.
It is important to emphasize the eco-friendly production method, in which the process of preparing steel surfaces is carried out entirely without the use of chemicals, and the polymer parts are made 100% from waste plastic.
The enormous amount of plastic waste is one of the most serious global problems. In the Baltic Sea, over 60% of waste is plastic – a material dangerous to the environment that could successfully be reused. One way to solve this problem is to use waste to create new products in an environmentally friendly manner, based on a closed material life cycle.
The first element of the Benchee ecosystem is a bench, a traditional piece of urban furniture that elevates the user experience by combining unconventional design with modern information and communication technologies, and introducing the potential for developing interactive urban infrastructure.
To communicate
Benchee aims on creating an ecosystem of small architectural
elements that communicate and interact with each other. A smart system refers to devices that are interconnected to form a network, sensors, and actuators that communicate and interact seamlessly to perform specific tasks or functions.
This network will gradually include all Benchee products, beginning with the bench, selected as the first prototype. Initially, bench will collect and
deliver the following data: people sensing, environmental monitoring and quality of air. The idea is to improve the comfort, quality of life and health benefits for people.
Looking ahead, Benchee’s modular design and scalable framework provide opportunities for continuous innovation and expansion into other smart city applications for data-driven city management. Smart flowerpots, city lamps, bike stands, waste bins, kiosks and bus stops are just to name a few of a development opportunities.
Join our community
We are creating a line of products that align with the trends of modern city development and responsible production and consumption. By using locally sourced plastic, our products perfectly fit this concept. By choosing Benchee products, you have a real impact on reducing the amount of plastic waste floating in the Baltic Sea.
Enviromental impact
We recognize the role small architecture plays in shaping a sustainable future.
We promote responsible production and consumption, and our benches are tangible proof that waste segregation and recycling work – one bench equals 216 recycled plastic bottles.
Environmental education and raising social awareness are key values of the project. Our products not only serve users but also inspire them to care for the environment.
“Benchee aims to explore beyond regular communication means. Intensive work is underway to equip prototypes with interactive features that will allow simple games to be played with any other bench visitor in the world through a connected ecosystem. The intent is to create a kind of social network, where participants are encouraged to leave their mobile devices and explore new ways of human interaction.”
Meet our team
Izabela Chabowska
Project Member
Leszek Adamczyk
Project Member
Daniel Bąk
Project Member
Wojciech Ignalewski
Project Member
We have worked with some of the best partners.
