• Client: London Festival of Architecture
• Architect: NVBL
• Engineers: Webb Yates Engineers
• Contractor: The Stone Carving Company
• ‍Supplier: The Stonemasonry Company
• Photography: Agnese Sanvito
• Completion: 2021

Conversation pays homage to the history of material and exchange in the City of London. The design celebrates stone, craftmanship and its natural architectural qualities while creating a place for connection, inspired by 19th century courting chairs. 

Conversation is a prototype to advocate the qualities and possibilities of developing stone design, stone technologies and rediscovering the use of stone structurally in architecture. The bench is made solely from stone offcuts, carefully designed and handcrafted, highlighting its natural durability, structural integrity, sustainability and beauty. The stone pieces interlock in a specific order of assembly, connecting and supporting each other, and can be easily disassembled when required for reuse.

This bench forms part of the 2021 City Benches, a design competition by the LFA, Cheapside Business Alliance and Aldgate Connect BID, that sees see a playful series of nine benches brightening the streetscape across Cheapside and Aldgate. 

Our winning LFA bench is designed by NVBL in collaboration with Webb Yates Engineers, The Stone Carving Company and supported by The Stonemasonry Company.