"“The Symbio Benches are experimental works exploring how concrete can become symbiotic,” Laarman tells designboom as he points toward a future where design coexists with its environment instead of just occupying it - exemplifying the concept of Radical Softness which designboom is currently exploring."
"“For Laarman, that shift belongs to what he calls the 'Symbioscene,' a speculative era after the Anthropocene, ' where nature and technology merge into something actually sustainable. '”"
"“The pattern itself is very three-dimensional, which means it also helps drain water,” the Dutch designer explains. “Underneath the first layer, there are hollow channels integrated into the structure.”"
"“It's a porous type of concrete that retains water very effectively and was originally designed to support moss growth.”"
Symbio benches are experimental works that explore how concrete can become symbiotic with its environment. The concept is framed as a future “Symbioscene” after the Anthropocene, where nature and technology merge into something sustainable. The exhibition presents two material approaches: 3D-printed concrete benches designed to host moss and lichen, and the Ply Loop series, where engineered wood is shaped into computational curves using biodegradable resin. The concrete benches feature three-dimensional patterns and integrated hollow channels that drain water and support a bio-active substrate. The substrate is a porous concrete developed to retain water effectively and originally designed to support moss growth, enabling the benches to gather life over time.
Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine
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