THE Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) has launched a community-wide competition in which artists, architects and designers are invited to create public benches along the famous Pearling Path in Muharraq.
The creative contest called ‘A Bench in Muharraq’, which falls under Baca’s Studio 244 initiative, is asking participants to pinpoint a place on the route most fitting for a sitting.
“Street furniture is an important element in pedestrians’ lives; unfortunately it is usually overlooked or placed without much thinking,” said Shouq Al Alawi, curator and head of the visual arts unit.
“Our aim is to encourage pedestrians to explore the components of this project. We’re asking participants to go and identify those locations.
“For example, say you see a mosque that people gather next to and think to yourself that area needs a bench. Or maybe you see the neighbourhood’s karak shop, that usually has a long waiting line, and you think let me design a bench that has a waste bin attached. “
Perhaps you pass by someone’s house and there is an old tree that provides shade and you think, let me design a bench with a built-in chess table ... and so on.
“Design something that not only serves a need but brings people together and adds a beauty element to the concrete communities we’ve created.”
Participants are asked to visit the Pearling Path before submitting their initial concept drawings and detailed design, as well as proposed material for construction.
The benches must be aesthetically pleasing and timeless, are user-friendly, comfortable and encourage social interaction, post Covid-19.
They also must be accessible to pedestrians with the view also taken into consideration.
Ms Al Alawi
As for sustainability, the benches must be made with durable material that can withstand Bahrain’s weather, built to last and require minimal maintenance.
The applications will then go through the Baca team followed by a secondary selection with the Pearling Path team, the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry and the local Municipal Council.
“Our collaboration with the municipalities comes with the aim to be part of their street benches plan,” Ms Al Alawi added. “If they were to provide benches anyway, then why not have the public be part of the exercise.
“Why not have the people suggest and design what they think would work for their areas? In our rules, we’ve asked for detailed drawings and studies of the areas, the dynamics of the pedestrians, maybe monitor the life throughout the day and provide something that would serve all users and passers-by.”
The deadline for applications is December 1 and the bench design winners will be announced during National Day celebrations.
The winning pieces will be manufactured and placed on the Pearling Path. This will be an annual design competition.
People enjoying the current bench
Ms Al Alawi said: “This year, our focus is the Pearling Path but maybe next year we’ll focus on the suburbs of Muharraq, or maybe the greater old city, or be more specific and have participants design a bench in neighbourhoods that have schools in them.”
This year’s top designs will be located along ‘The Pearling Path: Testimony of an Island Economy’ heritage site, which extends more than 3km inside the historic city of Muharraq.
According to Ms Al Alawi, Muharraq, which is recognised as the Unesco Creative City of Design in 2019, is a pioneer city where the combination of history, art and architecture has served as the primary inspiration in revamping urban life.
She added: “With its unique Arabic character combined with international standards of modernity, Muharraq plays a very special role within the Gulf region and for this contest, we are focussing on the Pearling Path.
“The development of the city intensively relies on the strong partnership of heritage and creativity. These two pillars strengthen the identity and belonging of the community while helping face the challenges of the future in an imaginative way.
“Especially in the last decade, the government of Bahrain and Invest in Culture initiative have achieved tremendous cultural investment and Muharraq has become a city of inspirational design projects with its impact reaching beyond the Arab region.”
- To participate and find out more about the rules and conditions, visit www.culture.gov.bh, select the Events & Activities in the main menu followed by Participate in Activities. For inquiries, email fineart@culture.gov.bh
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