Gardener's Sofa

Gardener's Sofa outdoor bench, designed by Eva Schildt, for Design House Stockholm .

Hay a playful touch to the soft shapes and slender, simple structure that is a common theme in Eva Schildt’s design for over two decades. The starting point for the Gardener sofa was the compelling need to be outdoors regardless of the season. And also, to create outdoor seating with a sculptural presence beyond mere function.

An outdoor seat for breakfast in the sun, a Swedish fika, a refreshing afternoon drink, browsing through a book or chatting with friends. The Gardener sofa is not just for young and old, it also allows flowers and plants to entwine in intricate patterns around its slender yet sturdy lattice-like steel frame. Spring, autumn, even winter and definitely summer, the Gardener sofa extends the seasons and is always available. Place the bench in the garden among trees and greenery, or on a generous balcony, and why not on a porch or any outdoor space? Let the Gardener sofa grace the modernist indoor/outdoor design scheme that turns outdoor space into living areas. Eva Schildt’s design is an authentic fusion of culture and nature captured in seamless continuity.

Eva Schildt launched her design before the current trend of a closer connection with nature took hold. "My degree work focused on the integration of form and function of objects with nature, and the Gardener's Sofa is about a true relationship with context. Plants can grow on this trellis bench and eventually cover it completely. Let culture slowly blend with nature!"

Hay a playful touch to soft shapes and a slender, simple structure that is a common theme in Eva Schildt's design for over two decades. The starting point for the Gardener's sofa was a strong need to be outdoors regardless of the season. And also, to make outdoor seating with a sculptural presence beyond mere function. "I longed for warmer climates when I studied at Beckmans School of Design in 2001," Eva Schildt recalls, "but you shouldn't complain about the cold here in Sweden - you have to go outside anyway!" I designed this sofa together with a table and even an insulating, waterproof picnic blanket.

The gardener's sofa is maintenance-free thanks to its double-coated steel frame; it will always be cosy whatever the weather. The discreet and clean Scandinavian style will make the bench almost disappear in any garden, but always have a clear presence at hand. Even if it is not a place for people, the sofa will be content to let nature's plants use it as a trellis where all kinds of vegetation can entwine.

Material: Powder coated steel

Measurements: 90x87x77cm