Public space feels most alive when it invites people to slow down, meet, and share moments together. This is what ESCOFET has been dedicated to for more than a century, shaping cities with urban elements that combine strength, function, and imagination. Their recent collaboration with Foster + Partners produced Gather and Tiers, two collections that prove concrete can be light, adaptable, and even welcoming.
Gather is designed as a modular system that creates small enclaves of privacy or generous stretches of seating, forming new ways for people to connect around greenery or in open plazas. Tiers adds another layer, with a collection of benches, stools, and tables at different heights that can be combined to suit work, relaxation, or social exchange. Both collections grew out of a close dialogue between Barcelona and London, with prototypes, models, and details refined until every curve and surface felt just right.
Honoured with Furniture Design of the Year at the SIT Furniture Design Awards, Gather and Tiers are turning concrete into places where urban life exists naturally, with ease and with purpose.
- Can you tell us a bit about the background of ESCOFET? And how did the collaboration with Foster + Partners come to be?
Escofet is a century-old company dedicated to transforming cities through the industrialisation of urban solutions, including benches, planters, and other elements. We are now part of the international cement group Molins. Our collaboration with Foster + Partners began through previous work with their architectural department, where we produced large concrete panels for a tower project in Warsaw. They were already familiar with our meticulous attention to detail in concrete industrialisation. Our relationship with the Foster + Partners Industrial Design team started with a meeting to discuss products needed for an urban project in London, which was not executed by us. From there, we started a good relationship, which ended up with the design of two collections of urban furniture elements to be included in our catalogue.
- What would you say is the core design philosophy that guides ESCOFET?
We work closely with designers to ensure that proposals make a meaningful impact and generate value for society. Our commitment to material quality, functionality, and uniqueness is central to our philosophy. As concrete producers, we understand better than most how to leverage the material’s possibilities and benefits in design. Designing within the constraints of the material allows us to create truly distinctive pieces.
- What was the inspiration for creating this type of modular, concrete-based urban furniture?
The inspiration was to create a social meeting point that encourages interaction among citizens. This concept led to the name and the concave module. With that solid foundation, developing a modular solution that allows designers to adapt and expand the system was a natural progression.
- Could you walk us through the development process of Gather and Tiers?
The design process was both pleasant and inspiring. We maintained almost weekly contact with the Foster + Partners Industrial Design team. We began by defining the brief, validating concepts and usability through mockups and 3D models, checking ergonomics, and testing the material’s resistance.
- What were some of the most significant challenges you faced during this project?
One major challenge was adapting the bench’s ergonomics to comply with different legal standards across various countries. Additionally, we focused heavily on perfecting details such as section transitions and surface connections, which required extensive work and collaboration.
- This project rethinks how we interact with public space, both physically and socially. How important is that social component when designing urban furniture?
It is extremely important. As part of our strategy, We Love the City, we aim to promote a more vibrant, playful, and sustainable urban environment. We strive to create spaces that foster social connections and development, while also addressing environmental concerns.
- Congratulations on winning Furniture Design of the Year at the SIT Awards! What does this award mean to your team?
It represents relevance and brand positioning. We are very grateful and proud to have the opportunity to share our product with the world.
- Looking ahead, what do you envision for the future of your studio? Are there new materials, typologies, or urban needs that you’re especially interested in exploring?
We aim to grow by providing innovative urban solutions and addressing the consequences of climate change, such as rising temperatures, which compel us to create climate shelters. We are exploring the use of lighter colours and incorporating recycled aggregates into our concrete mixtures to face these challenges.
