Header: Courtesy of Functionals
BEN, the new bench by Functionals in collaboration with design studio KASCHKASCH, is about to be presented in Milan as a revolutionary public bench. The latest product wasn’t just built for high-traffic durability, but also for enhancing public spaces through its refined simplicity. This balance between function and aesthetics allows the product to be placed virtually anywhere, from bustling airports to private gardens.
Flexible design
BEN’s sturdy powder-coated steel and aluminum construction thrives in both indoor and outdoor settings, from museums to private terraces. Furthermore, the bench’s various configuration styles make it highly adaptable, allowing buyers to choose the best fit for their needs: freestanding, wall-mounted, or floor-mounted. But true personalisation comes with the last decisions. Customers can choose from six colours and four lengths, ranging from 180 to 360 cm, depending on the number of people they want to accommodate.
Unity and collaboration
The product launch marks the merger of Functionals and van Esch, previously two brands within the same family business. As of January 2025, they have continued as one solid brand: Functionals.
Regarding the new product, the new brand’s partner KASCHKASCH, known for its innovative, modular designs and timeless creations, commented: “A well-designed system is like a framework for clarity. Reduced to its essence, adaptable to its context, and always in harmony with its core idea.”
“BEN captures the essence of the new Functionals. We organise spaces – from hotels to offices and locker rooms – with functional, carefully designed products that last a lifetime. That’s why we offer a 25-year warranty on our products. To me, it’s a natural extension of our quality. That’s what we truly stand for.”
Simon van Esch, Director of Functionals
A defining characteristic of Functionals products is the way function and form enhance each other. “The gentle curve of BEN is a great example of this,” Simon explains, adding “It enhances the bench’s understated elegance while allowing rain to flow off.”
