SEATS IN PUBLIC PARKS 



The majority of German benches are very comfortable, and the paid 

 benches found there seem to have no other reason than one of class 

 distinction. A comfortable and at the same time beautiful bench is 

 used near the fountains in the park treatment before the University 

 of Munich, a double seat arrangement with single back, combining 

 stone and wood in a very choice design. A curious example of a 

 reversible seat is shown in the illustration of those used in Zurich, 

 Switzerland. Other examples of European benches are shown, which 

 may prove suggestive to the designer of park benches in this country. 

 An exceptional design, particularly unique in park work in Italy, is 

 that used in large number along the main promenade of the water- 

 front park in Naples. It is of stone, massive in size yet graceful, and 

 has somewhat the character of an exedra seat. This design, in sim- 

 plified form, was executed in cement by the writer several years ago 

 with good success. The design of park benches must always of course 

 be more or less dependent upon proposed location and use, especially 

 in relation to formal design in parks. 



SEATS TO BE PLACED INTELLIGENTLY 



The placing of park seats should not be left to happenstance. 

 Neither should a senseless system in their dispositipn be adopted and 

 adhered to without investigation of the subject in the first place and 

 discerning observation ever after. In the Tiergarten Park in Berlin, 

 the rule apparently is that on all straight lines the seats shall be 

 vis-a-vis; on curving walks the seats shall be isolated. With what 

 result? In the early afternoon, every lone seat is taken, but only one 

 each of every pair of seats. Without exception, the other seat of each 

 two placed opposite is as empty as if bearing the sign " Wet Paint." 

 Later in the afternoon, the remaining seats are taken, for Berlin parks 

 are not over-generous in the number of seats provided for the throngs 

 that visit them ; but it is clearly evident that single seats are considered 



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