Shortlisted for seating design of the year at Dezeen Awards 2019, Rely protective public seating by Joe Doucet is a 3D printed concrete bench that also functions as a barrier to protect public spaces from vehicle-led terrorist attacks.

The benches, designed by New York-based designer Joe Doucet, weigh over one ton and are attached to each other via steel rods. If the chunky seats are hit by a vehicle, they remain linked and skid along discs to form a barrier. It was built at Time Square for this year’s NYCxDesign festival as a discreet alternative for protecting pedestrians and public areas from car accidents and vehicle-ramming attacks carried out by terrorists.

Designer: Joe Doucet
Product: Rely protective public seating
Read more: Joe Doucet