Modular public benches for Nancy train station, inspired by the École de Nancy.
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About
Commissioned by Le Grand Nancy and supervised by AREP, the architecture agency of SNCF, this public seating project was realized by Cyria.
This modular seating system combines contemporary metalwork with an adaptable design logic, creating convivial public benches that encourage encounters, social use, and multiple ways of sitting.
Modular design
The benches are composed of modular elements that can be assembled in different configurations. This system ensures variation of form while optimizing fabrication and installation. By repeating and combining simple units, the benches generate diverse types of seating—linear, curved, or grouped—offering a flexible response to the changing needs of public space.
A dialogue with the square
The design directly engages with the graphic pattern of the site. Circular glass inlays on the ground trace the image of a tree trunk and its radiating branches. In this composition, the benches act as leaves of the canopy, extending the motif into three-dimensional form. Their organic lines create spaces for both individual rest and collective gathering, reinforcing the convivial atmosphere of the square.
Heritage and memory
This gesture echoes the tradition of the École de Nancy, where Art Nouveau forms combined natural motifs with a collective vision of everyday life. BenchMarks Nancy reinterprets this heritage through contemporary design, aligning with Henri Lefebvre’s notion of the social production of space and Jan Gehl’s studies on public life and conviviality. The result is a modular system of public furniture that balances symbolism, sociability, and everyday use.
Debate and public feedback
Since 2019, the project has been part of a broader public debate on inclusive public space. While some commentators associated the benches with “hostile design”, the municipality denied this intent. In 2024–2025, the metropolitan authority launched temporary greening measures on Place Simone-Veil—tree planters and planted areas—to improve comfort and microclimate. Several public contributions suggested replacing or relocating the metal benches, but no official decision has been adopted to remove them. The project continues to be assessed within the wider transformation of the square and its evolving uses.
