Bench

The tiled bench with the Arab-inspired mosaic is located in the garden in front of Casa das Artes, constructed in 1981 as a cultural centre in the seaport city of Porto, located in northern Portugal. The building was the first large project by the Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura. The cubic form of the bench is partially mirrored by the basic structure of the building, consisting of two parallel walls. The award-winning building remained closed off and unused for more than a decade, but after extensive renovations it was finally reopened in 2013. Now the venue hosts various activities, including exhibitions, concerts, film screening, and even a garden picnic: participants are invited to bring their picnic baskets, or try out the food and drink stands prepared for the occasion, lying on the grass and enjoying the sunshine.