Salish Seat
Named after the ancestral waters of the Coast Salish
A public bench that uses unconventional materials to invite interaction.
5 Week Project, 2025
“Create a public installation that helps activate and beautify downtown Bellingham, WA”
Located 90 miles north of Seattle, Bellingham is a mid-sized Pacific Northwest coastal hub built on Coast Salish land and shaped by maritime roots. Today, it is a college town of outdoor enthusiasts featuring rainy winters and sunny, temperate summers.
A Glimpse into Bellingham
Site Exploration
Open corners (throughout downtown)
Tons of open, underutilized space
Minimal seating
Lots of bollards, trees, and bike racks
Busy, lively vibe with passersby
Abundant open space on grass
Has benches, ampitheater, and slide
Calm, slow (edge of proper downtown)
Maritime Heritage park
Passersby, brief resting on rail, few seats
Feels fresh/maintained
No coverage, very open
Near playground and businesses
Waterfront Granary platform
Site Observation Insights
People linger where there’s comfort and coverage.
(Perceived) function and interaction drive engagement.
Bellingham’s sensory landscape can be utilized and celebrated through materials, form, and placement.
Ideation
Material Opportunity
Traditionally used for boat lines and sail rigging, Dacron can easily tolerate the wet PNW climate. It is composed of treated polyester and is resistant to UV rays, abrasion, stretching, and water. This material could introduce a unique experience and offer structural longevity.
Marine-grade Dacron Rope
Rope Application Ideation
This bench system has two sizes: a semicircle and 240 degree arc. Units can be creatively arranged around trees or posts. With open edges, wheelchair users can also sit beside others on the bench.
Each bench has two turnbuckles tucked at the ends of the structure for rope tension maintenance. This allows individual parts to be replaced instead of the entire unit.
The structure is made of 2” stainless steel tubing, which would be cut, rolled into shape, and welded. The 1” Dacron is then anchored to a turnbuckle and wrapped around the structure until it terminates at the other turnuckle.
The rope pattern invites people to experience sitting on this bench. This unique materiality turns a public bench into a visual point of interest that encourages people to engage with the space.
