Floriade Knife and Fork Bench Seats

October 2026

We were approached by Floriade to create a set of custom bench seats inspired by this year’s Feast of Flowers theme. The brief was to design a knife and fork that could sit within a circular cleared area representing a plate, with the two bench seats positioned either side, ready for the feast.

Floriade custom bench seats made in recycled Ulin from Indonesia

The benches were manufactured using custom built steel bases, and our recycled Ulin timber from Indonesia, which has already proven itself as an extremely durable outdoor timber. It’s been used for decking and external cladding, and this project gave us the opportunity to put it to work as outdoor furniture.

Events ACT wanted something that could handle the wear and tear of Floriade, while also having a life beyond this year’s event as an outdoor activation or potentially a permanent park installation. The two benches are 2,975mm long and 450mm high, with varying timber lengths used to create the distinctive knife and fork shapes. The design is really fun!

Built for the outdoors

Ulin was a natural choice for the project. No finish was required, allowing the timber to weather naturally once exposed to the elements, gradually developing a silver-grey patina.

Each bench sits on a powder-coated steel base, with the challenge being how to securely fix the benches in place without making them permanently fixed. We developed a solution using mounting plates that could be firmly pegged into the ground, keeping the benches secure throughout Floriade while still allowing them to be relatively easily removed or relocated afterwards.

The result is a pair of benches that bring a bit of fun to the Floriade landscape, while also being designed to handle plenty of use.

Floriade is still open this weekend, so if you're visiting, make sure you take a seat on the knife and fork benches while enjoying the Feast of Flowers.

If you’re looking for outdoor furniture for your home, workplace or public space, Thor’s Hammer can work with you on a custom design or we have a range of standard furniture designs that may suit your needs.