NGV Bench

The contemporary form and use of refined materials reflect the rich history and future of the National Gallery of Victoria. With durable foam set on a bead blast stainless steel frame, the bench is comfortable and pays homage to the NGV’s culture and art.

Available as a one, two, three or four-seater, the NGV Bench is a contemporary seat for public and living spaces including waiting rooms, libraries and education settings. With a fabric, leather or vinyl outer, the NGV Bench is hand made using the finest materials.

Complementing the NGV Bench, Schiavello and Mario also designed a range of occasional tables suitable for reception, breakout and lounge spaces. Available in a 12mm thick veneer, acid etched glass or powder coat.

Australia's largest and most visited art museum, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) was originally designed by leading architect Sir Roy Grounds in 1968. Twenty years on, the gallery’s growth led to new needs and a rapidly growing international art collection. Italian architect Mario Bellini was appointed the principal architect for its major redevelopment.

Celebrating the launch of the redevelopment in 2003, the gallery commissioned Schiavello and Mario to create a public seating bench and table collection designed as a counterpart to the gallery’s new spaces and existing collections.

With the gallery attracting millions of visitors each year, the NGV Bench was designed to achieve a specific shape and foam density suitable for such high impact usage. As strength and durability were fundamental to the design, the bench is supported with a resilient bead blast stainless steel frame.

Its refined and contemporary design echoes Mario’s work on the NGV’s interior architecture – producing a design that enhances the gallery experience without competing with the surrounding artwork. Today, 15 years after its release, the bench still features as the public seating throughout the gallery, a testament to its timeless and enduring design.

Mario Bellini is an internationally renowned Italian architect, urban and industrial designer. He was born in Milan in 1935 and graduated in 1959 from the Architecture School in Milan. He still lives and works in Milan today.

Since the 1980s, Mario has worked chiefly as an architect in Europe, Japan, the USA and the Arab Emirates. His renowned architectural creations include the Tokyo Design Centre (Japan), the National Gallery of Victoria (Australia), the Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre (Paris), the Natuzzi America Headquarters (USA) and the Milan Convention Centre (Italy).

“I consider every project a new exploration to be faced with curiosity, maximum mental openness and renewed creative energy,” says Mario.

Mario has received the Golden Compass Award eight times, and other prestigious architecture awards. He has 25 of his works in the permanent design collection of the New York Museum of Modern Art, which dedicated a personal retrospective to him in 1987.