At the Dutch Design Week 2025, Belgium-based designer Stijn Jean Vos presented the Sill Bench, bringing back the Belgian natural stone to the center stage in the design world. The bench looks really unique because it is made from a million-year-old Belgian Petit Granit, a material that was once widely used in Belgian homes. The designer wanted to revive the traditional material with the bench.
The idea of the Sill bench dates back to his childhood in a village, where stone sills were a common architectural feature of houses. He recalls that the sills were all different; some were bush-hammered, and others were polished. These memories inspired him to utilize this traditional material for his latest project.
The Sill bench has a unique history because of the stone it is made of. Although the Petit Granit stone is now replaced with less sustainable and cheaper materials like concrete, it was once cherished and widely used for windowsills, staircases, and countertops. The designer created the bench as a protest as well as a tribute in response to the way Belgian homes are built nowadays.
The Sill bench, featuring a Belgian stone top, has contrasting forged steel and concrete legs. The top is defined by chisel marks and fossils, representing the relationship between humans and nature. One key feature of the stone bench is that it wears a layer of natural color with the passing time and daily use.
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Concrete, which is widely used these days, becomes waste over time. The Belgian natural stone, on the other hand, is timeless and durable, and can also be repurposed. The bench distinctly highlights differences between temporary and long-lasting materials. The Sill Bench seeks new insights into traditional materials and implores the viewers to reflect on the materials we use today and where they came from.
Via: Dutch Design Week
