Dutch designer Tommy Cheong has unveiled Sampan, a bespoke series of urban benches for Singapore’s famed Holland Village. Drawing on the sleek silhouette of traditional Asian sampans, this modular seating system pays tribute to the city‑state’s maritime heritage while celebrating Holland Village’s role as a cultural crossroads.
Cheong’s design channels Peranakan motifs and Singapore’s seafaring past into each bench “hull,” creating micro‑harbors of community within the streetscape. By combining flowing boat forms with open, inviting angles, the Sampan benches encourage passersby from local patrons to international travelers to pause, connect, and share stories.
“Holland Village is a melting pot of cultures,” explains Cheong. “Sampan benches become small ports of call where people from all walks of life can gather.”
Each bench is crafted from tung wood, a Southeast Asian hardwood prized for its durability using time‑honored joinery paired with contemporary finishes. The result is a harmonious marriage of natural grain and urban color palettes that withstand Singapore’s tropical climate.
Sampan’s genius lies in its modular design: three distinct bench lengths interlock effortlessly, allowing urban planners to configure densely clustered nodes for lively conversation or spaced‑out layouts for contemplative retreats. Whether arranged in pods around a cafe or scattered beneath heritage trees, these benches adapt to evolving site needs, activating Holland Village’s public realm.
More than street furniture, the Sampan series acts as a living canvas of cultural memory. Its form evokes generations of maritime trade and community gathering, inviting users to become part of Holland Village’s ongoing story, one seated encounter at a time.
Source: 77° Global Furnishings Media
