Whale Tail
Sitting Bench for QZ Urban Furniture
This piece of urban furniture is a versatile element for both indoors and outdoors. The shape of the seat and its support makes the bench resemble the tail of a whale without compromising its ergonomics and stability. A thin layer of fibreglass covers its inner core of wood or concrete enriched with recycled plastic. It can be placed alone or in small groups.
Download Press Kit № 118288
Download Press Kit № 118288 Sitting Bench for QZ Urban Furniture by Enrique Mínguez Ros to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.
Available Now for Your Next Story
At innovation|newsroom, we understand the pressures and deadlines journalists face. That’s why we offer exclusive access to our curated press kits and high-resolution images, tailored for accredited journalists. These resources are designed to enrich your stories with depth and visual appeal, spotlighting the world's most innovative designs.
Please Note:
- Credit the work's creator and/or photographer.
- Mention innovation|newsroom as your source.
- Share your published pieces with us; we love to celebrate and promote your work on our platform and social media.
Let’s Collaborate: Your stories matter. innovation|newsroom is here to support you with quality, accessible content. Once you are accredited, reach out for the images and content you need. We will provide the specific images and content directly, along with recommendations on works to feature.
Get Accredited Easily: Quick access to our resources requires media accreditation. Apply for media accreditation to join our network and start exploring a wealth of design stories.
Whale Tail by Enrique Mínguez Ros
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Sitting Bench by Enrique Mínguez Ros
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Enrique Mínguez Ros Whale Tail
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Enrique Mínguez Ros Sitting Bench
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
QZ Urban FurnitureBrand Logo
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Whale Tail Sitting Bench Press Releases
Discover our press releases for Whale Tail available in the following languages: English.
Whale Tail Sitting Bench Media Articles
Access our collection of Whale Tail articles, ready for use and offered in languages: Hindi, Indonesian, Turkish, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, Arabic (Standard), French, Portuguese, English, Korean, Japanese, Russian and Chinese (Mandarin).
Unique Properties
This single support design, allows for elegance and sobriety in both urban and natural environments. It can be placed either by itself or in small groups, enabling the seating space to resemble the vision of a single whale or of a whole pod swimming in harmony. It allows for different options in use of materials. It can be made of fiberglass reinforced either with wood or concrete. Yet, in its most environmentally efficient version, it can also be made of fiberglass reinforced with concrete and recycled plastic. All of these combinations enable the seat to follow a clean and ergonomic shape. Depending on the materials chosen it can resist up to 310kg.
Tags
WhaleTailBench, WhaleTail, Bench, SeaBench, PortBench, Seafront
Production Technology
It can be made from three different processes: A. Fiberglass reinforced with wood. Fiberglass painted thick between 8 and 12 mm. Interior reinforced with high density compact laminated wood frame. B. Fiberglass with reinforced concrete and recycled plastic. Fiberglass painted thick between 4 and 8 mm. Interior reinforced with polymer concrete and recycled HPDE. C. Reinforced concrete. Concrete finish, reinforced with fibers of very high performance and great plasticity, which gives it great resistance.
Design Challenge
Once the molds were made, the main problem was maintaining the beauty in all the surface of the element. The solution to the problem was found adapting the manufacturing process to the different materials. It needed to be done in two parts that had to be joined later, working on the partition line. In the case of fiberglass reinforced with concrete and recycled plastic, the problem resided in the breathability of the concrete. To avoid it penetrating the fiber, the element was painted after finishing the piece. Finally, in the version with only concrete, the opening in the surface to pour the concrete was too small and the figure needed to be vibrated, so the solution involved changes in the pouring method and a concrete grain reduction.
Project Duration
The project started in September 2019 and finished in March 2020 in Cartagena (Spain), and it was exhibited in the port of Cartagena in June 2020. Currently it has been proposed for a large-area shopping center.
Operation Flow
Sitting bench. This piece not only fulfils the function of a seat, it also provides an aesthetic value when it is placed in the urban space: seafronts, ports, parks, squares, streets and boulevards. When t it is not occupied, its soft undulating shapes make it a sculptural element.
Research
The type of research used was data collection by observation, as the main objective was to create a piece based on marine life. Design Thinking Methodology was then used to ensure that ergonomics was present, but always framed by the connection to the sea. Bearing that in mind, whales, dolphins, seahorses, waves and other remarkable marine items were studied to abstract their basic shapes. The aim was to establish a relationship between those shapes and the forms produced by the human body, in search of a practical figure. After some failed initial creations, the focus turned to capturing the aerodynamic and organic essence of the marine environment. Thus, it was concluded that the tail of a whale resembled the basic ergonomics of a seat. The first version was designed with bigger cantilevers but did not pass the strength simulation program test since the bending movement was too big for the desired single support. In order to solve this key part, the cantilever was shortened and the structure reinforced with an internal frame of wood. In the final model, this frame runs through the entire central part of the piece, being the connecting component between the two faces of the bench.
Inspiration
This piece of furniture takes its inspiration from the ocean and one of the most iconic images it offers us: the whale tails.
Image Credits
Image #1: Photographer David Frutos, Whale Tail Bench, 2020. Image #2: Photographer David Frutos, Whale Tail Bench, 2020. Image #3: Photographer David Frutos, Whale Tail Bench, 2020. Image #4: Photographer Mario González, Whale Tail Bench, 2020. Image #2: Photographer Enrique Mínguez, Whale Tail Bench, 2020.
Project Overview
Whale Tail Sitting Bench has been a Silver winner in the Garden and Outdoor Furniture Design award category in the year 2020 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Silver Recognition
Enrique Mínguez Ros was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2021, a testament to excellence of their work Whale Tail Sitting Bench.
Enrique Mínguez Ros Press Releases
We provide a series of press releases on Enrique Mínguez Ros that journalists and press members can freely incorporate into their narratives. Available now: 2 press releases ready for immediate access by journalists.
Introducing the Whale Tail Bench by Enrique MÃnguez Ros: A Unique Urban Furniture Inspired by the Ocean
Enrique MÃnguez Ros presents the Whale Tail Bench, a stunning piece of urban furniture inspired by the ocean, designed to bring elegance and functionality to urban and natural environments.
Enrique Mínguez Ros Newsroom
Dive into Enrique Mínguez Ros Newsroom to explore celebrated designs and projects.
