Library Bench is a collaborative project by Ben Couture Studio and Richard Watson (@treestories_), developed for Make & Mend at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens.
Created from a historic structural beam removed from the Belsay Estate during conservation works, the project transforms an architectural element into a place for rest and reflection. Through considered adaption and joinery the intervention retains the character of the original timber while retaining its material history. The bench was finished using the traditional Japanese charring technique Shou Sugi Ban, before being brushed and oiled to enhance durability and reveal the grain.
Positioned within the former Library, the bench forms part of the wider exhibition, inviting visitors to pause within the space. Rather than treating the reclaimed beam simply as a resource, the project explores how architectural materials can continue to shape occupation and experience beyond their original structural purpose.
Developed as part of Make & Mend, a collaboration between Northumbria University and English Heritage, Library Bench reflects a shared interest in craftsmanship, material transformation and the enduring cultural value of the built environment.
As part of Make & Mend exhibition at Belsay Hall, 27th June -- 27th Sept 2026
