Shortlisted as ‘Young Ideas’

What if circular design didn’t hide in supply chains but sat right there, where you parked your bike?

ARC – RACK is a multifunctional piece of urban furniture that merges two familiar features: a bench and a bike rack into one cohesive, intuitive design. Created by Danish design studio KONKRET, the solution aims to make circular economy visible and tangible in public space.

Each ARC – RACK is cast from recycled concrete sourced from local construction waste that would otherwise go to landfill. Rather than hiding that origin, the design embraces it. The surface is left raw to highlight the story of the material, and an embedded NFC chip lets anyone with a smartphone access information about the product’s carbon footprint, material origin, and how it can be returned and reused.

ARC – RACK is both robust and refined. Its soft curves create a natural flow between sitting and parking, while its compact form integrates quietly into a wide range of settings – from schoolyards to sidewalks. Installed alone or in rows, the modular form adapts to both space and need.

This design solution demonstrates how thoughtful design can bring people closer to materials, foster new habits, and make circular principles part of the everyday cityscape.