A bench is a long seat on which multiple people may sit at the same time. Benches are typically made of wood, but may also be made of metal, stone, or synthetic materials. Many benches have arm and back rests; some have no back rest and can be sat on from either side. In American public areas, benches are often donated by persons or associations, which may then be indicated on it, e.g. by a small plaque. Benches are used both outdoors and indoors.
Often benches are simply named for the place they are used, regardless of whether this implies a specific design.
Various types of benches are specifically designed for and/or named after specific uses, such as:
Benches come in a variety of different materials, but there are some venue standards that account for use, durability, and maintenance patterns.
GWR Shirt Button railway bench at St Erth railway station, Cornwall, UK
Stone bench at Livadia Palace, Ukraine
An open park bench in Tehran
Benches in Kefalonia, western Greece
Bench made with a chainsaw-cut tree trunk
Ancient trunk bench from Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex
In Suffolk, England
Bank of the Berlin court porch, 13th century
Pews or church benches, St Paul's Cathedral, London
Wooden bench in memory of composer Hans Roelli in skiing area of Arosa, Switzerland
A decorative "rabbit bench" in Peyzazhna alley, Kiev, Ukraine
Artistic bench design at Kiev Fashion Park
Light Balls Bench by designer Manfred Kielnhofer