This is not a common bench but rather one of those of the “Big Bench Community Project (BBCP)” Foundation: in 2009, the American designer Chris Bangle and his wife Catherine moved to the tiny village of Clavesana (Cuneo). One year later they decided to create the first colored Big Bench and the associated Foundation.
The vision the couple put as basis of the Foundation is the importance of taking a step back to look at the world “with the eyes of a kid”, therefore with an openminded and fresher approach, both alone and with friends.
The BBCP is totally nonprofit and any of its activities aims to support, even technically, the territory and especially the local craftmanship excellence.
Today the Foundation includes #266 Big Benches, #55 are under construction. The red Big Bench of Alpe Chiaro, numbered #223, is the first one certificated by the BBCP to represent the Lake Como area.
Any territory can use the typical design conceived by Bangle for free, thus get the certification by the Foundation, as long as it respects the original vision the benches must represent: the support of the local communities, tourism and craftmanship of the chosen location.
Lastly, a dedicated BBCP passport was created. It costs Euro 6 / 7 and it is possible to stamp on it the logo of each Big Bench and its geographic position.
