Banchila: The Multifunctional Stool for Outdoor Festivals

A Comfortable and Eco-Friendly Solution

Outdoor summer festivals in Portugal attract thousands of people every year, but finding a place to sit, carrying food and drinks, and ensuring the security of personal belongings can be challenging. Pedro Quintela, a renowned designer, recognized this issue and came up with a unique solution - Banchila, a multifunctional stool that combines comfort, convenience, and sustainability.

Inspired by the traditional handcrafted fishing buoys found along the Portuguese coast, Banchila is a portable stool with compartments inside to carry goods. It is not only lightweight and ergonomic but also versatile, as it can be held either as a backpack or a bag. The design of Banchila is based on the anatomical proportions of the Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci and Le Corbusier's Modulor, ensuring a comfortable fit for the human body.

Made from cork, a natural and eco-friendly material, Banchila showcases Portugal's expertise as the world's leading exporter of cork. The cork used in this design is extracted from the bark of oak trees without harming the species' normal development. The harvested cork is then transformed into a granulate called Composite Agglomerate, which is used to create various shapes through casting.

The inside of Banchila is designed in the shape of a propeller, providing separate compartments for storing personal belongings such as wallets, cell phones, and keys, as well as food and drinks. The stool can be easily transported as a backpack or a bag using a single rope that crosses the axis of the object. The rope's adjustable knots allow it to be comfortably carried on the shoulders or in the hands.

Banchila not only offers practicality and comfort but also provides a sensory experience. The cork material feels soft to the touch, emits a pleasant odor, and maintains a natural temperature similar to that of the human body, enhancing the overall comfort and enjoyment for the user.

The Banchila project started in March 2017 on the West Coast of Portugal and was completed in August 2017 in Lisbon. The design process involved overcoming creative and technical challenges, such as finding the right form for the inside compartments that aligned with the design concept and function. The result was the inspiration of the propeller shape, which not only separates the inside spaces but also serves as the structural element of the stool.

Banchila has received recognition for its innovative design and practicality. It was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category in 2018. This prestigious award is given to well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. Banchila's integration of industry best practices, competent technical characteristics, and contribution to a better world made it a deserving recipient of this accolade.

The Banchila stool is not just a piece of furniture; it is a symbol of comfort, convenience, and sustainability. Its unique design and eco-friendly materials make it a standout choice for outdoor festivals, providing festival-goers with a comfortable seating option while reducing their environmental impact. With Banchila, Pedro Quintela has successfully combined art, architecture, design, and innovation to create a truly remarkable lifestyle product.