A Bench with a Purpose
It starts with waste.
Campbell Barclay, our Artistic Director, stands in the middle of it. Dust. Broken tiles waiting for purpose. He’s knee-deep, sorting through discarded tiles like a miner searching for gold.
Only, he’s not after gold. He’s after something better—community connection.
This is the first step. At our off-site base in Silvan House, Corstorphine, things don’t look like much yet. There’s a pile of tiles we collected from warehouse donations. Bits of ceramic with no home. Pieces left over from industry projects that went bigger or moved faster.
But here, waste isn’t wasted.
We separate by colourways. Think of buckets filled with reds, blues, whites, and earthy tones. What looks random today will soon follow a pattern, meticulously mapped, community-designed, and ready to take shape in the form of a concrete bench. Not just any bench. A Gaudí-inspired one that tells a local story.
The bench won’t just sit in the middle of a park. It will be a symbol of how people build things together.
Ever wonder how something small can spark big changes? This project answers that.
We’ve got a simple system:
- Collect waste tiles.
- Separate by colour.
- Break them down into usable mosaic pieces.
- Design the bench.
- Let the community take ownership of the build.
It’s not about rushing. It’s about making sure every piece fits, every decision thought through.
Campbell knows this well. He’s been leading projects like this for years. His hands have built walls, art installations, and community spaces that people use every day. But he’ll tell you this project feels different.
Because you’re involved.
Without the community, this bench would be another forgotten idea. But with your input, we get something vibrant and meaningful. You get to work on something that lasts.
Imagine sitting on the finished bench one day. A friend beside you. Maybe your kids. You could point to a patch of blue mosaic and say, “I helped place that tile.”
The work isn’t glamorous. The dust is real. The broken tiles don’t look like much until they’re laid out in a pattern. But that’s where the magic happens, when the everyday details come together.
We don’t just want volunteers to watch. We want you placing tiles, choosing colours, and owning the process. The bench doesn’t belong to any one person. It’s yours, ours, and everyone’s who steps in.
So, what’s your role in all of this?
Maybe you have experience with design. Maybe you don’t. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you show up and get involved. We’ll guide you. We’ll break it down piece by piece, literally.
Think of it as building something bigger than a bench. You’re creating a space where conversations happen, friendships form, and people pause during busy days to sit and reflect.
Have you ever felt the satisfaction of seeing something physical, something you helped create? If you haven’t, this is your chance.
The off-site setup at Silvan House will soon be open. Look out for our annuncement. Bring your ideas. Bring your curiosity. Or just bring yourself.
We’ve got the buckets of tiles waiting. The dust will settle. The work will get done.
What will you leave behind?
Let’s find out.