Little wonder: Velopa

No one can set benchmarks for safety, security and aesthetics like the Swiss – especially when it’s a bench backed by the experts for safety, protection and well-being at Velopa AG. Still quite new to the bench business, the Swiss company is now making trips to the mountains and urban excursions a pure delight with impeccable quality and universal appeal.

Toya is not just a bench, it is a bench with timeless style that meets all the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act that will come into force in 2023. It is Swiss made and already quite at home throughout Switzerland – having delivered definitive proof of the latter as a ‘model experiment’ at the Swissminiatur open-air museum in Ticino.

Whether in front of the Grossmünster Cathedral in Zurich, encircling the Piazza Grande in Locarno, at the Bundeshaus parliament building in Bern: even in miniature form, the bench is a maximum asset to any setting in Switzerland. Along with its ergonomic design, premium-grade materials and stable construction, its true greatness lies in is its versatility. It offers peace and quiet to walkers, back support to senior citizens and a place to rest for tourists, but also serves as a chill-out spot for young people and an attractive photographic motif for Instagrammers.

Of course, it’s a tremendous challenge to design a bench to please all segments of the Swiss population. But Toya rises to the task – even without the need for ground anchoring on steeper terrains. In addition, it scores points with a comfortable seat height that lets users easily get up again even after an extended rest, as well as stable armrests and a tactile crossbeam, which is groundbreaking in every sense for the visually impaired.

As Switzerland’s leading supplier of parking systems, shelters and other products that make public spaces more attractive and effective, it was a logical next step for Velopa to expand its range with Toya to make it easier for planners and architects to find suitable seating for outdoor waiting areas or urban landscapes. With Toya, Velopa can now also offer universal total solutions that, like all its products, combine the beautiful with the useful.

The defining focus is on individual users and their emotions, needs and demands. This approach is naturally also reflected in the look and construction of Toya, which was conceived by the renowned designer Daniel Hunziker. Cross-generational thinking is another aspect that characterises the cooperation between Velopa and Hunziker. Despite the comfortable features, which especially appeal to older users, Toya also works in hip locations frequented by younger people, such as skate parks.

By the way, Toya is not only manufactured in Switzerland to minimise transport distances and reduce CO2 emissions, Velopa also relies on local wood, recycled steel and traditional craftsmanship. As a member of the cooperatively organised Hammer Group, Velopa has access to the best available expertise in metal construction. The group is jointly committed to setting trends for tomorrow’s infrastructure projects with creativity and innovation.

Just as Velopa builds on a collective association of competent professionals, Toya functions not only as a soloist but also as an ensemble player. Shopping zones, transit areas, tourist destinations and many other meeting spots in the city or countryside can be designed functionally, comprehensively and sustainably with the coordinated products from the outdoor space specialists.

Toya’s three basic components of frame, crossbeam and slats can be adapted in style with desired lengths, wood types and colours, depending on the architectural concept, and for places of well-being from the Dufourspitze to the Mattertal valley. The collection also includes armchairs, loungers, tables and lounge tables. Despite its distinctive character, Toya can also take a ‘back seat’ and leave room for the spaces in between. It thus stands for a rare combination of values: stability, reliability and openness.

© Architonic