Beautiful Upcycled Boardwalk Benches by Forms+Surfaces Help Aid Sandy Relief

<a href="http://www.forms-surfaces.com/" target="_blank">Forms+Surfaces</a>’ upcycled Boardwalk Benches are more than just sophisticated places to sit. Using 142-year-old <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/brooklyns-prospect-restaurant-to-feature-walls-made-from-upcycled-coney-island-boardwalk-wood/" target="_blank">salvaged boardwalk planks</a> from the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/reports-say-much-of-atlantic-city-is-underwater-thanks-to-hurricane-sandy/" target="_blank">Atlantic City</a> boardwalk, the company has designed a cool bench that gives back. All proceeds from the sale of each Boardwalk Bench will go to the <a href="http://www.redcross.org/templates/render/render.jsp?pageId=11400031&scode=RSG00000E017&subcode=paiddonationsbrand&gclid=CLPxrpKN0bMCFY-d4AodxiMA5g">Red Cross Sandy Relief campaign</a>.

Much of the idyllic boardwalks along the East Coast have been literally washed away by the recent Hurricane Sandy. But the ravaged boardwalk planks are getting new life, while aiding in reconstruction.

Forms + Surfaces’ Boardwalk Bench upcycles FSC-certified Cumaru hardwood from the now washed away <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/the-jerde-partnership-reimagines-atlantic-city-as-a-gorgeous-green-family-destination/green-atlantic-city/" target="_blank">Atlantic City Boardwalk</a>.

The benches’ asymmetrical pattern allows the designers to use as much <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/12x12-twelve-designers-transform-reclaimed-nyc-lumber-into-fresh-modern-furnishings/" target="_blank">salvaged wood</a> as possible, from scrap bits to full slats.

Only knots and bolts are cut out, making very little waste, while also creating a line of furniture without cutting down a single tree. Designed to be used inside or outdoors, the streamlined, chevron shaped bench is by no means rustic.

The bench preserves a piece of regional history- gleaned from a seaside city that was once the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/developers-of-atlantic-city-offshore-wind-farm-say-they-are-ready-to-build/" target="_blank">East Coast’s playground</a>, luring vacationers for over 100 years. Now that much of the city’s shore, as well as the rest of the East Coast, must be rebuilt, the bench feels all the more iconic.

Aside from being a company dedicated to environmentalism and upcycling, Forms + Surfaces has really shown their investment, by donating the Boardwalk Bench’s profits to help rebuild the inspiration and source of their product.