Stay Young Benches

When we turn 30, we start to lose muscles. And that’s exactly the age where most of us become parent and stop exercising. Instead, we watch our children having fun while we simply sit on a bench. That’s why Helan, Health Insurance, and FamousGrey added an adult playground to the children’s playground. Along with RAAK design studio, they turned lazy sitting benches into playful exercises. A series of four designed ‘stay young benches’ installed in Ghent, require some light muscle strength to unlock a seat, making exercise an interactive part of daily life.

Research shows that we start to lose around 10 percent of their muscle mass every decade starting from the age of 30. "This is because muscles become thinner and shorter, making them less efficient in contracting and producing strength," explains Jef Vanhoof, movement expert at Helan Independent Health Fund. "Gradually, you become weaker and stiffer. Which can lead to health issues at an older age. This can be remedied through minimal strength training."

To demonstrate that intensive workouts are not necessary, and that strength training can be integrated into daily routines, Helan introduced 'Adult Playgrounds': a series of unique benches that require users to engage in light strength exercises before sitting down. The benches were developed by FamousGrey and RAAK Design Studio from Leuven, with logistical support from the city of Ghent, which installed four of these benches in the Blaarmeersen recreational area.