Chris Bangle's "Big Benches," now a symbol of the Langhe, gave rise to the BIG BENCH COMMUNITY PROJECT (BBCP) initiative, which aims to support local businesses, tourism, and crafts in the towns where these scale installations are located.
BBCP is a non-profit initiative of the American designer and his wife Catherine, residents of Clavesana since 2009, with the goal of uniting the creativity of the design team at Chris Bangle Associates Srl with the artisans of this area of Piedmont.
The BBCP's activities—which are strictly for-profit—include both technical support for those wishing to build official Big Benches and collaboration with prominent local artisans to create products inspired by them that can make a small contribution to the local economy and tourism, in keeping with the positive spirit that the Big Benches bring to this area.
A portion of the sales proceeds, as well as donations from those who build a new bench, will be forwarded by the BIG BENCH COMMUNITY PROJECT to the participating communities, benefiting the local community. A first result of this initiative is the collaboration with Carrus master goldsmith Ugo Bracco, who recreated the eight existing benches in miniature form as pendants made of 925 silver.