For years, I worked with Industrias Figueras (one of the most powerful manufacturers of seating for performance venues in the world) on the design of a high-quality bench for waiting rooms.

From the outset, I was focused on achieving a microarchitecture that would provide refuge and individual lighting in the vast, impersonal spaces of airports and stations (a sketch from 1988 attests to this). Naturally, the novelty of the idea –which was later recommended by the "Master" Vico Magistretti for London’s airport– caused successive delays, but in the end, I saw it completed.

Although the starting point of the project, what set it apart from other excellent designs on the market, was the intention to create a protected and private space, I also studied more economical versions without a roof.

As for the seating, after several attempts, we agreed that the solution offering the most comfort was, without a doubt, a membrane tensioned between two lateral supports. An interesting contribution was that the union between the curved profile of the seat and the horizontal bars allowed the membrane to be tensioned without the need for external tools. Once this solution was decided, I found it impossible to forget Charles Eames' magnificent bench. The final shape clearly alluded to this glorious precedent, which is why I named it “Carlitos.”