Shanghai based MARS architects design a bench that collects and stores rain water as a contemporary solution to overcome the water problems faced by India’s largest city. The water bench is an oblong seat with tufted seams that serve to guide water to the special drainage “buttons”.  Each bench is hollowed out to hold internal tanks of different sizes, depending on the capacity of the parks. The urban design paves the way for sustainability and independence at a local level, allowing city dwellers to take matters into their own hands instead of relying on the city’s deteriorating water supply. For many Indian cities, this could just prove to be one of the most worthwhile inventions in a long time.