An outdoor grill that combines a patio bench is a pretty nice concept, if the designers can execute it well. Let’s look at the hurdles to this concept. First, let us consider the factor of heat. There’s a reason why people don’t sit close to the grill at barbecues, and this is because the flames cooking the meat also heat up the surroundings. Assuming the design manages to insulate the heat perfectly, there’s the issue of the smoke to deal with. Perhaps a very good burner design and clean gas can minimize the smoke, but there’s still the issue of the heat to deal with, but it will require an almost perfect insulator. Second and more importantly, there’s the issue of marketability. As it is, the current designs of grills are so cheap, and the benches too, that it will be hard to get buyers to pick this over the current separate grills and benches. Assuming the designer can overcome the hurdles and market it with an edge, this will be a catchy piece of patio furniture that will thrill for its novelty.
Source: Gradient.umontreal