If you post photos, you may get some advice. Otherwise, ask family; grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles etc for any memories regarding the piece. Do an internet search on the image. Look for clues such as nail types, wood species, any maker markings.

Thanks to those who offered helpful suggestions. The idea of adding plants and cushions or more "soft" items is really helpful, and I also liked the idea of leaning into the concrete by maybe adding some other elements that include concrete. I'm interested in possibly staining it, or maybe trying to clad it in a neutral marble/stone as well, and I really appreciate the ideas and mockups people have posted. The wood was professionally stained but I think the way the light is coming through in the photos makes it look uneven - it looks great in real life. As for the tile, I tried to have it removed so I could give it to a friend, in whose house it would look amazing, but there was no way to do it without destroying it. I get that people lust after this brand, but it's not antique -- it's just expensive. Anyone can go buy that tile right now; they make plenty and I agree it's beautiful in the right setting, but I don't like the color and not here. So my options were to live with it, cover it, take a sledgehammer to it, or paint it. I chose paint (which, by the way, the can be removed with some effort if a future owner wants to - we tested that). One of the most freeing things I learned from an interior designer friend is this: "Just because someone else spent an ocean of money on something doesn't obligate you to keep it."

I don't think a built in would work there. Even if you do build in from the inside and render the windows sort of unopenable from the bottom up- it would likely look odd from the outside. You might be better off looking for a freestanding bench or seat that looks good in the space instead.

Definitely a bad design - when I’ve seen showers with benches like yours, the benches always go out to the curb = no space. I can only imgaine how difficult that spot is to clean. What’s going on withthe schluter edge profile on the bench? The photo looks like the side tile is popping out from the metal trim + the corner is off. Is this an older shower?