Social Urban Furniture: Designing Urban Furniture for High-Interaction Cities
Public spaces in cities are crucial for everyday social life. These spaces and the objects within them are expected to interact with city dwellers. This interaction can be enhanced through the design of social urban furniture. To achieve this, it is essential to accurately plan the functions and users of urban furniture.
Public spaces serve multiple functions in cities. From rallies to festivals, from small conversations to neighborhood concerts, these spaces host a variety of activities. They hold a special place in social life, catering to diverse perspectives, such as people grilling in green areas or couples watching the sunset. Thus, the physical configuration of these spaces guides and facilitates the use of their functions.
Considering these criteria, urban furniture must be integrated with urban life. Urban furniture can only serve social life effectively if it is designed with this holistic approach. Guiding users’ preferences by providing suitable structures and options enhances social life.
Selecting and Placing Urban Furniture to Organize and Design Public Spaces
Inadequate selection and placement of urban furniture force pedestrians to meet their daily needs with existing structures. In squares without seating units, people will rest on sidewalks, stairs, or boundary elements. Instead of compelling city dwellers to make such choices, it is necessary to provide urban furniture that meets their needs.
The general design of urban furniture is based on common measurements. For instance, benches are typically designed to seat three people. Such restrictions and standardizations target specific users and exclude others. However, urban furniture is expected to be accessible to everyone and support social life.
A more versatile design should be aimed for by adding multi-use possibilities to urban furniture. By incorporating real-life experiences, supporting rather than limiting people, and targeting multiple groups, a richer urban life can be achieved.
It is essential to surpass the concept of placing urban furniture merely where people gather. By understanding its social role and designing accordingly, urban furniture will stand out as community-focused elements rather than mere amenities placed in necessary spots.
How Can Urban Furniture Become Social Urban Furniture?
By choosing the right locations and developing multifunctional urban furniture, it is possible to enhance urban life quality in small areas and bring people together.
Placing multifunctional social urban furniture in parks, recreation areas, and at the junctions of different urban textures allows people to engage in various activities simultaneously. This approach ensures that urban furniture truly becomes a living element of the city.
Designing urban furniture with the city’s texture in mind, using unique colors and simple materials, creates a striking, cost-effective, yet highly efficient urban element.
A group of young people parking their bikes can discuss their interests while adults relax at a table after a long day. Children can play within the play area, express themselves with a play tower and blackboard, and even engage in physical activities by playing basketball with an added hoop.
In densely populated cities, such social urban furniture offers an ideal solution due to spatial constraints. In less dense cities, it enhances its impact by utilizing larger areas to bring people together. Revitalizing underused urban areas through social projects will improve the overall quality of urban life.
