7 Ways to Activate Streets

As the value of public spaces comes into focus, this article shares seven case studies of street furniture being used to help improve community wellbeing.

Both tactical pop-ups and permanent installations are featured below, with examples of projects that foster community engagement and measure social impact.

Street Furniture Australia products have been tried-and-tested to activate spaces and deliver results. Select from our range to bring life, joy and comfort to your community.

Case 1. Creating Millions of Smiles

Woden Experiment was a six-month prototype installation by the ACT Government that aimed to bring life, joy and comfort to Canberra’s Woden Town Square. Brightly coloured seats and tables were configured in random positions to create a casual and welcoming vibe. Community interviews, observations and workshops were at the heart of this project. More about the project here.

Project: Woden Experiment, Woden Town Centre, ACT
Year: 2018 – 2019
Client: ACT Government (Initial Concept Design by Context). Event programs managed by Woden Community Services.
Products Shown: Forum Seat, Forum Low Table, Cafe Round Table, Cafe Stool

Case 2. A Busy Streetscape

The Aria Seating System entices people to stop along a busy street by offering places to rest, meet, dine, and even bring the laptop outside. This smart cities project uniquely combined placemaking, industrial design and smart technology to create engaging spaces for the Federal Smart Cities and Suburbs Program. See more about the project.

Project: ChillOUT Hub, Belgrave Street, Kogarah, NSW
Year: 2019 – 2020
Client: Georges River Council, UNSW and University of Sydney
Products Shown: Aria Seating System, Cafe Round Table, Cafe Macchiato Table, Cafe Stool

Case 3. Physical Distancing with View

Brisbane City Council created a green riverside community retreat with new furniture, trees, landscaping and pathways for pedestrians and cyclists in an upgrade for the West End Riverside Parklands. Visitors can rest and watch the river on Mall Sun Lounges installed on the bank. The battens are powdercoated in a spectrum of green to promote relaxation.

Project: West End Riverside Parklands, QLD
Client: Brisbane City Council
Product: Mall Sun Lounge

Case 4. Green Boundaries

Planter boxes bring greenery to soften spaces, contributing to community wellbeing and cooling the urban heat island effect. Use planters to mark out areas and boundaries – delineate activation footprints to make installations feel less exposed and increase social comfort for sitting. They can also mark expanded footpaths and cycle lanes for social distancing on the street.

Product: Frame Planter

Case 5. The Moveable Seat

Combine fixed and moveable seats and tables to anchor a design, with a degree of flexibility – allow users to arrange seating to socialise or follow the shade. Forum is a hybrid of a street furniture and patio seat – moveable yet durable for use in the public realm. Forum is available in 1, 3 and 4-seater configurations. See our article on the moveable seat, William H Whyte and the power of choice.

Product: Forum Seat, Forum Low Table, Cafe Round Table, Cafe Stool

Case 6. Data for Storytelling

Watch the video below about how #BackyardExperiment boosted visitation by almost 200% through a street activation in Garema Place in Canberra’s CBD. This project, inspired by William Whyte, received the 2018 Australian Smart Cities Award in the Built Environment category by the Smart Cities Council ANZ. A free white paper is also available.

Project: #BackyardExperiment, Garema Place, ACT
Year: 2016
Clients: AILA, ACT Government
Products: Forum Seat, Cafe Round Table, Cafe Stool

Case 7. Rainbow Bright

Our powdercoat colours feature DuraBright™ for extra fade-resistance and a peace of mind. Add a pop of colour to attract people to spaces, soften hard surfaces and brighten the mood.

Project: St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School, NSW
Products: Mall Curved Slim Bench, Mall Slim Bench

Made in Australia

All our products are ISO certified and quality controlled to ISO standards. In-house powder coating offers a wide range of colours, featuring DuraBright for bright palettes with extra fade resistance.

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