Smart Furniture Talk Coming to the PLA Conference in Perth

Smart furniture can promote greater community engagement with the outdoors in parks and open spaces, for better health and wellbeing.

Since 2016 Street Furniture Australia has invested in multiple award-winning smart city research collaborations with government and universities.

Join Street Furniture Australia’s Head of Innovation June Lee Boxsell to hear about the research results and lessons learnt from three key case studies, and the latest street furniture innovations, at the 2019 Parks and Leisure Conference in Perth.

Time: 4.40pm, Monday October 28, 2019 (conference day two).
Venue: Crown Perth, Great Eastern Hwy, Perth WA
Registration: Packages available from Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA).

The PLA Conference focuses on the importance of linking parks, open spaces and facilities to health, well-being and sporting performance – with talks and events from October 27 to 30 in Perth.

A preview of our talk, ‘Smart Furniture Revolution,’ is below.

Case Study 1: ChillOUT

How might we increase community connectivity, enable knowledge exchange and provide flexible spaces to meet, work and play?

Street Furniture Australia, collaborating with Georges River Council and UNSW, will share the learnings from current project ChillOUT, funded by the federal Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.

Installation has begun on three smart hubs in Sydney’s south-west in a town centre, green suburban park and busy streetscape.

Case Study 2: #BackyardExperiment

How might we transform a grey thoroughfare into a warm, family-friendly destination?

Gain insights from the #BackyardExperiment activation of Garema Place in Canberra (2016), a collaboration with AILA and the ACT Government. An eight-day design intervention with furniture, art and colour, lighting and lawn – created unexpected results.

The project caused a 190% rise in foot traffic, 247% more dwellers, and an incredible 631% more children were seen enjoying the space.

Case Study 3: Woden Experiment

How might we bring life, joy and comfort to Woden Town Square?

Street Furniture Australia was engaged by ACT Government to use human-centred research methodologies to deeply understand the hearts and minds of the Woden community. The findings were used to form the brief for a six-month activation.

Woden Experiment is still up and running and has recently been extended for another six months by ACT Minister Chris Steel.

Street Furniture Innovations

Technology is now a fundamental part of Street Furniture Australia’s new product development process. Below are some of the latest innovations from the R&D team.