Modular outdoor seating for public well-being: A design-led approach to sustainable and flexible urban furniture
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71085/sss.04.03.316Keywords:
Modular Design, Outdoor Seating, Public Well-Being, Sustainable Urban Furniture, Flexible Systems, Universal Design, Emotional Durability, Geopolymer Material, Ergonomic Design, Landscape IntegrationAbstract
Keeping in mind, the fast pace urbanizations and environmental challenges, need of sustainability in public furniture must be addressed while enhancing social and emotional well-being. This paper is designed to address the approach to prioritize sustainability, flexibility, and emotional durability. Grounded in universal design principles (Carmona, 2010), landscape integration (Gehl, 2010), and emotional durability (Chapman, Emotionally Durable Design, 2015), the study proposes a methodology for creating adaptable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible urban furniture.
The design accommodates diverse demographics through multi-height modules, intuitive configurations, and aesthetic adaptability (Zhang, 2024), contributing to both functional and therapeutic outcomes in public environments (Gardner, 2018).
Downloads
References
Abdul Munaf Shaik, V. V. (2015). Development of modular manufacturing systems. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 789–802.
Ackerman, C. E. (2018). What is Environmental Psychology? Journal of Environmental Psychology.
AlWaer, H. S. (2021). Unhealthy neighbourhood syndrome. Mdpi.
AlWear, H. (2021). Unhealthy Neighbourhood “Syndrome”: A Useful Label for Analysing and Providing Advice on Urban Design Decision-Making? Suustainability.
Appolloni L, A. G. (2020). Walkable urban environments: An ergonomic approach. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116232
Appolloni, L. (2020). Walkable Urban Environments: An Ergonomic Approach of Evaluation. Research Gate.
Carlos Mena, E. F.-V. (2014). Role of access to parks and markets with anthropometric measurements, biological markers, and a healthy lifestyle. Nlh.
carmona, G. (2019). Transforming Ergonomics with Personalized Health and Intelligent Workplaces. Ios Press Ebooks.
Carmona, M. (2010). Public places urban spaces: The. Elsevier.
Chapman, J. (2015). Emotionally Durable Design. London: Routledge.
Chapman, J. (2015). Emotionally Durable Design. Routledge.
Control, B. C. (201). Healthy Built Environment Linkages Toolkit. Retrieved from un habitat: https://unhabitat-urbanhealth.org/download/healthy-built-environment-linkages-toolkit/
Council, I. E. (2000). The University of North California. Retrieved from Unc: https://ehs.unc.edu/topics/ergonomics/
Dainoff, M. J. (2008). Ergonomics and psychology: Developments in theory and. Crc Press.
Design, E. o. (2017). Encyclopedia of Landscape Design. Dk.
Ely, N. (2016). Mobilita. Retrieved from Behance: https://www.behance.net/gallery/41905815/Mobilita?tracking_source=search_projects_recommended%7Coutdoor%20%20modular%20furniture%20
Gao, T. T. (2022). Research on Urban Furniture Intervention to Foster Community Emotional Healing. Springer.
Gardner, J. M.-C. (2018). Gehl. Retrieved from Cities for people: https://www.gehlpeople.com/knowledge-hub/articles/
Gehl, J. (2010). Cities for people. Island Press.
Ghassemi, R. K. (2016). Urban Furniture and Leisure of Citizens (Case Study of Sabzevar. Journal of Civil Engineering and Urbanism.
Grace Mulyono, D. T. (2017). Development of Modular Outdoor Furniture Product Using Lightweight Concrete for Public Parks in Surabaya. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. Doi 10.1088/1757-899X/234/1/012022
Greenfield, D. E. (2023, Sep 3). Sustainable Design Strategies: A Complete Guide. Retrieved from Sigmaearth: https://sigmaearth.com/sustainable-design-strategies-a-complete-guide/
Gul onat, D. s. (2019). Coron-out. Retrieved from Behance: https://www.behance.net/gallery/114614205/Coron-Out?tracking_source=search_projects_recommended%7Coutdoor%20furniture%20product%20design
Harmon, T. (2025). Maximize Comfort with Ergonomic Outdoor Patio Furniture. Retrieved from Patio Production: https://www.patioproductions.com/blog/features/maximize-comfort-with-ergonomic-outdoor-patio-furniture/
Kevin Norbert Otto, K. L. (2001). Product Design: Techiniques in Reverse Engineering and New Product Development / K.N. Otto, K.L. Wood; pról. de Maurice F. Holmes. Researchgate.
Kin Wai Michael Siu, K. S. (2015). Flexible design principles: Street furniture design for transforming environments, diverse users, changing needs and dynamic interactions. Emerald. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-02-2014-0021
Levin, M. S. (2014). Modular System Design and Evaluation. Springer.
Liu, W. (2022). Inclusive urban renewal. Isprs International Journal of Geo.
Main, B. &. (2010). Site Furnishings: A Complete Guide to the Planning, Selection and Use of Landscape Furniture and Amenities. Wiley.
Mirrer, S. B. (2025). Using anthropometric data in the design of children's health care environments. Jstor.
Mulyono, G. T. (2017). Development of modular outdoor furniture using lightweight concrete. Iop.
Officials, A. A. (2011). Road Side guide (4th edition). Aashto.
Oihane Gómez-Carmona, J. S.-M. (2019). Enhancing street-level interactions in smart cities through interactive and modular furniture. Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Humanized Computing.
Otto, K. N. (2003). Product design: Techniques in reverse engineering. Pearson.
Radwan, A. H. (2017). The Importance of Integrating Street Furniture in The Visual Image of the City. Ijmer.
Rinaldi, A. (2019). Designing smart furniture for migrant integration. In. Iea Conference.
Sanches, M. G. (2010). Co-design in public spaces. Design Research Society Conference.
Tovar, E. (2025). Are modular seating systems redefining our perception of public? Arch Daily.
Tovar, E. (2025). Are Modular Seating Systems Redefining Our Perception of Public Spaces? Retrieved from ArchDaily: https://www.archdaily.com/1027386/are-modular-seating-systems-redefining-our-perception-of-public-spaces
Urbaniture. (2024). Urban furniture strategies: Redefining public spaces. Retrieved from Urbaniture: https://urbaniture.com/
urbanitureai. (2024). Urban Furniture Trends: Shaping the Future of Public Spaces. Retrieved from Urbaniture: https://urbaniture.com/urban-furniture-design/urban-furniture-trends-shaping-the-future-of-public-spaces/
Zhang, Z. S. (2024). Sustainable seating design in Shanghai communities. Mdpi.
Downloads
Published
Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.