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Evolution of the park bench
TAKE A SEAT?
Several factors will likely affect your decision.
Similar to other animals in the wild,
humans like to survey their habitat…
…to see if there’s a potential predator nearby.
We want a safe place to perch...
…near sources of food and water.
We may choose to interact with others,
or find comfort in solitude.
We may seek shade in certain situations…
…and sun in others.
We prefer movable seating,
with some sense of order.
We gather at the water source for social reasons...
…and to restore our energy.
We take a seat to watch other
members of our species…
…or to connect with cultural institutions.
Sometimes comfort is the
most important factor.
This seating offers comfort,
conversation and a view.
But comfort may be cheerfully
sacrificed for novelty…
…when art and the park bench are combined.
Today’s public
seating provides
democratic
access to dining
with a multi-million
dollar view.
There is a
growing sense
of shared
responsibility…
…and appreciation for diversity.
Why does the
quality of public
seating matter
to our economic
health today?
Why are our
expectations
for the park bench
changing ?
In simple terms…
a depressed,
lonely, isolated,
unsafe, unhealthy,
low self-esteem
state of mind is
bad for today’s
means of production:
our brainpower.
Three decades ago, the quest to reduce crime
and anti-social activity in public spaces led to the
‘broken window theory’ of visual signals.
Today, community aspirations have moved
beyond ‘do no harm.’
The evolution of the park bench signals a
new era of respect for the power of public
spaces to nurture human relationships.
For example, this
“PLEASE TOUCH THE ART”
bench by Jeppe Hein was
created to encourage
conversation.
This public art
seating adds
vibrancy to the
community and
character to the
street.
At the base of this tall building there is public
seating which conveys openness, abundance…
The Qube, 611 Woodward Ave.
Bedrock Real Estate Services
Detroit, Michigan
…empathy and generosity.
We have an opportunity to feed our heads...
…by relaxing
with art, nature,
and other
humans…
…in various settings…
…provided there is some sense of protection.
We converse with friends...
…or begin new conversations.
Unique characters appear
where humans want to linger…
…these interesting characters are not attracted
to artificial places where public seating is absent.
These settings
feed our capacity to
work, think, renew
and socialize...
…so that we can
thrive in a
post-industrial,
knowledge based
economy.
PEOPLE
FRIENDLY
PUBLIC
SEATING
Sharon VanderKaay
Twitter: @svkaay
Evolution of the park bench
Pier 15 East River Esplanade
SHoP Architects with Ken Smith