The Basic Forms (of Urban Life) installation by Finnish artist and urban designer Päivi Raivio comprises a series of movable plywood forms designed for visitors to rearrange, stack, and repurpose throughout London's Barbican Centre. Painted in colors drawn from the Barbican's Brutalist architecture, the geometric pieces can function as seating, tables, platforms, partitions, or temporary gathering spaces. The installation encourages multiple configurations rather than a fixed layout, allowing the public to reshape the space through direct participation.
Presented as part of the Barbican's Play Make Do festival from August 14–16, 2026, the installation follows an earlier presentation at the Concéntrico architecture festival in Logroño, Spain. Developed through Raivio's practice, RaivioBumann, the project explores adaptable public furniture that responds to changing patterns of use rather than predetermined arrangements.
Interactive Urban Furniture
The Basic Forms (Of Urban Life) Installation Invite Public Interaction
Trend Themes
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Participatory Placemaking — Public spaces are becoming more flexible as modular installations let visitors shape layouts, creating opportunities for adaptive civic environments that respond to real-time community behavior.
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Modular Urban Furniture — Movable seating, tables, and partitions signal a shift toward multifunctional infrastructure, with potential for cities and venues to reduce fixed buildouts while supporting changing social uses.
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Playful Public Design — Interactive installations that blend art, architecture, and utility are redefining urban engagement through approachable formats that encourage informal gathering and experimentation.
Industry Implications
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Urban Design — Adaptable furniture systems introduce new models for designing public areas that can evolve with pedestrian flow, events, and community needs.
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Architecture — Brutalist-inspired movable forms highlight how built environments can be softened through human-centered interventions that add flexibility without permanent structural change.
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Arts and Culture — Festival-based interactive works expand the role of cultural programming by turning audiences into co-creators of shared spatial experiences.