Given most people will probably avoid talking to the stranger sharing a public bench with them, George Zisiadis did a redesign to encourage play and social interaction. Based in San Francisco, the designer created the Bench Go Round -- a mix between a bench and a merry-go-round. Strangers can spin together on the artistic seating, allowing people to connect over a fun moment.
The whimsical public bench has a literal twist, so each side faces opposite ways. There is also a swivel feature in the middle, so when people are sitting they can use their feet to push and make the whole structure rotate. This also seems to encourage hand-holding.
Zisiadis explains, "The goal was to create a shared single surface that both preserves personal space but also invites connection with the person adjacent to you."
Playful Public Seating
This Interaction-Encouraging Public Bench is Inspired by a Merry-Go-Round
Trend Themes
1. Interactive Public Seating - Designing public benches with interactive features to encourage social interaction and play presents opportunities for innovative public space design solutions.
2. Whimsical Public Seating - Creating public seating that is both artistic and functional presents potential for playful and engaging design solutions in urban environments.
3. Socially-driven Public Seating Design - Designing public benches with a focus on social connection and community building presents opportunities for innovative public space solutions that prioritize human interaction.
Industry Implications
1. Urban Design - Innovative public seating design presents opportunities for urban designers to create unique and engaging public spaces.
2. Public Art - Designing public seating that is both functional and artistic presents opportunities for the public art industry to collaborate with urban designers.
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