# Playful Public Seating Designs The London Festival of Architecture Boasts a Series of Seats By Kalin Ned | Published 2023-06-15 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playful-public-seating References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2023/06/15/london-festival-of-architecture-pews-and-perches-winners/) & [londonfestivalofarchitecture.org](https://www.londonfestivalofarchitecture.org/)  Pews and Perches is a competition held by the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) and the [Royal Docks Team](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pews-and-perches) (RDT), and in its fourth year, the event continues to boast playful public seating that captures the attention of curious minds. The competition challenges [emerging architects and designers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jean-nouvel-11) to create these stunning pieces of furniture. This year, the London Festival of Architecture's theme was "in common" which raised questions about "how we create and shape shared spaces." Four playful public seating designs were selected as winners. Float, for example, is a circular seat made with deadstock bricks. Individuals can use it in a multitude of ways. Together We Hold, on the other hand, is a much more colorful design. Created by Akmaral Khassen, the piece pays homage to "women standing together and creating shared safe spaces." Image Credit: Luke O'Donovan ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 66% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 16% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Playful Public Seating Designs:** Creating innovative and interactive seating solutions that captivate the public. - **Shared Spaces:** Exploring how the design of shared spaces can foster connection and community. - **Sustainable Materials:** Using recycled or repurposed materials to create eco-friendly furniture designs. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture:** Opportunity for architects to push the boundaries of conventional seating designs and create unique, eye-catching pieces. - **Design:** Designers can capitalize on the growing demand for playful and engaging public seating solutions. - **Sustainability:** Innovative seating designs offer a chance for the furniture industry to showcase eco-friendly alternatives. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sculptural Public Seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sculptural-public-seating.md) - [Artful Dockside Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pews-and-perches.md) - [Public-Oriented Furniture Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/furniture-for-public-use.md) - [Repurposed Brick Public Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brick-public-furniture.md) - [Tranquil Reading Seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chapters-furniture.md) - [Adaptive Public Seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adp-bench.md) - [Unconventional Playful Seating Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bau-1.md) - [Interactive Purposeful Urban Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urban-furniture1.md) - [19th-Century-Inspired Seating Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scottish-designers.md)