How can street furniture enhance public spaces?

Public spaces are essential for community interaction, relaxation, and well-being. However, for these spaces to truly serve their purpose, they must be thoughtfully designed to accommodate the needs of all who use them. 

This is where street furniture plays a crucial role. 

Beyond just providing basic amenities, street furniture can transform a public area into a more inviting, functional, and sustainable environment. From benches and bike racks to street lamps and rubbish bins, each piece serves a specific purpose that contributes to the overall experience of the space. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore how street furniture can enhance public spaces, along with the challenges they may bring, helping you create a community space that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also more inclusive, functional, and environmentally conscious.

What is street furniture? 

Street furniture refers to a number of items and structures found in public spaces – most usually on public streets – that provide functionality and comfort, as well as an aesthetic value to the public. There are many different types of street furniture, but they’re all designed to make outdoor public spaces easier and more enjoyable to use. 

A few examples of street furniture include benches, lighting, bins, bicycle racks and much more. 

How can street furniture enhance public spaces?

Wondering what the point of street furniture is? Here’s a breakdown of all the different ways street furniture enhances public spaces:

1. Aesthetic enhancement

One of the main aims of street furniture – aside from its usefulness – is to make public spaces more visually appealing, by adding both style and functionality. Thoughtfully designed benches, lamp posts, bike racks, and even rubbish bins can complement the surrounding architecture and contribute to the overall atmosphere of an outdoor space. For example, traditional or modern designs can reflect the character of an area, whilst contemporary designs may be more suited to bustling city centres.

Street furniture can also act as a focal point, drawing people’s eyes and adding interest to outdoor surroundings. Pieces like planters and comfortable and unique seating can encourage people to interact with the area and make the space feel more inviting. Lighting can also enhance the space’s ambience, especially at night time.

2. Functionality and utility

Of course, the main purpose of street furniture is to serve a functional purpose for the public who use the outdoor spaces by meeting their practical needs. Benches provide essential seating, giving people a place to sit and rest whether they’re waiting for a bus, having a stroll through the park or simply on their lunch break. Rubbish bins are key for keeping spaces clean and tidy, giving people an easy-to-access spot for getting rid of their waste. Street lighting from lamp posts helps with safety and visibility at night; areas become far more accessible and secure after dark if they are well-lit.

3. Enhancing social interaction

The clever placement of benches can not only help pedestrians take the load off when exploring their local park or waiting for public transport, but it can also encourage social interaction by creating convenient spaces for relaxing and meeting up. When benches are positioned in areas with high foot traffic – such as near parks, bus stops and cafes – they naturally draw people together, giving them a chance to slow down and chat. Arranging seating in a way that faces one another, rather than against a wall or on their own and out of the way, helps encourage wider conversation in the community. 

4. Promoting accessibility and inclusivity

Whilst aesthetics and functionality is key, it’s also important to make sure the space is accessible to everyone, regardless of their age or ability. Incorporating universal design into street furniture can easily be done. Features such as benches with armrests provide support for the elderly or those with mobility issues, while wide and smooth paths – along with easily accessible rubbish bins – can make these outdoor spaces easier for people with disabilities to navigate. Ramps or low-level bike racks also help those who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids. 

5. Environmental consideration

Sustainability is increasingly on everyone’s minds. Designers and manufacturers of street furniture can make sure they’re ticking these boxes by working with eco-friendly materials, and focusing on designs with little to no environmental impact. Using recycled materials – like plastic, metal and wood – for everything from benches and bins to bike racks not only reduces waste, but also promotes resource conservation. 

Designs of other types of street furniture can be adapted to include energy-efficient features, like solar-powered lamps, which help cut down on public energy consumption. Green features – like planters or green roofs – can be added near benches or on top of bus stops. 

There’s also the incorporation of urban green – through additions like planters and green walls – which can help to enhance environmental health within built-up urban areas. 

6. Technological integration

In some areas, street furniture is moving with the future. Adapting street furniture with technology, such as Wi-Fi hotspots and charging stations, adds additional use and value to the piece. Not only could a bench be a place to rest or socialise, but it becomes another reason for people to escape their homes. Imagine being able to work in a park on a summer day, without worrying about Wi-Fi signals or your laptop dying? 

Challenges with public street furniture 

Despite all the ways street furniture can enhance public spaces, it isn’t always without challenge. Problems you may face with public street furniture could include: 

1. Maintenance and upkeep

Like anything, street furniture will need to be kept and maintained – especially with constant exposure to weather conditions and public use. Regular wear and tear is to be expected, but this needs to be maintained to keep the piece fit and safe for the public, reducing public liability risks. They will also need to be regularly cleaned, especially for items such as benches and bins, to maintain hygiene and keep the piece an aesthetic and functional part of the community.

2. Vandalism and theft

Public street furniture is often the target of vandalism and theft. Graffiti, along with intentionally breaking and defacing street furniture, is common – especially in low-income areas that are in desperate need of community engagement. Smaller items, such as bins and bike racks, can also be stolen if not secured in place. These issues can be costly to rectify, and may be a regular occurrence if not deterred – however, talks with local law enforcement and community watch programs may be able to assist.  

3. Space constraints

In densely populated areas, there may not be enough room for essential street furniture, such as bins and lighting, without impeding pedestrian flow. Poor placement, because of these constraints, can lead to underutilisation or obstruction of walkways and access points. Extensive planning needs to be done to combat this, and ensure that the implementation of street furniture enhances a space. 

4. Safety concerns

The implementation of street furniture, such as isolated seating, along with inadequate lighting around them, can sometimes attract undesirable activities which may make the area feel unsafe for the general public – especially at night. When planning public spaces, and the implementation of street furniture, it is important to consider what the community needs, and how to make the area feel welcoming and secure for all. 

5. Budgetary constraints

Public street furniture, especially those of quality, can be expensive to design and install. Long-term maintenance costs, and potential replacement costs, can add to these expenses. Be sure to consider the long-term budget for this community endeavour – not just the initial purchase price – to ensure you can meet the demands. 

6. Adaptability

Public spaces are constantly evolving, and as such, the street furniture needed may need to adapt to new uses or demographics. Understanding what the community needs against the other challenges street furniture can bring can become a logistical challenge. However, conversations with community leaders and the general public can be a great way to bring new understanding to these concerns. 

Looking for bespoke CNC services for your next community project? Contact us today to see how our timber experts can support your next endeavour, helping you transform a space with a one-of-a-kind piece. Learn more about our work for inspiration on everything we do at Handrail Creations.