Street and site furniture

Design Objectives

Elements placed in a landscape or streetscape for comfort, convenience, information, circulation control,
protection, and user enjoyment are collectively referred to as site furniture. Benches, bollards, signage,
lighting, tree grates, and utility boxes are but a few examples . Their design and placement require careful
consideration, involving several factors.
• Appropriateness:
Appropriateness is a major objective in the design and placement of site furniture elements. It is
important to respond to the character of a site as well as its existing and proposed functions
• Response to Setting:
Design should respond to the essential identity or inherent character of a place. Successful, lasting
design will flow out of its setting, continually responding to the needs of its users, meeting functional
requirements, and adapting to the environmental stresses affecting it.
DESIGN DETERMINANTS
Settings should be analyzed in terms of both cultural and physical factors.
Cultural factors include:
1. Social context
2. Political context
Physical factors include:
1. Climate
2. Natural physiography
3. The existing built environment
1. The cultural traditions and habits of particular user groups provide a basis for unique design departures
that can enliven the setting as a whole . Similarly, inattention to these habits and desires can foster
negative reaction in a neighborhood .
2. Design must balance the thoughtful examination of the natural, built, and social setting, with regulatory
concerns and politically-charged issues of maintenance and safety.
3. Particular landforms, vegetation, vistas, and other distinctive qualities that give an area its special
character should be considered in the selection, design and placement of site furnishings.
4. Furniture elements should reflect the character of the built environment, be internally integrated
between themselves, and not promote a cluttered appearance.
5. The physical dimensions and movement characteristics of the human body are essential determinants
for the design of site furniture.
Cultural Factors
• Social Context: Attention to both the existing and proposed large-scale social setting will indicate
who is currently using the site and who will likely use the site in the future. The manner in which
the site is being used requires careful investigation.
• Political Context: Design ideas will evolve from thoughtful examination of the natural, built, and
social setting, but a complex and contradicting array of administrative, operational, regulatory,
and legal issues can compromise a design.
The nature of the setting, whether a public square or a corporate courtyard, implies major differences
in the choice of design elements. Public streets and spaces are susceptible to incidences of vandalism, and
are also periodically abandoned by revenue- starved local governments. Lastly, issues of long-term
maintenance, public safety, and circulation control require careful consideration.
Physical Factors
• Climate: Different climates and/or dramatic seasonal changes can significantly influence the
design of site furniture and the consequent comfort of the users.
• Physiography: Particular landforms, vegetation, and other distinctive qualities which give an
area its special regional or local character should be responded to in a congruent manner. Special
attention should be given to examining local landscapes and materials before translating program
requirements into built elements.
• Built Environment: Site furnishings can strengthen the link between a development and its
surroundings, can personalize the setting, and can enhance the positive aspects of the surrounding
built landscape. Furniture elements should reflect the character of the built environment, be
internally integrated between themselves, and not promote a cluttered appearance. There should
be a balance between the visual importance of individual furniture elements and their
compatibility within the visual context of the setting. It is important to incorporate the vistas,
views, and visual composition of the entire site.
Environmental Factors
Individual site furniture elements should meet the following environmental criteria:

Temperature:

• Heat: The climate of a particular area is a key consideration when trying to determine whether
permanent, partial, or temporary shade and glare reduction measures are needed . Furniture
elements, such as permanent benches, should not be placed near extensive areas of paving or wall
surfaces which reflect or radiate excessive amounts of heat, unless adequately buffered by shade,
etc . Benches, handles, and handrails exposed to full sunlight should be nonmetallic and/or light
in color to remain comfortable to the touch .
• Cold: Site furniture should be placed to take advantage of natural sun traps in cool weather
regions, thereby extending the usefulness of the site. Materials which absorb and radiate heat are
advantageous in cold climates.
Precipitation:

• Rain: In regions subject to rain and/or snowfall, some of the site furniture used for sitting should
be placed in sheltered locations. Benches should drain well ; they could be constructed of no
absorptive materials to promote rapid drying . They should also be located to take advantage of
the warming effects of sunlight. Materials selected for use in humid climates should be naturally
decay and fungus-resistant, or specially treated to minimize mildew, rot, and consequent staining.
• Wind: Site furniture (benches, tables, etc.) should be located to minimize any negative gusting
impacts upon users in areas subject to strong prevailing winds. Patterns of snow drifting should
be studied to minimize its accumulation on furniture. Furniture can be located to take advantage
of natural cooling breezes in warm climates. Trees can provide shade and, to some extent, control
the movement of air.
• Light: Site furniture should take advantage of the quality and character of light available on the
site. Wherever possible, minimize the glare from light fixtures and intense sunlight. Recognizing
that light conditions change both daily and seasonally, locate furniture and especially outdoor
signs in such a way as to minimize the glare caused by low sun angles on wet, frosted, or
otherwise reflective surfaces .
 • Noise: Site furniture may be focused toward pleasant sources such as the sounds of songbirds,
children, street performers, and the like. Reciprocally, undesirable sounds can be blocked. Sound
barrier walls, earth mounds, and other techniques of noise control should be considered.
Environmental Factors
The selection and design of site furniture should take climatic issues of temperature, and precipitation into
consideration.
1. In hot climates, furniture elements should be nonmetallic or light in color, and placed away from
surfaces that reflect or radiate excessive amounts of heat .
2. In cool climates, furniture should be dark in color, placed to take advantage of natural sun traps and
avoid areas where snow is stockpiled.
3. In wet climates, benches should drain well and be constructed of nonabsorptive materials to promote
rapid drying.
4. Materials selected for use in humid climates should be naturally decay and fungus-resistant, or
specially treated to minimize mildew, rot, and staining .
Operational Factors
Human Body Dimensions and Movement:
The physical dimensions and movement characteristics of the human body are essential determinants for
the design of all types of site furniture. These common denominators set all working distances and
operational dimensions in the design of furniture components and their aggregate layout.
Regulatory Standards: Site furniture must also conform to a host of regulatory standards imposed by
municipal, state, and federal governments. Typical standards deal with required light intensities for
pedestrians and vehicles, light fixture mounting heights, the proximity of trees to utility poles and
underground utilities, traffic signalization, signage and control systems, intersection setbacks, wheelchair
ramp gradients and placement, the height of mailboxes, the width of vehicular lanes, turning radii,
curbside usage, and even the size of garbage cans.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Selection Process: Key factors in the process of either selecting ready-made or custom designing
elements are:
• Availability of each unit,
• Maintenance requirements,
• Initial and lifetime costs, and
• Whether the solution will be consistent with the overall design of the project.
Design Elements
• Seating
• Shelters
• Convenience elements: zones, drinking fountains, bike racks, trash receptacles.
• Information: directional, locational, identification and display.
• Lighting
• Generic examples like bollards, kerbs, ramps, handrail.traffic control and protection.
• Surface utility elements.
• Seasonal elements.
• Special features.