Public art not only enlivens urban spaces, supports local artists and sparks conversation, it’s a relatively cheap way for cities to attract both visitors and money.
Events such as Vivid Sydney and MONA in Hobart have proven to have a significant impact on the local economy, in terms of the increased revenue generated from more visitors, better productivity and free publicity that unique cultural events create.
As Meg Bartholomew reports in the Guardian, city planners and property developers are taking notice of the potential that lies in an ‘experience-based economy’. Art that makes people feel good makes them linger – and spend.
Aside from the economic benefits, public art helps to define a city’s identity (hello, Melbourne), enhances a city’s reputation, and can even improve health.
Designing vibrant streets with Angus Bruce:
As the internet has transformed the way we shop, socialise and spend our leisure time, the common streetscape has had to step up its game, writes Angus Bruce.
Vibrant or ‘curated’ streets are being considered around the world by city planners and developers, in order to pull crowds. Widened footpaths, garden beds, water fountains, shading, seating and lighting are some ways to encourage more foot traffic.
Bruce highlights Adelaide’s Rundle Mall as an example of a cleverly re-designed urban precinct. The re-vamped mall allows for a range of outdoor events, pop-ups, art displays and a beautifully lit canopy that welcomes visitors day and night.
With many more examples of such projects worldwide, it shows that clever design initiatives can catapult a dwindling urban precinct into a thriving, exciting space.
The Street Furniture Australia factory, in Regents Park, Western Sydney, is both a manufacturing hub and R&D studio for our Australian-designed and made street furniture products. We run fun and informative group events for customers throughout the year, to share how products are designed, tested and built, and the latest products and projects. Director of Tract Julie Lee said: “It was a great opportunity for our team to look behind the scenes and understand the innovation, research and climate positive outcomes Street Furniture Australia is focusing on. Thank you for having us!” Place Design Group Associate, Liam Isaksen, said: “The factory tour is a fun experience to learn about the design and manufacturing process of public furniture we use in landscape architecture design. Seeing the work behind the scenes and …
Did you catch these most-read case studies, furnishing tips, new product announcements and special industry events in your StreetChat updates in 2023? Each month our StreetChat enewsletter publishes new projects, products and trends from the public domain; subscribe to receive it in your inbox. 10. Which design firm can see Longhorn Cattle from their office window? 2 countries. 9 cities. 300 landscape architects. Street Furniture Australia and USA partner Spruce & Gander visited offices in Australia and Texas. There were key similarities and some notable standouts. 9. Jazz at The Mint: Product and Book Launch Sydney landscape architects gathered at the iconic Mint Courtyard to launch a design book by our founding directors Darrel Conybeare and Bill Morrison, and expansions to the Linea collection. 8. 2023 Good Cause Giveaway goes to …
Street Furniture Australia has designed and built prototype charging stands as part of a Transport for NSW program to deliver free phone chargers at 15 Sydney train stations. Developed by Street Furniture Australia’s inhouse industrial designers in collaboration with Transport for NSW, the prototypes offer wireless, USB-A and USB-C charging, and can power 7 devices at once. They were built at the Street Furniture Australia factory in Western Sydney. Two Power Spots are now installed at Liverpool and Campbelltown stations. The $1 million Power Spots Project rollout to 15 transport hubs including Bankstown, Hurstville, Lidcombe, Penrith, Wynyard, Central, Town Hall and Bondi Junction will be completed by late 2024. NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the Power Spots provide peace of mind: “In the modern world, our phones are our …
Soft cities for biodiversity: The idea that city-dwellers live in ‘concrete jungles’ no longer holds true. According to a recent study, 30% of Australia’s threatened plant and animal species exist within urban landscapes. So what does this mean? Urban ecosystems aren’t an easy place for biodiversity to exist. But if we design our cities to manage biodiversity, argues urban ecologist Amy K Hahs, we all stand to benefit. To build innovative, ecologically-designed ‘soft’ cities – cities that are healthier and more sustainable for both people and biodiversity – we have a lot of rethinking to do. Read more about designing for urban biodiversity on Foreground. Image: Moonee Valley Urban Ecology Park Scenario, Zoe Metherell. The prophecies of Jane Jacobs: “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, …
Science backs ‘forest bathing’: We knew we felt good after a long bush-bash on the weekend. Now science has more information as to why. The Japanese practice of forest bathing, says the World Economic Forum, is proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce stress hormone production, boost the immune system, and improve overall feelings of wellbeing. Not only are swathes of green nature said to be soothing, there may be a chemical reaction going on unseen to improve human health. Trees emit various essential oils known as phytoncide, to protect themselves from germs and insects – inhaling this seems to improve our immune system function. See the article here. Photo by Abdur Ahmanus on Unsplash. Are smart cities doomed to be stupid? Rem Koolhaas, Dutch architect, architectural theorist, urbanist and Professor in Practice …
7 park hacks for an aging population: Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology have engaged with older people living in high-density Brisbane, to come up with key design considerations for more usable and comfortable public spaces. Here are seven: A wide variety of places to sit, to enjoy being out in public and watching people. Usable, universal design seating – rather than having to sit on the grass – is especially important for older people as rest-stops or destinations. Hand rails on stairs and steep paths for safety and confidence. Drinking fountains and trees for shade and comfort. Plentiful and clean public toilets. The lack of such facilities can be debilitating and an obstacle to some older people’s enjoyment of the public realm. Wider paths and safer buffers between pedestrians and high-traffic roadways. Safer …
