Urban furniture plays an essential role in any contemporary urban space. From public bike racks to playground equipment or bespoke seating —the options are endless when it comes to designing a unique street setting worthy of attracting visitors.

Creating beautiful city landscapes starts with considering how people interact with spaces while asking gut-level questions about user experience design needs like functionality and placement location. After all, good urban furniture can be more than “the cherry on top“. It’s time for cities everywhere to rethink their approach by giving citizens safe places where they feel welcome!

What is urban furniture?

The term urban furniture refers to the essential items that bring comfort and practicality to our public spaces —both indoor and outdoor. A diverse range of pieces, all designed with a purpose, including seating areas for rest or relaxation; bins encouraging tidiness; bicycle racks ensuring safety as well as planters adding colour are integral components found in cities around the world. Street furniture helps us enjoy each other’s company while also creating attractive landmarks within urban environments.

Urban infrastructure improvement through design

From seating to waste disposal, street furniture plays an essential role in creating comfortable and engaging public spaces . It can help people feel more connected while providing designated areas for them to rest, find shelter or throw away their trash, making the outdoors a better place to be. Let’s explore some of the many items available across different categories so we can create tailored urban experiences that bring comfort and character wherever it’s installed.

• Seating . Public benches, public space armchairs, public area tables. It’s important to consider how they will be used by people: will the just rest or they might also eat there? On their own or with others?
• Lighting . Streetlights provide light to an open space at night and are used to highlight certain areas. Energy-saving and security, among others, are important factors to consider.
• Litter bins . There are many different types of litter bins to choose from when furnishing a space for waste disposal depending on the size, if they are fixed or swinging, with or without lid, etc. Important things to consider are how the garbage will be collected and how often.
• Shelter . Elements that offer shade and/or protection from rain and wind. In addition to considering the climate of the place, it is important to take into account the context. For example, a bus stop may include a bench.

The eco factor: sustainable urban infrastructure

With the world’s population expected to balloon to more than 9 billion by 2050, nearly 70 % will live in cities. Consequently, making sure that existing and future cities are sustainable communities is vital for avoiding social, environmental, and economic crises. Finding an efficient resolution won’t be easy —cities require intensive, coordinated global investments to reduce poverty, provide energy‑efficient housing, develop renewable resources, encourage diversity, mitigate threats from climate change such as floods and power outages as well as create jobs. In other words, sustainable city planning needs dedication and long‑term commitment if citizens are going to benefit from living in cities many years into the future.

As cities continue to expand, sustainable infrastructure is proving its worth as an efficient and eco-friendly alternative . The concept of these facilities places emphasis on developing essential services —from roads to electricity pylons— with economic, financial, social, and institutional factors in mind; meaning they are greener from start to finish.

To create a more sustainable and equitable urban environment, the world must make an investment in green infrastructure over the next decade. The advantages of this shift are far-reaching: it would reduce our environmental cost, promote renewable energy sources, and open up new job opportunities while generating economic growth —all helping to bridge societal divides.

These eco-friendly improvements in urban furniture and infrastructure also provide greater resilience against extreme weather conditions whilst reducing the risk posed by natural dangers for people who inhabit them. A win-win solution that all can benefit from!