Smarter cities will need smarter furniture: a speculative look at the future of urban outdoor furniture

As with almost every other area of product design, we stand on the shoulders of giants. We take age-old wisdom and optimise it to suit the ever-changing needs of our users while respecting the fundamental values we adhere to.

In its simplest form, a bench is anything that’s around 45cm high and that can withstand the weight of a person sitting on it. We can, and we should, do more than satisfy a basic definition. 

While we’re engaged in designing the products that will make it to the market this year, we also spend time thinking about what the future could have in store. Some things are immediately apparent and they help us design products like the Veeva Sol, with integrated solar panels and charging stations.

2. Evolving connectivity needs

As our devices change, so too might our charging needs. New battery technology could eliminate the need for on-the-go charging while new wearables/implants/prostheses could require even more frequent stops.

4. Integration of nature and structures:

Future furniture might double as habitats for urban flora and fauna, creating a more symbiotic relationship between city dwellers of all species

7. Combating loneliness

In an increasingly digital world, urban furniture could be designed to foster community and connectedness, providing infrastructure for social interaction.

Even though it is in our nature to contemplate these potential future scenarios, we also keep in mind that innovation in urban furniture doesn’t always mean high-tech solutions or far-future concepts. Often, it’s about finding creative ways to address current needs more effectively or to solve problems we’ve overlooked.

Our approach to design is rooted in a deep understanding of how people interact with urban spaces. We believe that good design should be timeless, serving both current and future needs. This means that while we’re excited about the possibilities of smart, connected furniture for a smart, connected future, we’re equally invested in reimagining traditional forms to better serve our communities.

Some of our ideas are ready for implementation today, using existing technologies and materials. Others might require advancements in manufacturing processes or new materials to become reality. And of course, some are purely speculative, pushing the boundaries of what we currently consider ‘furniture’ to be.

As we explore these concepts, we’re guided by a handful of key principles:

1. Functionality: Every piece should serve a clear purpose, enhancing the urban experience in some way.
2. Sustainability: We must consider the environmental impact of our designs, from production to end-of-life, with the highest ideal being that of positive impact.
3. Inclusivity: Urban furniture should be accessible and beneficial to all members of the community.
4. Adaptability: As urban needs change, our furniture should be able to evolve with them.
5. Aesthetics: More than a corollary to functionality, we consider the way furniture complements the visual language of its surroundings.

With these principles in mind, we explore concepts that can be extensions of current trends, more ambitious departures from the products we are proud of today, and even some that are little more than a thought experiment.

We do go beyond sustainability. We look out at the world with a sense of wonder, peeking at areas that are usually beyond our remit with the intention of learning more about behaviours that could improve our offering.

Working from the inside out, we think about those who work from an office, or a home office, and who spend most of their day sitting down. Standing tables in public spaces could provide a healthier option for eating lunch or taking a break.

While we’re outdoors, we take a look at our surroundings and consider elements that are necessary but potentially unsightly. As we encourage two-wheeled transportation within cities, and provide cycle lanes and shared bikes and scooters, we’ve also created the need to charge hundreds of electric-powered vehicles. They also look quite unsightly. Could there be the need for covered charging stations that also serve as evolving canvases for street art?

Data, data everywhere

Taking a helicopter view of a modern city shows us the movement of pedestrian traffic throughout an urban space. With sufficiently smart street furniture, we can capture vast amounts of data from plenty of data points that can then be turned into useful information for city-dwellers. Could the furniture of the future harvest enough data to inform pedestrians about the least congested area of a park, the areas with better air quality, or even the place to go to if you want to hang out with people? Now that computer vision is so accurate and accessible, visual cues from the environment can be added to the information provided and this brings a whole new dimension to the notion of smart furniture.

One consideration we would like to wrap our minds around is better integration of flora and fauna within our urban spaces. For too long, moving to the city has meant an enormous compromise on our connection with nature. Urban furniture that doubles as a habitat for indigenous species is just one idea worth toying with. With long-term planning, could we ‘train’ trees to grow into functional shapes, creating natural seating and shade structures? Extending this idea further, could rapidly biodegradable furniture be manufactured for temporary outdoor seating, such as concerts and other events, that will degrade into bird food or fertiliser after use? Most of these remain questions today, as the technologies we need to bring some ideas to life are not yet within easy reach. We do look forward to seeing at least some of these turn into reality within a reasonable time.

Design-thinking is an ongoing process

Our sketches and ideas get even more tenuous from here. We have scribbles that show public running tracks that turn kinetic energy from footsteps into energy that is stored and lights up the track at night. Is it within our product range definition? Probably not.

What these ideas do, however, is keep us thinking of the long-term effect of what we do and about how design-thinking is an ongoing process. They keep our minds limber so that we can be open to ideas from unexpected quarters. Mostly, they remind us of our duty to care about what we do and who we do it for, so that we may help to shape the future of our urban contexts in a way that we can be proud of. If we consider urban spaces as realms that foster connection, relaxation, and community engagement, our products become but humble tools that help guide us along the way to achieving what we set out to do.