Innovations in Street Furniture Reflect New Approach to Public Space

"Thanks to some smart approaches to the way our streets are being redesigned, cities are slowly moving beyond the 'have a seat, but not for too long' mentality," writes Alissa Walker for Curbed. That mentality includes the "defensive" architecture and design that particularly targets homeless people.

Although homelessness has increasing consideration state- and nationwide, Walker posits that L.A.'s new generation of street furniture comes as a response to renewed interest in bike and pedestrian infrastructure. She writes:

This means a whole new way of thinking about how people can enjoy these spaces. Goodbye to bolted, cement-slathered seating; hello to lightweight benches, moveable planters, beach umbrellas, and cheap cafe tables and chairs—all of which can be repositioned by users.

The lightweight, "nimble" pieces reflect an approach to streetscape improvement where low-capital projects that can be easily altered or removed based on their success:

The parklets and plazas that are starting to pop up on urban streets are often pilot projects—tiny street corners carved out with temporary decking materials or, in some cases, just a different color of paint... "We like to collect data to learn from the projects and actually tweak them to evolve them," says Valerie Watson, LADOT’s assistant pedestrian coordinator.

Walker also notes that these projects are often implemented and maintained through public-private partnerships, allowing innovations like smart furniture to be sited more equitably throughout neighborhoods.

Walker notes that these projects are often done through public-private partnerships, which can allow innovations like smart furniture to be sited more equitably throughout neighborhood—although recently, a failed partnership cost Los Angeles more than 800 bus shelters throughout the city.