Public seating on London’s Strand explores structure, flow and timber

In London, along the Strand, a unique set of undulating wooden benches has been introduced to revitalize the public space and improve the overall pedestrian experience. The benches collaborated between LDA Design and the studio Millimetre are viewed not only as functional seating but also as discreet architectural elements. The project represents a significant move where architecture is transformed into public realm elements and offers sculptural interventions that connect with the public.

Design Approach And Spatial Integration

The benches are placed along the pedestrian’s natural path while reacting to the site’s steepness. using 3D scanning and careful site analysis the benches were able to be placed on the ground surface making their integration seamless. The continuous shape does not just help people move but also rests and calls for socializing. The design connects urban context and human scale, thus reflecting thoughtful consideration of the public environment.

Materials And Construction

Durable Accoya timber panels on the galvanised steel frames are used for the benches. The combination of traditional woodworking and robotic CNC machining allowed for accurate, complicated forms while still being able to have the natural wood’s warmth. Material choice and craftsmanship highlight the material research and the long-term performance considerations for public installations.

Functional Programme

Architectural Interpretation

The Strand benches are a perfect illustration of how street furniture can bring an architectonic character to the public space. The designers have treated seating as an element of the project that has to be considered and this made the design of the benches flow, merge materialities and human experience. Thus, the benches become a framework through which the movement, structure, and civic engagement in architecture can be studied.

Architects and Designers’ Insights

• Street furniture can carry architectural meaning besides just providing utility.
• Merging of topography and pedestrian movement leads to the enhancement of spatial unity.
• Material selection and hybrid manufacturing can guarantee both accuracy and warmth.
• Public seating can be both functional infrastructure and artistic presence at the same time.
• Design research in wood and structural integration not only aids in architectural thinking but also extends it.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The wavy benches placed on the Strand in London are a perfect example of the fact that street furniture, when used properly, can not only serve a purpose but also become a great architectural and social asset. Their smooth and flowing wooden forms are in response to the local terrain, the movement of pedestrians, and the city’s atmosphere, thus, they create a perfect fusion of public infrastructure and human experience more or less imperceptibly. Moreover, the project demonstrates the ability of the materials, hybrid and in-the-moment fabrication, and spatial intelligence to trigger up designers to think about how the public seating can exprss the structure, promote interaction, and impart richness to the overall civic atmosphere.

Conclusion

The wavy benches that are situated along the Strand in London present a perfect case of how design and research in public seating can create spaces that are not only practical but also architecturally engaging. They are teaching us about the proper use of materials, integration into the site, and transforming the rhythm of movement into form. This project supports the idea that the consideration of architecture in civic infrastructure is important and that future public projects in urban spaces could be modeled after it.

The images are courtesy of LDA Design.

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