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Evolution of the park bench
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TAKE A SEAT?
Several factors will likely affect your decision.
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Similar to other animals in the wild,
humans like to survey their habitat…
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…to see if there’s a potential predator nearby.
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We want a safe place to perch...
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…near sources of food and water.
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We may choose to interact with others,
or find comfort in solitude.
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We may seek shade in certain situations…
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…and sun in others.
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We prefer movable seating,
with some sense of order.
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We gather at the water source for social reasons...
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…and to restore our energy.
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We take a seat to watch other
members of our species…
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…or to connect with cultural institutions.
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Sometimes comfort is the
most important factor.
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This seating offers comfort,
conversation and a view.
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But comfort may be cheerfully
sacrificed for novelty…
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…when art and the park bench are combined.
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Today’s public
seating provides
democratic
access to dining
with a multi-million
dollar view.
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There is a
growing sense
of shared
responsibility…
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…and appreciation for diversity.
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Why does the
quality of public
seating matter
to our economic
health today?
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Why are our
expectations
for the park bench
changing ?
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In simple terms…
a depressed,
lonely, isolated,
unsafe, unhealthy,
low self-esteem
state of mind is
bad for today’s
means of production:
our brainpower.
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Three decades ago, the quest to reduce crime
and anti-social activity in public spaces led to the
‘broken window theory’ of visual signals.
Today, community aspirations have moved
beyond ‘do no harm.’
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The evolution of the park bench signals a
new era of respect for the power of public
spaces to nurture human relationships.
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For example, this
“PLEASE TOUCH THE ART”
bench by Jeppe Hein was
created to encourage
conversation.
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This public art
seating adds
vibrancy to the
community and
character to the
street.
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At the base of this tall building there is public
seating which conveys openness, abundance…
The Qube, 611 Woodward Ave.
Bedrock Real Estate Services
Detroit, Michigan
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…empathy and generosity.
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We have an opportunity to feed our heads...
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…by relaxing
with art, nature,
and other
humans…
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…in various settings…
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…provided there is some sense of protection.
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We converse with friends...
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…or begin new conversations.
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Unique characters appear
where humans want to linger…
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…these interesting characters are not attracted
to artificial places where public seating is absent.
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These settings
feed our capacity to
work, think, renew
and socialize...
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…so that we can
thrive in a
post-industrial,
knowledge based
economy.
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PEOPLE
FRIENDLY
PUBLIC
SEATING
Sharon VanderKaay
Twitter: @svkaay
Evolution of the park bench
Pier 15 East River Esplanade
SHoP Architects with Ken Smith