Thu Jul 31, 2008
Benches and Public Spaces
An overwhelming number of benches found in public spaces tend to be six feet long, straight and traditional. The benches are typically designed to seat three occupants but commonly used to seat two people. An overwhelming number of benches in public spaces tend to face the street or the outside edge of sidewalks. Are we missing an opportunity to use benches and outdoor seating as creative, expressive and functional public amenities?
There are many shapes and styles of benches in the market place. Why are some styles used more than others? When selecting benches and seating for public spaces, how much consideration is given to age, groups, different types of users and alternate uses for benches, i.e., using it as a table?
Is the branding of benches and site amenities reserved strictly to high- end luxury projects or is there a position for them in authentic public spaces?
Do straight bench dominate the market over curved, round, modular or straight benches because they’re less expensive? Or is it more about the available selection? Will the new products hitting the market – i.e., benches with canopies or site specific designed benches take flight in the years ahead? And what about maintenance? How important is maintenance in the selection process?
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Tue Apr 08, 2008
Kidscapes
Kids and teenagers should be integrated into the planning of public spaces.
In the places that do include activities or objects for kids, it's fun to watch the
kids having fun and it brings more kids and families into the area. I suspect that
teens are always on the look out for places to meet their friends or new places to hang out.
Unfortunately besides fountains, some art and park equipment, there doesn't appear to
be a lot of site amenities out there focused on public spaces for kids and teens.
Have you seen any interesting "pieces" or know of manufacturers who produce
amenities that would attract or hold the attention of kids and teens?
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Thu Jan 24, 2008
The Alternative to Printed Catalogs?
The question of the day is what to do about printed catalogs. Most of us work in an environment that requires photographs, sketches, drawings and technical specifications. However, paper catalogs are expensive to print and mail, use plenty of natural resources and have a short life cycle. In the end, they sit on a shelf collecting dust, probably never used and destined for a landfill. A good website may fill the void of printed catalogs, but websites aren't typically very good for group decision making. Any ideas on how to reduce the impact of catalogs on the environment that would result in a longer shelf life and better use-ability between individuals and groups than the traditional printed catalog.
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Mon Oct 29, 2007
2007 ASLA - San Francisco
Erlau - The largest transit bench manufacturer in the world was out in force at the 2007
American Society of Landscape Architect Conference and Expo in San Francisco. Erlau
manufactures benches, bicycle racks, bollards, modular seating, tables and planters made
of pagwood, wire mesh, perforated steel plate and tubular stainless steel. The product line
features attractive, clean and contemporary designs that stand out from the crowded
"look-a-like" historic bench design typically available in the market place.
Erlau's presence at the 2007 ASLA show was to emphasize it's continued commitment to
the U.S. market. Company personnel present in San Franciso included Joerg Rieger, PhD,
President and CEO of the Rud Group, Erlau's parent company, Manfred Loeffler, Erlau Park
Furniture Divisional Manager, Susan Johnson, Rud U.S. Marketing Specialist and Karter Bui,
Erlau U.S. Sales Manager. Streetscapes, Inc., one of Erlau's major U.S. sales partners was
also present at the Erlau ASLA booth to assist customers.
Products presented at the ASLA expo -
Unisono - A system of in-ground and removable bollards
3" to 8.625" in diameters
31.5" and 35.5" in height
Lunaflor - A system of round and 3/4 round mesh interconnecting planters
Strata Pagwood Bench - A contemporary one piece seat and back bench
with square framed legs. The Strata Series bench is also available in mesh
and stainless tubular steel.
Olympia Nova Bench System - A modular mesh seating system featuring
benches with and without backs, inside and outside curved seats and one
and two seat benches. The various components may be mixed and
matched and combined to provide interesting seating configurations.
Next up for Erlau and Streetscapes, Inc. -
The Urban Land Institue Fall Conference in Las Vegas
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Mon Mar 12, 2007
Pedestrian Plazas, Bicycles and Street Furniture in Germany and Spain
StreetScenes visited Germany and Spain during two weeks in March to visit four street furniture manufacturers. We also took some time to make observations on the European street furniture and it?s relationship and interaction with the visitors on the pedestrian malls. We hope that you?ll join us with your comments.
Thursday - March 15
Denver to Frankfurt to Stuttgart Germany
Die Bahn
We cleared customs, retrieved luggage and headed to the DB (Die Bahn) the German operated train
system. We purchased a six day rail pass and plan to travel primarily by rail. The ?ICE? (InterCity Express) left Frankfurt and arrived in Stuttgart ? 208 miles away - in under 72 minutes.
There are seven primary types of rail service in Germany.
U Bahn - underground rail systems in the major cities.
ICE (InterCity Express) ? nonstop trains between major cities.
IC (InterCity) ? city to city trains with designated stops.
IRE (InterRegion Express) ? regional express trains with designated stops.
RE (Regional Express) ? regional express trains that travel city to city.
R (Regional Bahn) ? regional trains with selected station stops.
S (Local Bahn) ? Local trains that stop at all stations on the route.
Stuttgart Main Train Station (Hbf)
The train station is full of restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, newsstands and other retail shops catering to train passengers. There?s also two Starbucks, one at each major entrance into the station, a car rental agency and a hotel. The HBF is located in the city center with a local bus hub outside it?s doors and the local pedestrian plaza which includes major retail shopping, restaurants, government buildings, museums and parks.
Stuttgart Information Center
The information booth is located across the street from the Hbf at the entrance to the Konigstrasse pedestrian plaza. We visited the information center many times each day during our visit to Stuttgart. We asked for directions to the hotel. We asked for downtown maps. We asked for the population of Stuttgart. We asked for the location of streets. We asked for an electronic store. We picked up brochures, etc. We went to the information station whenever we had questions that needed answers. The only wished that there had been multiple locations on the mall.
Stuttgart Bicycle Stations and Parking
Bicycles are a main source of transportation in Stuttgart. There were bicycles everywhere. They are locked and parked in rows and rows of bicycle racks. They?re attached to trees, tree guards and fence railing. They are leaning against buildings and they are standing alone supported by their kickstands. There are also bicycles lying on the ground probably up-ended by accident.
Banks of bicycle lockers are located in multiple places around the HBF. These bicycle lockers have character created primarily by decorative roofs. With the roofs, the lockers fit more easily into the surrounding streetscape. There are also rows and rows of bicycles parked under large shelters designed specifically for bicycles.
Friday - March 16
Stuttgart Pedestrian Plaza - The Konigstrasse
The Konigstrasse Pedestrian Plaza is probably two miles longs and connects with approximately 10 other pedestrian plazas. I don?t know how many people were on the plaza, but it looked like the financial district in New York at the end of a business day. The pedestrian density was incredible, but the pace was much slower. There were people shopping. There were people eating and drinking. There were people catching the sun while they were eating and drinking. There were people sitting in the parks, sitting on steps, sitting on building ledges and people sitting in chairs and on benches and there were people sitting on tree rings.
Sidewalk Caf?s
There were an enormous number of sidewalk cafes on the Konigstrasse and other pedestrian plazas. The sidewalk caf? ranged from very small to very small. When we noticed that several of the restaurants had multiple seating areas in various places on the mall, we realized that the cafes were very busy and very lucrative.
Wood slat folding chairs and tables were extremely popular in the sidewalk cafes. Umbrellas, footstools, benches and lounge chairs were also popular. I?m guessing that the folding wood slat chairs and tables are popular because they?re durable, light-weight and get moved at least twice a day. Customers are also able to move them around as the need requires. In large sunny public spaces, it was quite popular for all of the people sitting at a table to be seated side by side on a one side of the table, facing the sun. It looked odd, but if you?re into tanning and sun worshipping it works.
The window displays of the Bakeries, cafes, coffee shops and other businesses located on the pedestrian plazas - especially the narrow plazas - are designed so that the products and goods can be easily viewed by the pedestrian traffic. The displays are colorful and graphic. There?s nothing more enticing than the green, red and orange colors of a fresh prepared salad, the smell and look for a fresh baked cheese or apple Croissants or fresh cooked meat hanging off the bone (if you?re a meat eater) appealing to your sense of sight, smell and sound as you walk by.
The Konigstrasse Pedestrian Plaza was full of national brands or chain stores. Some brands placed two or three stores with the same merchandise in different locations on the mall. With all the pedestrian traffic, the Konigstrasse Pedestrain Plaza is a very vibrant retail space.
Besides all the people and people watching, there were also plenty of other activities on the plaza. We observed crowds around an Australian horn blower, an organ grinder and a guitar playing and singing duo. There were also balloon and performance artists.
Saturday- March 17
NeckarPark to Bad Canstatt to Stuttgart
For a change of pace and to obtain a neighborhood perspective, StreetScenes walked from the hotel in NeckarPark to Bad Canstatt. Starting out on our walk, we found a local map with a street directory near the hotel. With the map and a ?you are here? circle symbol, we were able to identify our location in relation to the community. The large map had large print, a street index and was color-coded with clear and concise information.
The sidewalk was wide with removal bollards and large bicycles painted the middle of the walkway. At intersections with traffic lights, we noticed that the signal lights included bike and pedestrian stop and walk/ride symbols. With bike route sign placed at regular interval along the walkway, we surmised that we were following a bike route. When the sidewalk reconnected with the street, there was a bike lane and bicycle signs mounted high above the street ? much higher than recalled in the U.S. Here?s a question to ponder, does large bicycle route signs, placed high above vehicular traffic increase bicycle ridership?
As we approached the Village of Bad Canstatt, we passed a set of electrical boxes that had been covered by advertising billboards. Another question for pondering, could public art or other beautification treatments be used to cover similar ?ugly? necessary public objects.
Walking through several of Bad Canstatt Pedestrian Plazas, we observed that many stores on the plaza offered portable bicycle racks with advertisement for their bicycle visitors?. The local Farmers Market offered enticing sights, sounds and smells. The visual impact of fresh cut colorful flowers, the smell of fresh cheese and the sight of fresh colored eggs for Easter made walking through the Farmers Market a delight. Many merchants on the pedestrian plazas use wall mounted hanging signs or portable sign displays to advertise their store or product or service.
On this trip into the Stuttgart, StreetScenes studied the train route maps and schedules more closely. We discovered that maps and schedules for the Die Bahn are quite simple, but with enough detail to get you from point A to point B without major frustration. The route maps placed in the stations are large and the train routes are color-coded. The local and regional trains stations are easily identified by symbol.
At the train stations, the train schedules are posted at each gate for the trains arriving and departing at that gate. Best of all the schedules list each train leaving that particular gate during each hour of the day with key station stops along the route listed. This provides a rather easy directional confirmation and assurance system for passengers. All schedules for the train system uses Greenwich time to clarify whether the times listed are AM or PM.
Inside the Bahns, you?ll find route maps posted above the doors. The regional trains also include electronic message boards in each car posting the next approaching stop. On the IC and ICE trains, the conductor identifies each train stop in advance of arrival. This system is really easy to use.
At the bus stops, the bus location signs are large. The sign identifies the bus stop, the route numbers and a brief listing of major destination along the route. The type face for each component of the signs are also large. The size of the sign system allows a passenger to identify the stop long before they reach the site, determine which direction the bus is headed and reassures the passenger that they indeed are headed in the correct direction early in the process. The bus signage really makes it easy for visitors.
Street Furniture and Site Amenities in Stuttgart
The street furniture and site amenities on the pedestrian plazas included benches, modular seating, litter bins, bike racks and tree rings. Tree grates, sign kiosks, umbrellas, public toilets; public art and of course bollards were everywhere.
Benches and Modular Seating
The public seating in the Konigstresse Pedestrian Plaza were primarily wire mesh benches configured in straight and circular arrangements. The circular bench configuration surrounded trees located in the plaza. Many of the tree rings surrounding trees were also outfitted with individual wire mesh chairs. The tree rings themselves also provided additional seating options and were used frequently for that purpose. Almost all of the wire mesh seating was in-ground mounted. Wooden benches with concrete bases dominated the public parks along the pedestrian plazas. The wooden benches provided a different feel and texture to the park settings.
Litter Bins
The litter bins are small by standards (between 9 and 10 gallons) and are supported by either single or dual poles. A local expert told me that the smaller bins are common in Germany because the local labor unions still have significant influence. That probably explained the use of brick pavers everywhere instead of asphalt or concrete. We did observe cleaning crews blanketed the plazas a minimum of four times daily to clean and remove litter. We don?t notice any surface or portable mounted litter bins. The litter bin designs overall where pretty bland and institutional looking.
Two types of litter bins dominated the plazas, models that either tilted at an angle for litter removal or models where the bin bottoms opened for litter removal. Both models used hex keys to lock and unlock the swivel or activate the bottom opening mechanism.
Bollards
Bollards were located everywhere. Bollards were used in the street medians to separate traffic and prevent cars from driving onto the sidewalks and to delineate street edges and lanes. Bollards were used to protect storefronts and delineate parking spaces. Bollards were used as hitching posts for bicycles and pets. In several conversations, it was mentioned that Germans overuse bollards because they like to create personal space.
The typical bollards were steel or aluminum cylindrical tubes of various diameters. Decorative models were made of cast iron. There were also bollards made of concrete or cast stone in various shapes and sizes. Some bollards included eyelets and chains to limit access and threaded inserts where flags or signage could be added and removed for events. Most of the cylindrical bollards were removable using the familiar hex keys used on the litter bins. The removable bollards became quite evident around the Farmers Markets where they were removed to allow delivery trucks access. The decorative bollards were apparently stationary.
Bicycle Racks
There were many different style of bicycle racks in Stuttgart. Some appeared to function very well and others we seriously questioned based on the assumption that the purpose of a bicycle rack is to keep your bicycle upright and secure to prevent theft while minimizing damage to the wheels and frame.
The best bicycle racks we observed were long enough to support the frame and both wheels. They take up more space than the smaller units, but they minimize the chaos created when parked bicycles get bumped or pushed out of position. The high-low bicycle racks seemed to work well in high-density bicycle parking area?s because they allow two bicycles to be parked in a narrow space by bicycle preventing handle bar entanglement.
Sign Kiosks
StreetScenes noticed both large and small round sign kiosks. The large kiosks were located in the Konigstrasse pedestrian plaza and were used for commercial advertising signage, pubic restrooms, telephones and internet access stations. The smaller kiosks were used on the smaller and narrower pedestrian plazas. These kiosks were used primarily to advertise local events and activities. Sandwich boards or other types of sign displays were also used to advertise public events and activities.
Tree Rings, Tree Grates and Tree Guards
Each tree on the Konigstrasse and in other pedestrian plazas had a tree ring around it, a tree grate covering the root system and a tree guard protecting the tree. The tree rings were manufactured of large hefty tubular steel tubes.
Umbrellas
Umbrellas were used at many of the sidewalk coffee shops, caf?s and restaurants. There were small table sized umbrellas and many large-scale umbrellas covering multiple tables and large areas. Many of the large-scale umbrellas were cantilevered or center post mounted support by in-ground installation or surface mounted frames weighted with heavy concrete slabs. Many of the large-scale umbrellas also contained lighting for night usage.
Graffiti
Streetscenes noticed very little graffiti on the Konigstrasse or other Pedestrian Plazas. Locals told us that graffiti didn?t exist in the pedestrian plazas, train stations or in public areas because of security cameras placed in those areas. We did however notice plenty of graffiti along the buildings lining the rail corridors.
Next Stop - Munich and Heidelberg!
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