BBM Design Lab Merit Award [2019 - 2021

BBMLab Merit Award [2019-2021]

Re-connect [Runner up International Design Competition – XYZ]

Project Team:

Nurul Azman, Lyana Ibrahim, David Morgan, Thao Thanh Pham

Perth, Western Australia, hosts an interesting mix of people and locations with a population who largely enjoys and frequently uses all the pockets of open public spaces and parkland. The design for ‘Ribbons of Growth’ provides a new way of public seating to maintain social interaction at safe distances. The design is adaptable to most spaces and, by using circular design principles, is able to be maintained and expanded to suit the ebbs and flows of public use.

In Australia, bushfires are a common occurrence and an important aspect of the cycle of re-growth for our natural flora. We chose to use charred timber as a reflection of this cycle and for its durability. Recycled timber is sourced, charred, then treated with natural oils - a process that enhances the wood’s protection against the elements and improves its longevity.

The design also focuses on circular principles, allowing individual components to be rented, replaced, and recycled depending on the requirements for each bench arrangement. A modular system of seven main components and seven joinery components makes the design suitable in any scenario. ‘Habitable’ and ‘Non-Habitable’ components are placed in alternating fashion along a hexagonal grid with options for most public activities to ensure socially distanced seating without wasting the space in between. The design includes seating for individuals, paired parent + child seats, wheelchair accessible tables, solar phone charging stations, a washing fountain, bike rack, and planter boxes.

The system follows three standardised heights ensuring that, when combined with the correct joining component, any main component can be joined to another keeping the flow of the ribbon-like design. We chose these heights based on factors of usability, such as 40cm elevation for main seating, 60cm for low/accessible tables, and 100cm becomes tall enough to be a barrier. There are also additional heights, such as the 30cm seat to accommodate children.

Each main component is precisely 133cm in length which, when placed alternately with non-habitable components on the hexagonal grid, creates a 2m distance between seating. The design is flexible enough to reasonably be placed in any public space, from narrow streets to large parks and plazas.