STREET FURNITURE DESIGN COMPETITION
Oscar Christoph
I'm a woodworker currently based out of a shared shop in Riverview, and I specialize in custom furniture and design. I've been fascinated by woodworking for as long as I can remember, and I have seven years of experience including almost one year since I started my own business. My favorite designs are structures that let form and function meaningfully influence each other without compromising either, and I enjoyed the challenge of bringing that philosophy into street furniture.
Shade Tree
This double-sided bench features a green awning that mimics the canopy of a tree. The largest boughs are integral to both the canopy and the bench itself, while smaller branches help to contrast the lightness of the canopy with the weight of the base. If oriented perpendicular to NE 42nd Street, the curved shape of the canopy could provide shade for visitors during the hottest parts of the day.
The bench is designed to comfortably seat 6 people, with nearly 24" for each person and 6" between backrests. The seats are 18" from top to ground, 16" deep, and flat (although they could be angled slightly without significant design alteration), and the backrests are 17" tall and angled 10 degrees from vertical.
Nearly every component is made from 2x6 dimensional lumber, milled flat and square with rounded edges (particularly on the seats and backrests) and painted for weather resistance. The only joinery required is half laps for the X structures, and everything is secured by decking screws (no glue) to facilitate occasional maintenance. The arches of the canopy are 1" PVC pipes heat-bent around a form into a constant radius (or possibly bent laminations of thin wooden strips) and the canopy itself could be any pliable material offering good UV protection and outdoor durability, attached to the arches by cords through grommets in the edges (not pictured).
The smaller branches are made from thin lumber as they are not structural elements, and alternatively they could be CNCed from a sheet of weather-resistance plywood or other material to allow for much greater detail than pictured. Either option could support a material similar to the canopy (but probably more translucent to avoid making the space feel too enclosed) to provide additional shade.
The entire structure weighs roughly 190lbs, which should be enough to keep it stationary during heavy winds but not so heavy that it couldn't be moved by a handful of people. At its lowest, the canopy is 5'4" from the ground to maximize shade for users, but the design could easily be altered to increase this height if needed. The overall dimensions are 6' L x 7'3" W x 6'8" H, and the base is 4'2" wide.
Experience the Art
U District Art Walk
The Street Furniture Design Competition entries will be installed for the U District Art Walk the afternoon of Friday, August 16. Come experience public art on the Summer 'Green Street'!