One of my favourite all-time design quotes is by a man called William H Whyte. He did a famous study on public spaces back in the 1970s that looked at how people use space. The best quote out of the whole study is
“People tend to sit where there are places to sit”
Now the beauty of this statement is in the simplicity of the idea. You sit where there are seats. Now you might be thinking well that’s obvious and why are you telling me?
When it comes to designing places, public places, parks, schools, your garden. The importance of seating and having a variety of places for people to sit is extremely undervalued and underrated. There is nothing better than finding a comfortable place to sit after a long day. Finding a cool shady spot in a park to relax. To find a table and chairs to have a picnic or find a quiet spot to talk to friends.
But the other key to this quote is this place to sit, does not have to be designed and stated it as a seat. This means when you are designing your garden, looking at your school casual seating or places which have multiple purposes. Stairs, rocks, logs, and walls are all great spaces to create seating on.
What does Seating Do for us?
Seating allows people to connect, have casual conversations. See and be seen. Seating helps people stay longer in a place. No one likes standing up all the time. It can make people feel welcomed, invited. Different types of seating also allow for equality for places. High seat and low seating. Seating with back or armrests. They allow people with different abilities to use a space.
There are often seats for different times of day, somewhere you like to sit in the morning but is too hot later in the day. Or during a particular season.
When we are designing places we always add in as much seating as possible. We want people to stop, smell the roses and enjoy the place they are in.
If you want to create more seating opportunities Contact Us today so we can help you enjoy your place.