Urban Fittings

DesignworksUSA, a BMW Group subsidiary, has developed a collection of furniture.

DesignworksUSA, a BMW Group subsidiary, has developed a collection of furniture and accessories for public transport spaces. The company partnered with Landscape Forms, a global manufacturer of site furniture for outdoor spaces, to develop the range.

The seven-part series will be sold internationally under the tag “metro40” and incorporates furniture, shelters, lighting and amenities.

It was developed over a course of two years to enable city planners and architects to help global urban centres elevate the liveability, quality of experience, design appeal and overall image of their public transit systems.

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“Bringing great design to public, seemingly-anonymous spaces such as transit shelters promotes a very positive, personal impact on people’s moods and daily quality of life,” commented Verena Kloos, president, DesignworksUSA.

“Urban gentrification projects such as the new High Line park in Lower Manhattan or the new Hamburg Harbour City demonstrate the importance and value of making cities more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing for their citizens, and the exploration of this dynamic made the “metro40” project with Landscape Forms particularly compelling for DesignworksUSA,” she continued.

The collection was designed to be attractive, high-quality and durable. The aim was to inject a more personal atmosphere into inner city areas, making the everyday use of public transport a more pleasant and relaxing experience.

It was necessary to consider cultural differences in useage patterns, different architectural styles and extreme climate conditions, as well as the need for forward-looking design that would support a product lifespan of around 15 years.

The collection is made primarily out of aluminium, glass and wood. Connect is a pedestrian-scale transit shelter designed for bus or light rail; Rest is a series of benches available either with or without a back and armrest; Ride is a bike rack; and Collect is a series of waste containers.

Hi Glo is a 12ft tall pedestrian light designed for sidewalks and shelter areas, while Lo Glo is a 3ft tall decorative light that can be used along pathways and alleys. The remaining members of the “metro40” family are Show, a display structure, and Stop, bollards designed for traffic control.