URBAN FURNITURE IN THE CONTEXT OF PARTICIPATORY DESIGN AS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY CASE: AN ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTION PRACTICE

Erol Ö. S., Salihoğlu E. F., Kanbur E. Ö.

ANADOLU UNIVERSITESI SANAT & TASARIM DERGISI-ANADOLU UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF ART & DESIGN, cilt.16, sa.1, ss.311-340, 2026 (ESCI)

Özet

Urban furniture plays a crucial role as spatial components that structure individuals' interaction with the urban environment, supporting the continuity, functionality, and aesthetic perception of everyday life. However, these objects are not merely physical tools; they also act as mediators of socio-political values such as spatial equity, accessibility, and urban identity. This study problematizes conventional design and production processes of urban furniture and proposes an alternative, practice-based pedagogical model that integrates design students as active participants in the making of urban space. The study, consisting of four stages field analysis, design workshops, a student design competition, and furniture production was conducted through interdisciplinary discussions among team members from architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, and industrial design, and was supported as a research project developed through a university municipality collaboration. Thus, an inter-institutional partnership was established to foster academic discussions on urban furniture and to promote co-production among institutions, thereby enabling the integration of existing academic knowledge into practice. In addition, both the field observations of the students and project coordinators as researchers and their experiences as users played a decisive role in shaping the design decisions and final products. Furthermore, the principles of inclusive design were incorporated into the project, addressing criteria such as physical accessibility, gender sensitivity, and usability across different age groups.