[Noisebridge-discuss] New furniture

[Brandon Edens]

On Mon, Dec 03, 2012 at 05:32:26PM -0800, Snail wrote:

> You could probably compromise on the issue & replace the couches with
> wooden benches. Still accessible, comfortable enough for sitting, & easier
> to clean and maintain than couch cushions. -- People can buy pillows that
> are easier to clean/rotate if they want something softer. -- Plus that
> looks like Internet-cafe-ish, right? Is that what's hip these days? That
> was the original point, right?
> 
> Let's not be too practical, though! >_>

Found this wonderful reference on benches that others can use in designing
their own benches OR analyzing the positioning and placement of benches.

http://www.pps.org/reference/benches/

Some highlights:

Benches should not face each other directly unless they are being used for
games. People tend to feel uncomfortable when they sit face to face with a
stranger, and will twist around or sit sideways to avoid eye contact.
Occasionally, pairs of benches should be placed at a 90 to 120 degree angle,
which is good both for conversations and for sitting alone.

A second factor in bench design is appearance. It is important that a bench
fits in with its surroundings. The reason for this is that a bench, which
appears to be an extension of the property it sits next to, will help to give a
proprietary feel to the street. This increases the likelihood that business
owners will take care of the bench (and the street) that will, in turn, have a
positive effect on safety and security in the area.



and of course bench comfort... 

To be comfortable, there should be a 95-105 degree angle between the seat and
the back, and the seat should be between 2 and 10 degrees off of horizontal.

The depth of the seat should be 12 to 18 inches for benches with backs and 30
inches for backless benches.

A seat height of 18 inches is generally the most comfortable.

The front edge of the seat should be curved rather than squared off.

Small bench slats (2 inches) spaced closely together and following a contoured
form are generally more comfortable than larger slats (8 inches). However, in
areas where vandalism is a factor a larger size (e.g., 3 inches x 8 inches)
should be used.

The length of the seat should allow for twenty-four inches per person. However,
people will sit closer to each other if there is an armrest separating them.

Armrests are useful both to help people to get out of the seat, and to divide a
bench so that more people can fit along it. Segmenting the bench into sections
through the use of armrests can provide a sense of privacy among groups as well
as encourage people to sit closer together. The edge of the armrest should
extend out to the edge of the seat, and it should have a firm, rounded gripping
surface.


-- 
Brandon Edens | brandonedens at gmail.com | brandonedens.org | key 0xEC4E9BA5
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