Topography 1 Seating Sculpture

Topography 1 Seating Sculpture

Topography 1 Seating Sculpture is an innovative urban furniture design that seamlessly integrates functional seating with environmental sustainability and artistic expression. Created by design principal Mikyoung Kim, this sculptural installation represents a harmonious fusion of form and function, featuring laminated natural stone slabs that create a wave-like formation reminiscent of Florida's coastal landscape. The sculpture, measuring 15544.8mm in width, 3352.8mm in depth, and 763mm in height, serves multiple purposes as it not only provides comfortable seating but also acts as a retention system for a rain garden, effectively managing stormwater on-site. The design's material palette includes locally-sourced limestone, resin, and anodized aluminum, chosen to reflect the regional geology while ensuring durability and aesthetic appeal. The flowing form begins at plaza level and gracefully sweeps upward, creating an interactive environment where visitors can sit, stand, lie, or climb, all while enjoying the shade of surrounding canopy trees. The striations formed by the laminated stone slabs symbolically represent the cultural diversity and historical layers of the region, while the color scheme, featuring cream, gold, and grey tones, echoes the natural coastal environment. This platinum A' Design Award-winning creation stands as a testament to innovative street furniture design, successfully combining artistic vision with practical urban planning and environmental consciousness. The project, which took two and a half years to complete, overcame significant technical challenges in material lamination and installation to achieve a seamless integration with its surroundings, creating an engaging public amenity that serves both aesthetic and functional purposes in the urban landscape.

seating sculpture, urban furniture, sustainable design, public art installation, environmental design, interactive architecture

— Adam Dawson