Eco-Design and Materials Selection for Street Furniture; A Necessarily Ergonomic Approach in Urban Design

Abstract

This paper intends to show some urban design case studies developed during a two year master graduate research conducted by the first author, directed by the second author, in the research line of design and materials selection of the REDEMAT-UFOP/CETEC/UEMG. In dealing with street furniture design the research was faced basically with urban design matters, but the theme requires knowledge developed in other areas, such as industrial design and materials engineering. Because of the interdisciplinarity naturally present in this case the researchers came to ergonomics as the best organizing methodology to approach the issue established. Some of the conclusions in the main research work showed that in spite of the many complexities faced in such cases, the interdisciplinarity necessarily present and the whole complex issue of street furniture can best be dealt with if and when the ergonomic methodologies are employed. Because that's a simple methodology that can be easily understood and well employed by design professionals from different areas.