Usability Evaluation of Adaptable Urban Park Furniture Product with Cellular Light-weight Concrete as Material

Diana Thamrin,Antoni Antoni,Grace Mulyono

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/408/1/012033

Diana Thamrin, Antoni Antoni + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/408/1/012033

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Abstract

In this research, cellular light-weight concrete has been developed as a material for a modular design of a multifunction and adaptable park furniture, as it is durable and has excellent resistance to extreme weather. Inspired by Froebel play blocks, the design attempts to accommodate variable activities, increase the value of limited urban parks and to change their settings from time to time in order to enhance their recreational values. This paper aims to evaluate the usability of the furniture product based on human-centred design during the design process and post-production. Formative usability test was conducted through conceptual exploration of multiple activities that could be accommodated through the product design by a range of users and different availability of park spaces. Summative usability test was then conducted post-production through lead users in order to expand the findings from the explorative usability tests. Findings reveal that multiple activities could be generated through the adaptable compositions and material durability of furniture design, even in the smallest areas of parks. It also grants opportunities for users of different age groups to perform multiple activities together, hence supporting urban parks to achieve their essential purpose of accommodating social interaction and healthy motoric activities.

Highlights

Urban parks are vital in maintaining the natural environment as an essential part of a sustainable city
Findings and Discussion From four design alternatives produced prior to this research paper [6], the fourth design, that can accommodate the largest range of activities, has been chosen for development. It has the smallest size of module that can adapt to variable park spaces and has a massive form that suits light-weight concrete production
The voluminous form is suitable to the cellular light-weight concrete (CLC) concrete material, as the instalment of metal structures as generally found within conventional concrete would be unnecessary

Summary

Introduction

Urban parks are vital in maintaining the natural environment as an essential part of a sustainable city. They have the potential in improving the social and physical health of a city’s inhabitants [1]. Besides preserving green landscape, the design of urban parks should support the surrounding non-green spaces to become recreational habitual areas that encourage social interactions and healthy motoric activities [2]. In most urban cities there are very few large parks with a preserved natural environment, while many other parks are pocket parks that consist of smaller non-green spaces, located on street edges and road corners, sometimes appearing lifeless and inhabited.

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