FURNITURE DESIGN FOR URBAN POCKET PARKS SYNTHESIZING DESIGN GUIDELINES FROM BANGKOK’S CONTEXT

Abstract

As rapid urban densification challenges livability in cities worldwide, "pocket parks" have emerged as a pivotal strategy for revitalizing urban quality of life. This research aims to: 1) analyze furniture design patterns and artistic elements from global case studies, 2) identify design factors and maintenance constraints through expert and practitioner perspectives, and 3) synthesize "Integrated Design Guidelines" specifically tailored to Bangkok’s context. A mixed-methods approach was employed, comprising a visual content analysis of 100 global cases, field surveys of 40 "15-Minute Parks" in Bangkok, and in-depth interviews with key This will be better if you spell it out who are your stakeholders.

The findings reveal a stark divergence between global trends and local realities. Internationally, designs predominantly prioritize structural integrity (99%) and user affordance (90%), focusing on supporting "deep relaxation" postures. Conversely, Bangkok’s context is heavily constrained by maintenance limitations and "residual space" challenges. These factors result in two key phenomena: a "mismatch" between prefabricated furniture and actual site conditions, and "vernacular innovation," where local materials are adapted on-site to resolve immediate issues. Consequently, the research proposes "Integrated Design Guidelines" across four dimensions: Physical and Perceptual, Material and Maintenance, Aesthetic and Contextual, and Social and Behavioral. The study concludes that furniture design in dense urban contexts demands "flexibility" and "site-specific adaptation" rather than rigid standardization to ensure sustainable usage and long-term maintenance.