The result is called “Flügel”, a piece of street furniture that will be installed in several towns and cities across Upper Austria in the future. It was first unveiled to the public at Linz’s Pfarrplatz as part of the “Play Fountain” initiative.
Nine ideas, one winning project
The brief given to the students was clearly defined: the piece of furniture should invite people to sit and lie down, be robust and sustainable, whilst remaining mobile and appealing to all generations. To this end, a total of nine concepts were developed in small groups, based on surveys, material studies and design analyses.
After the designs had been presented in an exhibition in the foyer of the WAG headquarters and more than 100 employees had taken part in the vote, the clear result was established: the “Flügel” project by design students Clemens Friedl and Florian Koneczny came out on top. The decisive factors were the clear design language, the well-thought-out functionality and the high design quality.
The “Flügel” combines a V-shaped bench with an adjoining wooden deck. Whilst the bench is designed to encourage communication and interaction, the deck is ideal for sunbathing, picnicking or relaxing. The furniture is made from heat-treated ash wood and a divisible steel frame – durable, robust and portable all at once.
From Linz to Wels: a design object setting an example
Following its presentation at Pfarrplatz, the “Flügel” has already found further locations. One example now stands at the Dragoner-Höfe in Wels, another near the Forum Oed at Bindermichl – both in the immediate vicinity of playgrounds and thus in places designed to encourage interaction.
For WAG, the project is an example of how creative collaborations can bring about tangible improvements in public spaces. Project manager Manuel Gattermayr emphasises: “We are delighted with the successful collaboration with the University of Art and Design Linz and would like to extend our sincere thanks to the dedicated students and Professor Zeppetzauer for their creative ideas. All the submitted designs were impressive and demonstrated high creative quality – so we are all the more delighted that we are also bringing the winning project to fruition.”
#schongenial, because with the “Flügel” we are not only creating a design object, but a new meeting place – developed at the university and now part of people’s everyday lives.
