AFUERA 
Afuera is a modular configurable seating solution for urban spaces that brings warmth and green space into the environment. Using warmth and familiar design language, it invites users to sit and enjoy the space.

Afurea can be configured to fit any space, our demonstration prototype consists of 4 modules that can be split apart and re-configured in any way. In the image to the left you can see it in a 2 module configuration to fit in a small space. The seating surface has a slight angle sloping to the middle for a more ergonomic and comfortable seating position as well as water drainage.


Brief: 

Design and build a piece or pieces of outdoor furniture that for a parklet with food carts. Using recycled dimensional lumber provided by UrbanJacks, our partner for the project.
What we did:

We wanted to bring warmth and community into the new parklets (Small parks created by closing a section of road) around Vancouver. We designed a modular and configurable seating solution that also brought green space into these concrete environments, helping reclaim the space from cars.


Afuera at IDS West 2024

Afuera in the Urban Jacks booth at the California Green Builders Conference 2024

We began the project with research and sketching, quickly moving into 1:12 scale prototypes for our first crit, where we presented several ideas. From the feedback we received, we narrowed down our concept to a modular system with a consistent greenery element. 

We then further developed this concept and built it at a 1:1 scale, allowing us to test the ergonomics, visuals, and get an understanding of its presence in a space. After out 1:1 scale crit we took in that feedback and bugun designing our final piece.




We took a week to refine our concept from the 1:1 crit, our feedback focused on keeping the project airy, slat direction, module choice, and shape refinement. We received positive feedback on the ergonomics, effect of the greenery, and overall concept.Since this was such a large complex piece that had to be built in such a short time frame, we made technical drawings for each individual element and tracked their progress in a project management software. the final bench included over 150 individual wood pieces.

After completing the cad model we got to work, it was a busy 3 weeks! I’m proud of what we accomplished during this project, thank you to my group mates Aru, and Eden for making it such a pleasant project. 

Bellow is a gallery of process pictures



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