Life Stage: A New Era of Urban Public Furniture Design

By Luo Qianying, Ju Peichen, Yuru Chen, and Summer Wang

Revitalizing the Lakefront: From Silence to Social Synergy

In the heart of Guangzhou University Town, the central lake area once stood as an underused, dim, and quiet zone after sunset. With limited amenities and inactive public spaces, the lake failed to attract students and residents, leaving the area lifeless despite its scenic potential. Recognizing this urban void, the project Life Stage reimagines the lakeside through flexible urban public furniture design — transforming it into a dynamic social and recreational hub that celebrates both day and night life.

The design emerges from extensive research into user behavior, climate conditions, and spatial patterns. It aims to encourage flow, social interaction, and inclusivity by blending comfort, utility, and aesthetics in modular furniture systems.

Research Foundation: Understanding the Urban Context

Behavioral and Spatial Analysis: The design team analyzed the crowd movement patterns, identifying the sparse human activity and fragmented pedestrian connections around the central lake. The study highlighted key issues such as lack of functional zones, irregular vegetation, and exposure to harsh sunlight.

Climate and Space Dynamics: Guangzhou’s humid subtropical climate—with strong sunlight and high temperatures—demanded a design that could provide shading, ventilation, and thermal comfort. Space streamline studies further informed the distribution of functions, ensuring the design accommodates different activity rhythms—morning jogs, daytime relaxation, and nighttime social gatherings.

Design Goals: Activating a Community Through Furniture

The primary design goal was to activate the lakeside through adaptable furniture modules that encourage students, residents, and visitors to occupy and engage with the space. The team envisioned the site as a “stage of life” — a metaphorical and physical platform where human interactions unfold across time and activity.

Objectives included:

• Encouraging continuous movement and gathering.
• Creating functional zones that balance rest and recreation.
• Integrating lighting, power, and water to support night-time use.
• Promoting sustainable and accessible public infrastructure.

Concept: “Life Stage” — The Enclosure of Experience

The concept of Life Stage draws from the everyday rhythms of university life. The modular and enclosed configuration forms micro-environments that adapt to diverse needs — from intimate conversations to group activities. These “stages” transform the perception of urban furniture from static objects into living architectural components, shaping atmosphere, movement, and community engagement.

Design Composition: Modular and Multifunctional

The design consists of five major furniture components, each responding to specific human activities and environmental needs. Arranged along the lakeside, these modules create a continuous experience loop, offering zones for rest, exercise, and leisure.

Component 1: Lockers and Rails Provides secure storage and preparation spaces for runners and visitors, enhancing convenience and safety.

Component 2: Hammock Lounge A shaded area equipped with sockets and soft surfaces — ideal for resting, reading, or casual socializing. Integrated lighting ensures usability after dark.

Component 3: Circular Seating Module Facilitates interaction and reflection. Its enclosed form encourages conversation and visual connection while maintaining comfort and privacy.

Component 4: Water Station and Bicycle Dock Combines refreshment with practicality — offering drinking water points and bike parking for active users and commuters.

Component 5: Entertainment Frame A sculptural module with hanging swing seats, promoting playful interaction and visual dynamism within the landscape.

Together, these components embody the principles of adaptive furniture design in public architecture, merging flexibility, sustainability, and human-centered comfort.

Material and Form: Crafting Atmosphere

The modules employ stone and concrete textures softened by wood-like finishes, harmonizing with the natural tones of the lakeside. The circular layout reinforces enclosure and togetherness, while openings and perforations allow light and airflow to animate the structures. Each form is both architectural and experiential — offering shelter, utility, and social meaning.

Impact: Redefining Urban Nightlife and Campus Identity

By addressing both functionality and emotional connection, Life Stage transforms the Central Lake Park into a community landmark. It encourages nocturnal activity, supports student wellness, and strengthens the bond between the built environment and social behavior.

More than furniture, this project positions urban public furniture design as a medium of cultural storytelling — shaping identity, belonging, and shared experience in contemporary campus life.

Life Stage redefines how university towns can use public space architecture to foster interaction and well-being. It symbolizes a shift from isolated structures to interconnected environments — proving that design can illuminate even the quietest corners of a city, creating places where life continuously unfolds.