1x1: A Revolutionary Urban Furniture System

Designers Mykolas Seckus and Antonio Gandolfo Reimagine Public Spaces

The 1x1 design is a family of urban furniture elements that can function as standalone pieces or combine to create a small-scale public realm with adjustable programs. The design's unique properties include its flexibility, scalability, and industrial aesthetic. It can serve as a permanent or temporary intervention in public spaces, offering a high degree of optimization due to the intelligent use of materials and standardized frame structure.

Seckus and Gandolfo's design was influenced by the scaffolding structure and Dieter Rams' shelving system 606. The designers noted that the site of Refshaleoen lacked an extensive public realm, prompting them to provide it hypothetically through a multitude of small interventions. The result is a design that is as practical as it is aesthetically pleasing, offering a new vision for urban furniture.

The materials used in the 1x1 design include local or Baltic Birch timber, precast concrete, and stainless steel. All elements are manufactured off-site and then assembled on-site, optimizing shipment size and production convenience. The manufacturing process is relatively conventional, with no complex geometry involved. Concrete elements are precast, timber parts are cut using standard machines, and steel parts are welded together from semi-finished elements.

The 1x1 system can function as an individual furniture piece, such as a bench or planter, or in groups to form small outdoor spaces like a park or urban farm. The design allows for expansion or contraction by adding or removing individual elements, offering a flexible solution for changing needs and seasons. This adaptability, coupled with the design's industrial, modular, scalable, and interactive qualities, sets it apart in the realm of urban furniture design.

In conclusion, the 1x1 design by Mykolas Seckus and Antonio Gandolfo represents a significant innovation in the field of urban furniture. Its modular nature, inspired by the industrial aesthetic of Refshaleoen, Copenhagen, allows for a high degree of flexibility and scalability. This design, which won the prestigious Golden A' Street and City Furniture Design Award in 2020, offers a new vision for public spaces, challenging the concept of generic design and offering a unique, customizable solution.