Zuko
Basic information
Project Title
Zuko
Full project title
Reclaim the streets with mobile urban furniture
Category
Regaining a sense of belonging
Project Description
Zuko is a free rental service for mobile street furniture. It allows users to utilize public spaces more easily and flexibly according to their needs. The project transforms the urban space into a mobile living room. Zuko creates more togetherness and sojourn quality in our neighborhoods under the motto: “reclaim the streets”.
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
Vienna, Austria
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
What do people need to appropriate or shape public spaces according to their needs? Exactly - Tools!
Zuko is just such a tool. With Zuko, it becomes easier and more flexible to utilize public spaces. People can sit anywhere - in the shade, in the sun, alone, with friends, or simply enjoy the view. The flexible concept temporarily transforms empty corners and unused squares into places of exchange and life. It extends our own living room into the urban space.
Under the motto "Reclaim the Streets", Zuko invites all users to actively make use of, appropriate, and shape the urban space for themselves. This is also the DNA of the project, aligning with the 11.7 SDG Goal "Sustainable Cities and Communities," specifically promoting and facilitating access to public space.
This is also reflected in the name ZUKO, derived from the German word “ZUsammenKOmmen” (get together), to strengthen the sense of belonging and promote more urban life. Zuko supports shaping our urban spaces into future vibrant and inclusive neighborhoods.
Zuko is just such a tool. With Zuko, it becomes easier and more flexible to utilize public spaces. People can sit anywhere - in the shade, in the sun, alone, with friends, or simply enjoy the view. The flexible concept temporarily transforms empty corners and unused squares into places of exchange and life. It extends our own living room into the urban space.
Under the motto "Reclaim the Streets", Zuko invites all users to actively make use of, appropriate, and shape the urban space for themselves. This is also the DNA of the project, aligning with the 11.7 SDG Goal "Sustainable Cities and Communities," specifically promoting and facilitating access to public space.
This is also reflected in the name ZUKO, derived from the German word “ZUsammenKOmmen” (get together), to strengthen the sense of belonging and promote more urban life. Zuko supports shaping our urban spaces into future vibrant and inclusive neighborhoods.
Key objectives for sustainability
Zuko advocates for the sustainable use of the precious resource "public space". It is used smartly, only as needed, and made available again for public use and other purposes. In comparison, 12 permanent seating places in urban areas require at least 11 square meters of space (seating area, foot space, comfortable distance from other space users). Zuko, for the same number of seats, only requires 1 square meter. This frees up 10 square meters for other uses while maintaining the same seating capacity.
The project contributes to achieving the 12th SDG Goal, "Responsible Consumption and Production," particularly subgoal 12.5. For resource-efficient management, the rental station is designed in line with the principles of the circular economy. It focuses on easy repairability, exceptional durability, modularity, and recyclable materials. Power consumption is minimized and is self-sustained by a small solar panel. The green station roof retains rainwater and creates a small habitat for insects. The weather-protected storage ensures that the foldable chairs are always dry and ready for use year-round, making them more durable than free-standing seating options.
The project contributes to achieving the 12th SDG Goal, "Responsible Consumption and Production," particularly subgoal 12.5. For resource-efficient management, the rental station is designed in line with the principles of the circular economy. It focuses on easy repairability, exceptional durability, modularity, and recyclable materials. Power consumption is minimized and is self-sustained by a small solar panel. The green station roof retains rainwater and creates a small habitat for insects. The weather-protected storage ensures that the foldable chairs are always dry and ready for use year-round, making them more durable than free-standing seating options.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
To enhance the urban space is the design goal pursued in this project. The rental station and app development focused on an aesthetic and functional design. The design and communication are colorful, aiming to make the dull urban space more vibrant and lively, conveying a cheerful sense of living. Furthermore, the use of bright colors creates a strong recognition effect. Wood is used for the station cladding and foldable chairs. In a self-conducted survey, most participants indicated that wood is their preferred material for public seating and for comfort.
The flexible and mobile concept transforms the choice of seating in public spaces into an experience. The freedom of choice opens up new possibilities for users. They can be in the center of the action, observe urban life from the sidelines, or switch between the two as they please.
The flexible and mobile concept transforms the choice of seating in public spaces into an experience. The freedom of choice opens up new possibilities for users. They can be in the center of the action, observe urban life from the sidelines, or switch between the two as they please.
Key objectives for inclusion
The rental service and the app are available to the public and its users for free every day. The app can be downloaded for iOS and Android for free via QR codes or the internet. It is available in both German and English, with Zuko support available to assist with any issues. During the first app usage, the rental rules are explained, and they must be confirmed. This ensures fairness in the user community and beyond, emphasizing the responsible use of the chairs, keeping them and the station area clean, showing consideration for other road users, and using the service fairly. The rental rules and terms and conditions establish a basis for respectful coexistence.
The rental service is designed to be simple and accessible, creating inviting, consumption-free spaces for users. In this way Zuko contributes to the achievement of the 11.7 SDG Goal.
The rental service is designed to be simple and accessible, creating inviting, consumption-free spaces for users. In this way Zuko contributes to the achievement of the 11.7 SDG Goal.
Results in relation to category
During the pilot project at Vienna's Elisabethplatz, at least two people daily borrowed chairs during good weather on weekdays, and 8 to 10 people did so on weekends, with significantly more during lockdowns. The rental station and app provide precise lending statistics. In the 3.5-month period from July 14 to October 31, 2023, chairs were borrowed 381 times, with an average usage duration of 36.4 minutes. As a result, the public space was used over 231 hours as a urban living room.
For an elementary school child, a yellow chair decorated with balloons served as a birthday throne. Three coworkers regularly strolled along sunlit paths during their lunch breaks. A grandmother could keep an eye on her grandchildren at the playground while sitting in the shade. These are just a few examples of many use cases.
For an elementary school child, a yellow chair decorated with balloons served as a birthday throne. Three coworkers regularly strolled along sunlit paths during their lunch breaks. A grandmother could keep an eye on her grandchildren at the playground while sitting in the shade. These are just a few examples of many use cases.
How Citizens benefit
It serves as a tool for citizens to make it easier and more common to use public spaces. Compared to fixed seating options, Zuko is versatile for a wide range of uses. The mobile concept allows users to freely choose their position and view. The service is consumption-free and can be used individually or in groups. In line with placemaking principles, Zuko focuses on the people who use a space, helping them turn it into a place of belonging.
Zuko promotes an active outdoor lifestyle and encourages citizens to appropriate spaces. The more life takes place in public spaces, the more attractive the area becomes. Zuko fosters more togetherness and a higher sojourn quality in our neighborhoods.
Zuko promotes an active outdoor lifestyle and encourages citizens to appropriate spaces. The more life takes place in public spaces, the more attractive the area becomes. Zuko fosters more togetherness and a higher sojourn quality in our neighborhoods.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
Zuko is the world's first rental service for mobile street furniture.
It introduces entirely new design possibilities in urban planning and landscape architecture. A digital and mobile piece of urban furniture is unique in the industry. Previous "mobile" examples restrict flexible use due to weight, chains, or supervision. A digital rental process via an app for urban furniture is also a novelty. The service allows for new locations and designs. It doesn't aim to displace fixed benches but serves as an additional seating option in urban open spaces. Zuko is the next generation of urban furniture - the park bench 2.0.
It introduces entirely new design possibilities in urban planning and landscape architecture. A digital and mobile piece of urban furniture is unique in the industry. Previous "mobile" examples restrict flexible use due to weight, chains, or supervision. A digital rental process via an app for urban furniture is also a novelty. The service allows for new locations and designs. It doesn't aim to displace fixed benches but serves as an additional seating option in urban open spaces. Zuko is the next generation of urban furniture - the park bench 2.0.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
Three major knowledge areas converge in Zuko, with mutual interactions.
1. Active mobility - walking
To increase climate-friendly pedestrian traffic, a certain infrastructure is needed. As the researcher Renate Albrecher aptly put it at the Walk-Space Conference in Salzburg in 2021, "Park benches are the filling stations for pedestrians." The colorful chairs provide flexible infrastructure.
2. Space appropriation & Placemaking
Austria is not known for an extensive outdoor culture, unlike Southern European countries. That's why we embrace the mission of space appropriation. Under the motto "Reclaim the Streets," Zuko invites all users to actively use, appropriate, and shape the urban space for themselves. Around the rental service, we organize events such as Park(ing) Day, small concerts, a play street, coffee get-togethers, or a pop-up tour through Vienna. The project sparks discussions about the use of public space in exchange with the population and politics and challenges them critically. We are dedicated to Placemaking, creating places that are not just functional but also beautiful and meaningful for the people who live, work, and play there. The project is a means to turn spaces into places for a better city life.
3. Circular Economy
This is reflected in the circular station design and the space-efficient use of the precious resource "public space".
1. Active mobility - walking
To increase climate-friendly pedestrian traffic, a certain infrastructure is needed. As the researcher Renate Albrecher aptly put it at the Walk-Space Conference in Salzburg in 2021, "Park benches are the filling stations for pedestrians." The colorful chairs provide flexible infrastructure.
2. Space appropriation & Placemaking
Austria is not known for an extensive outdoor culture, unlike Southern European countries. That's why we embrace the mission of space appropriation. Under the motto "Reclaim the Streets," Zuko invites all users to actively use, appropriate, and shape the urban space for themselves. Around the rental service, we organize events such as Park(ing) Day, small concerts, a play street, coffee get-togethers, or a pop-up tour through Vienna. The project sparks discussions about the use of public space in exchange with the population and politics and challenges them critically. We are dedicated to Placemaking, creating places that are not just functional but also beautiful and meaningful for the people who live, work, and play there. The project is a means to turn spaces into places for a better city life.
3. Circular Economy
This is reflected in the circular station design and the space-efficient use of the precious resource "public space".
Methodology used
To test the idea, we employed the Minimal Viable Product (MVP) approach from the startup world. We upcycled six second-hand folding chairs with paint and a local venue at Elisabethplatz took charge of managing the rental. The pilot project operated as an Agendagroup to secure a small budget and benefit from the political and local network of the Viennese Agenda 21. This straightforward implementation allowed us to quickly gather feedback on whether the service was being used and identify any issues. Feedback loops and testing are central to Zuko's development. Whether it's the pilot project, a survey on material comfort for urban furniture, app user-friendliness, or the feedback feature in the app, we identify weaknesses and develop solutions to continuously improve the service for everyone. In setting up the rental station, we utilized existing solutions to avoid the need to develop everything from scratch. Zuko operates like publicly accessible parcel lockers, but filled with twelve folding chairs.
How stakeholders are engaged
The idea originated during a concept competition by Creative Industries Vienna, seeking to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic. The rental service is a response to enhance the better and more flexible use of public space for pedestrians and residents. In 2021, to test the concept, the Viennese Local Agenda 21 (UN action plan) supported it with a small budget and their network of politics, municipalities, and residents. The pilot project was implemented as the Agendagroup Grätzlsitz (=neighborhood chair) at Elisabethplatz in Vienna's fourth district. The local venue Obsthunger partnered to manage the chair rental. The significant media coverage and positive user feedback motivated further development of the idea. In 2022, the Vienna Business Agency financially supported the prototype of a Zuko rental station. In coordination with the sixth district and the Vienna City Gardens MA42, the first rental station was opened in Richard Waldemar Park on July 14, 2023.
Key companions on this journey include media and local networks and their stakeholders to raise awareness of the service and the topic of space appropriation.
Key companions on this journey include media and local networks and their stakeholders to raise awareness of the service and the topic of space appropriation.
Global challenges
Urban spaces are currently undergoing one of the most significant transformations, especially concerning climate adaptation. Cities like Paris, Barcelona, London, and others are making massive changes to their public spaces to increase green areas and climate-friendly modes of transportation for cycling and walking. Innovative concepts are needed for this transformation, and Zuko offers a potential solution, contributing to the climate adaptation of cities.
Zuko is committed to pursuing the 11.7 SDG Goal "Sustainable Cities and Communities." It is inherent to their mission to ensure, promote, and facilitate users' access to public spaces.
To address the 12th SDG Goal "Responsible Consumption and Production," particularly subgoal 12.5, Zuko implements a circular station design and makes careful use of the precious resource "public space."
Zuko is committed to pursuing the 11.7 SDG Goal "Sustainable Cities and Communities." It is inherent to their mission to ensure, promote, and facilitate users' access to public spaces.
To address the 12th SDG Goal "Responsible Consumption and Production," particularly subgoal 12.5, Zuko implements a circular station design and makes careful use of the precious resource "public space."
Learning transferred to other parties
The rental station can be placed anywhere in Europe and is flexible for use by organizations, cities, or neighborhoods, just like the chairs themselves. It is designed as a self-sustaining unit, requiring no external connections, making it easy to move as needed using a hand truck. The station can remain in one location for several years, change location monthly as part of Tactical Urbanism measures, or be used at a one-day street festival. In addition to folding chairs, other collapsible street furniture such as lounge chairs, tables, and more can be added to the rental inventory. The free app is currently available in German and English, accessible to people in German-speaking regions and beyond. Additional languages can easily be installed through app updates.
The idea of the rental service can be implemented with minimal resources, as was done in the initial pilot project in collaboration with local stakeholders.
The idea of the rental service can be implemented with minimal resources, as was done in the initial pilot project in collaboration with local stakeholders.
Keywords
Public Space
Free Urban Furniture
Reclaim the Streets
Versatile
Urban Togetherness
