With the help
of add-ons,
STREET
BOLLARDS
become
builders of
trust rather
than symbols
of threat
STREET FURNITURE – Let's be honest. In
an era of extremism, bullets and bombs, at
times urban architecture and street furniture
feel more menacing than protective. A corner
dustbin can appear to pose a threat. Is it con-
cealing an explosive device? Even a streetlamp- especially with its light source extinguished
- can seem hostile rather than reassuring
on a dark night. Take the bollard, originally
invented to moor ships and control traffic and
now often seen as a last-ditch defence against
vehicular ‘ram raiding’ attacks. In response to
such sinister references, designer Beatriz Peró
Giannini presented the Rocker, the Slider and
the Wobbler as part of the Ulterior exhibition.
Her pieces suggest a way for designers to help
pedestrians take back their public spaces.
Giannini created playful lemon-yellow acces-
sories for street bollards (known in Dutch as
Amsterdammertjes). The designs – intended to
rebuild public trust in street life – are add-ons
that attach to existing bollards and encourage
serendipitous interactions when used as seats.
They rely on a seesaw or bobblehead-like
imbalance to force cooperation between total
strangers, because it takes teamwork to render
them steady enough to function as seats. In
a time of insecurity and distrust, Giannini's
street jewellery is a smart enrichment for
city streets. – SM
M
ag
da
lena (^) W
ier
zb
ick
a,
co
ur
te
sy
(^) o
f (^) H
R
Gr
ou
p
an
d
Be
at
riz
(^) P
er
ó
Gi
an
nin
i
30 OBJECTS