Twisty

Project Brief

Twisty was developed as part of an industry design challenge with public furniture manufacturer Flexro. The brief encouraged bold thinking and new approaches to modular public furniture that respond to changing community needs.

The challenge provided an opportunity to explore how public furniture could move beyond conventional seating, with a focus on flexibility, human interaction and the possibilities of public spaces after dark.

Lighting brings people together, furniture makes then stay.

Flexro

The opportunity

Brisbane’s CBD has a variety of outdoor public spaces, yet many appear to be underutilised at night outside organised events.

These spaces have the potential to offer somewhere to meet, socialise, relax or simply spend time without needing to purchase food, drinks or entertainment.

Research into how people use Brisbane’s outdoor public spaces included an online survey, naturalistic observations and analysis of existing public furniture.

One of the most interesting findings was the variety of ways people occupied existing furniture. People sat sideways, cross-legged, leaned against backrests and used surfaces for everything from food and drinks to personal belongings.

Individuals, pairs and groups of three were also the most common users observed. Alongside the importance of lighting and visual interest, these findings helped shape the direction of Twisty.

Product proposal

Twisty proposes a different approach to public seating, one that sparks curiosity and gives people a reason to enter a space, engage with it and stay a little longer. By combining playful movement, flexible seating and integrated lighting that illuminates the seating area and creates visual interest, the design aims to make public spaces more inviting after dark.

Rather than prescribing how people should sit or interact, Twisty gives users the freedom to choose. Oversized seats accommodate different sitting positions, while independent 360-degree rotation allows people to face each other for conversation, turn away for privacy or simply take in their surroundings. Its distinctive form and interactive nature have the potential to make the seating itself a drawcard, turning an underused public space into somewhere people actively choose to spend time.

design development

The concept began with swings, exploring how movement and a sense of nostalgia could introduce a playful element to public furniture. However, swinging introduced safety concerns, particularly the potential for collisions with people nearby and the need for specialised impact-absorbing surfaces.
Replacing swinging with 360-degree rotation retained the element of movement while offering a different way for people to interact with both the furniture and each other.
Three seats were incorporated into each module to accommodate the individuals, pairs and small groups identified through the research.

Prototyping

A rough, full-scale working prototype was constructed to investigate seat proportions, the experience of spinning and the arrangement of the upright supports. Physical testing was particularly important because the seat dimensions, movement and support arrangements could not be adequately evaluated through drawings or digital models alone.

Testing revealed several unexpected ways the seat could be used. The low horizontal backrest provided a place to hook an arm over or rest both arms while using a phone. Sitting with a leg on either side of the single upright was also comfortable, although the upright could obstruct the view of someone sitting opposite.

These findings directly informed the final seat frame. The single upright was positioned to provide back support without obstructing the view when sitting at that end, while the horizontal supports were designed to function as backrests, surfaces for resting arms or supports when using a phone.

Rather than prescribing one way of sitting, the seat encourages people to find positions that suit them.

Movement and Mechanism

The rotating seats are central to Twisty’s functionality, allowing people to change their orientation without changing seats.

A circular overhead track and trolley system was explored as a possible mechanism, with trolleys connected to the seat uprights travelling around the track. The proposed mechanism influenced the design and positioning of the uprights, with the functional requirements and overall form developed together.

While further engineering and testing would be required for a full-scale public installation, the concept provides a potential approach to achieving independent 360-degree seat rotation.

Modularity and Form

Three differently shaped modules were developed to give Twisty flexibility across a variety of sites. Each module can stand independently or be combined with others to create different configurations. This enables Twisty to be able to be deeply rooted into Place. Not only can each installation can be arranged to suit the site but the shapes of the modules allow for the reference of local landmarks such as rivers or roads.

Materials, Shelter and Lighting

While movement and playfulness are central to the concept, the intention was to avoid the appearance of conventional children’s playground equipment and create something adults would feel encouraged to use. Black metal components and Blackbutt timber slats were chosen to give the structure a contemporary appearance, with the timber seating also selected with thermal comfort in mind for Brisbane’s warm climate.

The overhead structure incorporates shelter and integrated lighting, responding to the project’s focus on nighttime use. The roof dimensions were also explored using digital shadow studies to investigate the shade provided at different times of day.

More than somewhere to sit, Twisty combines movement, choice and playful design to spark curiosity, encourage connection and draw people into public spaces after dark. By turning everyday seating into an experience, Twisty has the potential to make public spaces destinations in their own right.