Active Behaviour for Social Sustainability Through Street Seating Design in Urban Public Spaces

Aziz, Arnis and Boyko, Christopher and Tsekleves, Emmanuel (2025) Active Behaviour for Social Sustainability Through Street Seating Design in Urban Public Spaces. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.

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Abstract

Urban public spaces are vibrant and ever-changing areas that accommodate a diverse range of human activities. However, the intensity and variety of these activities can differ significantly, even when the exterior conditions are comparable. The discipline of public life studies centres on understanding the behaviours and actions of individuals in public spaces and providing concepts to predict and enhance public participation. This study examines the social activities in urban public spaces surrounding retail locations, employing approaches derived from other scientific investigations. The study involved an audit of 17 street seating designs in Manchester and Liverpool. More than 30 hours of observation were conducted, using one-hour behavioural maps to document the various public activities. Recordings were made of multiple activities, including conversing, eating, sitting, and lingering. Additionally, 199 questionnaires were distributed to individuals using street seating to collect their preferences and evaluate the existing street seating designs. Conducting open interview sessions with experts in this field who had relevant knowledge and experience came next. The study was enhanced by conducting participatory design workshops that included experts and individuals from broad public backgrounds, which collected a wide range of user opinions and suggestions. The results emphasise the crucial significance of street furniture design, especially street seating, in promoting active social behaviour and social sustainability in urban spaces. Street seating has a practical purpose, facilitating social sustainability activities rather than being purely ornamental or a part of the urban character. This study concludes by dividing concepts, observations, actions, keywords, themes, and hypotheses into five main thematic factors that promote active behaviour for social sustainability through the design of street seating in urban public spaces.