This fleet of kiosks in the Royal Parks of London is sustainable, organic-inspired + traditionally crafted

Artisan brand Colicci commissioned Mizzi Studio to create a family of nine refreshment kiosks, to replace the aging ones, across the Royal Parks in London. The initiative was a part of a major public realm enhancement project. The sustainable and minimal kiosks were handcrafted and placed in Hyde Park, Green Park, and St. James Park. They were designed to respond sympathetically to the Grade I listed landscape.

“Their organic-inspired volumes follow a continuous shape with varying degrees of curvature and differing cladding profiles, each providing contrasting textures. Overall, each design variation is informed by the architectural or organic elements that the kiosk shares its space with.”, said Jonathan Mizzi of Mizzi Studio.

Designer: Mizzi Studio

The kiosks are curvaceous structures with a graceful tree-inspired canopy. The canopies swell out like a tree’s crown, making them instantly recognizable, and almost impossible to ignore. The 360-degree entities follow a similar design language, creating a family of harmonious structures that are in sync. Despite the common aesthetics, each kiosk is also unique, individually tailored to each site’s history, demographic, and nuances.

Eight of the kiosks have been crafted from sustainable wood – that is steam-bent English timber and were developed in collaboration with British designer Tom Raffield. But the ninth one, which is the flagship Horseshoe kiosk is clad in tubular brass and mimics the ornate metals of the Queen Victoria Memorial, which is located close by.

Besides wood, the other high-quality materials used in the construction of the kiosks were – oxidized copper, new copper, stainless steel, and brass. The smart use of space, energy efficiency, and excellent waste disposal were some great qualities that were integrated into the kiosks. A rear entrance ensures that the sides of the kiosks can be used for other purposes such as including integrated bins and condiment holders.

“We believe in the power of public space to bring people together and restore them both physically and emotionally. The aftermath of the pandemic became the context for the completion of the Royal Parks fleet, and therefore we saw this as a moment where architecture could help restore mental well-being, bring people together, and offer surveillance and support at a time when the city’s inhabitants felt most vulnerable.”, continued Jonathan Mizzi.

The kiosks were designed to be modular and freestanding structures that could be easily transported from one location to another. They serve as helpful beacons to navigate through the parks and aim to make the park-going experience an even simpler and effortless one. Mizzi Studio’s approach to building the kiosks was holistic and mindful – they did not want to deeply impact or disturb the landscape of the park, but still succeeded in constructing buildings that are functional, sustainable, and organic.

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Google brings 40 US national parks to Street View

Google just made it easier to visit some of the US' biggest landmarks without hopping on an airplane. It's teaming up with the National Park Service to offer 360-degree Street View imagery for 40 national parks and historic sites, ranging from Alcatr...

Ruilbank Benches Offer Free Reading for Passersby

Benches are just benches, until a huge red clip is attached to one end of it. Then it becomes a Ruilbank, which is Dutch for “barter bench.”

Essentially, they’re there to hold some reading material in place. Whether it’s a book or a magazine or a newspaper, this trusty red clip will keep it in place.

Reading Bench

It’s a project by Pivot Creative to get people reading more – and to pass on good reads. From July 28th to September 28th, nine locations areas around Amsterdam will have benches supplied with different reading material from various sponsors, including newspaper Het Parool and the city’s public library.

Reading Bench1

Passersby are free to read, take, or barter the reading material with something else when they come across it.

Wouldn’t it be fun if someone did a similar thing on our side of the planet?

[via Pop Up City]

Google donates $600,000 to bring free WiFi to San Francisco parks

Google donates $600,000 to bring free WiFi to San Francisco parks

San Francisco has been striving for city-wide internet access since 2007, and with a little help from Mountain View, it's now one step closer to achieving that lofty goal. After receiving a $600,000 donation from Google, 31 public parks in one of the world's most tech-savvy cities will have free WiFi for at least two years. Google's gift will cover installation and maintenance of all necessary equipment for the project, which builds upon the the city's existing public WiFi hotspots like San Francisco International Airport and City Hall. While blanket coverage for the entire city is still a ways off, offering free internet access in places like public parks is a giant step forward in making the web accessible for all.

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Via: SF Gate

NYC partners with Cablevision, Time Warner Cable to bring WiFi hotspots to city parks

NYC partners with Cablevision, Time Warner Cable to bring WiFi hotspots to city parks

Mayor Bloomberg's government is often finding ways to keep The Big Apple as connected to the internet as can be. Today, in an effort to bring more connectivity options to its residents (and tourists), the City of New York announced that it's teaming up with Cablevision and Time Warner Cable to add WiFi hotspots to 32 parks across the five boroughs. Of course, these will be available in addition to free services already provided by companies such as AT&T in select parts of the city.

Unlike with similar offerings, however, these new hotspots will require potential users to be Cablevision Optimum Online or Time Warner Cable broadband subscribers in order to get free access. Those who have the proper credentials will be able to connect gratis via a WiFi-enabled device anytime, while non-subscribers can do so at no cost for up to 30 minutes every 30 days, or for 99 cents per day. The full list of participating NYC parks can be found after the break, and fret not if your favorite didn't make it -- we're told WiFi is "coming soon" to more locations.

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Source: NYC Parks