People have proven time and again that they can be incredibly innovative when it comes to solving certain inconveniences in life. Or coming up with ideas of how to make their environment more comfortable, be it their homes or entire cities.
The latter is something many public space designers should be applauded for. From solar panel-covered parking lots, providing shade for cars and electricity for people, to bike fixing stations, among other things – there are many ways they have made cities more convenient for their residents. Scroll down to find more examples of great engineering and urban design done right, and feel free to share in the comments what feature in your city you think makes it a better place to live.
#1 These Lines Go Up The Wall So You Can Park Perfectly In Between The Lines
Image credits: Krzyygamin
#2 In The UK, Redundant Telephone Boxes Are Being Repurposed As Public Defibrillators
Image credits: skillian
#3 This Car Park Has Been Converted Into A Solar Energy Farm Giving Shade And Cover Below
Image credits: CapnFancyPants
Most people want to live in a comfortable environment; one that is functional, safe, and, preferably, not an eyesore. That’s why we spend large chunks of our paychecks on comfy furniture, different appliances, and sometimes all sorts of knicknacks that have the power to turn a house into a home.
Bearing in mind that people want their homes to be comfortable, it’s no surprise that they might want their cities to be, too. And while that means different things to different people, this list shows that there are plenty of innovative ways to make cities more convenient for their residents (and visitors alike).
#4 Someone Chopped Down A Tall Tree To Get A Better View Of Sydney Harbour So The Put Up A Tall Sign Where It Once Was To Block The View
"Tree vandalism has occurred in this area
The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust protects and manages this land for the enjoyment of the public.
Acts of vandalism like this deprive all of us of the natural environment.
Please report any suspicious activities to 8969 2100.
Offenders may be subject to fines and/or prosecution."
Image credits: Silk-Touch
#5 My City Protects New Trees With Guards Painted To Like Carrots
Image credits: asorba
Making cities a nice place for people to live is a responsibility that usually falls into the hands of urban design experts. On a daily basis, they are presented with the unique challenge of creating spaces that fit the needs of a certain community, both visually and functionally.
According to Washington State’s Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC), urban design addresses the functional and aesthetic qualities of the physical environment by combining the practices of architecture, planning, and landscape architecture; and mastering all three is not an easy task to conquer.
Though, clearly, some urban design experts and other people responsible for the execution of creative and innovative solutions in cities have conquered their tasks with flying colors, as we can see here.
#6 This Crack In The Pavement Filled With A Stained Glass Cat Portrait
Image credits: sanelib
#7 A Bench Designed For Homeless People So They Can Sleep On It
Image credits: cuebone_
#8 Traffic Light With Shining Pole
Image credits: m0rejuice
According to the MRSC, people care about the look, the feel, and the livability of their communities, which becomes increasingly important bearing in mind the number of people residing in cities.
Statistics presented by the United Nations (UN) suggest that more than half of the global population currently lives in urban areas, and the rate is projected to be as high as 70% by the year 2050.
#9 A Video Surveillance Public Meetup
Image credits: casual864
#10 These Public Swing Powered Chargers For Your Phone In A Train Station
Image credits: Suckerburg1
#11 This Park Has A Swing For Wheelchair Users
Image credits: Kittenblack
For people in cities to be happy, it might not be enough to have a comfortable home or good transportation infrastructure. Green spaces are arguably equally—if not more—important. Though, according to the UN, provision and access to open public spaces remains low across regions, negatively impacting the quality of urban life.
“Public spaces enhance inclusion, social cohesion and the productivity of cities. However, 2020 data from 1,072 cities reveal that more than three-quarters have less than 20 per cent of their area dedicated to open public spaces and streets,” notes the UN’s Statistics Division.
#12 In Vancouver, Trained Raptors (And Handlers) Have Been Hired To Keep Aggressive Seagulls Away From Public Eating Areas
Image credits: rohanmen
#13 UPS In Italy Uses These "Bicycle Trucks" To Deliver Packages To Places In Narrow Streets Of Rome
Image credits: hayaimonogachi
#14 These Bins In Sweden Show You What To Recycle
Image credits: helloitsduke
It’s no secret that our environment can significantly influence our well-being, hence the importance of well-thought-out urban areas featuring public spaces and other crucial elements.
A study delving deeper into urban design as a key to healthy environments for all suggests that urban design and transport “have the potential to provide large, long-lasting, and immediate benefits for health, and hence are key to healthy and sustainable urban environments for all.
“If designed with this perspective in mind, urban design and transport policies (along with other interventions) can provide multiple benefits, including: reducing the upward trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions, protecting the environment, fostering equity and intergenerational solidarity, and improving our resilience to future potential pandemics,” the study read in part.
#15 These Public Benches Are Reversible, So You Can Choose To Look At People, Or Boats
Image credits: thoughtgun
#16 These Parking Spaces Have Folding Bars That Lock To Keep People From Parking In Their Spots
Image credits: nowhereman136
#17 Public Air Shower In Tokyo To Blow Pollen Off Hay Fever Sufferers
Image credits: Humvee13
Another study, focused on what people want in a so-called smart city (a city featuring ICT [information and communication technology]-based solutions to tackle urban challenges), found that “far from the image of a highly technological city, the stakeholders envision a city dedicated to improving the quality of life and environmental sustainability.
“Furthermore, to achieve this smart city, the projects need to be based on full transparency and the promotion of social inclusion. In contrast to the dominant trend towards the privatization of urban space, this study finds that the stakeholders prefer public-based smart city projects such as ICT-based public transport services.”
#18 This Car Park In France Has Soft Barriers Between Parking Spaces To Stop People Scratching Other Cars
Image credits: tomoblob
#19 The Park Benches In My City Has Built-In Umbrellas
Image credits: dope_out
#20 Cool Bike Repair Equipment On A Bike Path
Image credits: dannyp24
Even though nowadays, people—in the US, at least—are reportedly less likely to want to live in cities than they were before the pandemic, millions of people still do. And that is why it’s important to give whoever came up with these innovative solutions a pat on the back and a kind word for a job well done.
#21 Solar Park Bench With USB Charging Ports
Image credits: ruskayaprincessa
#22 My City Has Public Defibrillation Stations And The Sign For It Looks Like A Video Game Health Bar
Image credits: Phyierpickle
#23 The County Of Maui Has Public Sunscreen So People Use Reef Safe Sunscreen
Image credits: DeutschBag808
#24 This Cross Walk Signal Button Has Signage For Blind People Showing Exactly How Many Lanes They Have To Cross And Direction Of Traffic
Image credits: beaned1
#25 A Machine At Heathrow Airport So You Can Refill Your Water Bottle After Security So You Don't Need To Throw It Away
Image credits: JamesETHD
#26 Bus Stop In Norway With Books You Can Read While You Wait
Image credits: mymindismycastle
#27 A Public Cat Food Dispenser
Image credits: Kind_Offer_1231
#28 This Mcdonalds Has A "Drive-Thru" For Boats. Located In Hamburg, Germany
Image credits: peter_the_meter
#29 My City Has Pencil Style Bollards Around School Areas
Image credits: RaymonDGYC
#30 This Hourglass Shaped Traffic Light
Image credits: --Abby--
#31 The Narrowest Street Of Prague
Image credits: Valkoryon
#32 In Morocco, Utility Poles Are Disguised As Palm Trees
Image credits: reddit.com
#33 In Autumn, My City Has A Public Service That Comes By And Sucks Up The Leaves You Rake To The Curb
Image credits: SligPants
#34 This Public Ashtray To Discourage Littering
Image credits: HarveyHaddock
#35 On Some Older Streets In Belgium They Use Marble Stones Instead Of Painted Lines For Crosswalks
Image credits: open_mike
#36 UV Index Sign
Image credits: Chap82
#37 Trash Bins In Copenhagen Are Angled So Cyclists Can Toss Their Trash While Biking
Image credits: DrChrispeee
#38 A Public Bike Stand With A Built-In Pump
Image credits: cremecitron
#39 My University Has These Little Bridges For Pedestrians When The Streets Start Flooding
Image credits: lwiggle
#40 Copenhagen (Denmark) Has These Rails For Cyclists To Lean On At Red Lights
Image credits: PtosisMammae
#41 These Sprinklers On The Road Near The Ski Resort I’m At In Japan To Keep The Road From Freezing Over. (Salt Water If You Were Wondering)
Image credits: TheWolvis
#42 Lisbon Consists Of 7 Hills. In Order To Make It Easier For Residents And Tourists To Move Between The Different Neighbourhoods, This Open-Air Escalator Was Installed
Image credits: rebordacao
#43 My City Added Blue Lights That Turn On When An Emergency Service Vehicle Is Approaching
Image credits: bsparks027
#44 In Rotterdam, The Netherlands, We Have A Traffic Light For Cyclists That Plays A Song When The Light Is Red. The Song It Plays Is The Last Song Played On The Phone Of Someone Who Passed Away Due To A Traffic Accident That Occurred Because He Was Paying Too Much Attention To His Phone
Image credits: TyRR2018ion
#45 In Basel, There's A Model That Allows The Visually Impaired To Experience The Layout Of The City
Image credits: JebSenrab
#46 In Belgian Train’s Toilets There Is A Sos Button Close To The Ground In Case People Fall And Can’t Get Up
Image credits: reddit.com
#47 Shopping Cart Cleaning Machine In Germany
Image credits: pogogq
#48 This Park Bench Created By Just Adding A Back To The Wall
Image credits: TrainersAndCupcake
#49 In My City There Are Milk Machines Where You Can Buy Milk In Your Own Container!
Image credits: th2736627298464
#50 A Pencil Sharpener On A Bench Handle In A Public Park In Melbourne, Australia
Image credits: Novel_Swimmer_8284
