Benchmarks: Street Furniture Design Competition for K Days
Explore Edmonton and Media Architecture Design Edmonton (MADE) are pleased to announce the winning entry in the Benchmarks design competition. The competition called for inspiring designs for unique street furniture at its annual K-Days fair and exhibition based on the theme of “Reimagining K-Days: Celebrating Summer in Our City.”
Edmonton-based firm OneTwoSix Design Inc. won the grand prize with their entry "Pop-upsicle" benches and tables that will lend a playful and highly instagrammable setting for the summer festival site. They will be producing 18 of these innovative designs for K-Days and other events hosted by Explore Edmonton.
“As we continue to reimage K-Days, we're thrilled about new programming like Benchworks,” said Arlindo Gomes, vice president of business development with Explore Edmonton. “This is a great example of something new and exciting for visitors to experience at K-Days this year. It allows us to showcase our talented local designers while providing fair-goers a photo-worthy place for rest."
OneTwoSix took inspiration from enjoying a popsicle on a hot summer day, noting they "wanted to take the positive feelings associated with these experiences and amplify them in a vibrant and artistic form." OneTwoSix will be incorporating a new recycled, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) panel invented by [re]Waste, a local manufacturer that developed these panels from local plastic waste products.
“It is amazing to see the PopUpsicles come together and look very much like the design concept. It is a tribute to OneTwoSix Design and their collaboration with [re]Waste in delivering a phenomenal result,” notes Shafraaz Kaba, the competition Project Coordinator for MADE.
The jury was composed of Tara McCarthy (CBC), Tim Antoniuk (University of Alberta Industrial Design Professor), Adrian Louden (Artist), Katelynn Schutz (MADE) and Kim Larson (Edify Magazine), and Corey Saban (technical advisor from [re] Waste).
Two runners up were also awarded cash prizes: local landscape architect Kira Hunt of Adaptive EcoSystems, with her Rhythm Lounger bench design, as well as Calgary-based architecture firm, Hereby, with the Bon Bon bench concept. You can view their submissions and all other submissions below.
An award reception will be held during the opening of K-Days on July 20th, with also an exhibition of all entries submitted to this competition. The benches will be on the grounds of K-Days for the entire 10 days.
For more information and company information, please contact MADE at info@joinmade.org.
Check out all of the submissions below!
Edmonton Design Week 2023 is happening from October 10-14! Interested in learning more or getting involved? Click below!