Combination of longevity and rapid growth

How does the use of Accoya wood provide a sustainable and long-term solution to urban climate challenges?

The use of Accoya wood offers a sustainable and long-term solution to urban climate challenges by combining characteristics that are otherwise only found in tropical woods. Accoya is extremely durable and resistant to weathering. By treating the fast-growing Radiata Pine with natural acetic acid, the wood is said to be able to achieve a lifespan of over 50 years when used without contact with the ground. Our oldest reference projects, which are now over ten years old, impressively confirm this with the impeccable condition of the wood. Within these ten years, the cross-section of Accoya wood used for the project has already grown back and once again absorbed CO₂. This distinguishes Accoya from many other types of wood, especially domestic ones.

Domestic alternatives such as Larch or Douglas fir cannot compete with acetylated Pine (Accoya) in terms of durability. Even under optimal conditions, larch lasts around 15 years before it needs to be replaced. To achieve this lifespan, however, the larch has already needed 80 years to grow. During this time, the wood stores CO₂, but the wood needed to replace it only grows back after another 60 years. This means that although larch buffers CO₂ in the short term, it releases it again faster than it can be bound by regrowth.

Accoya, on the other hand, grows back many times faster than it needs to be replaced. This advantage is so great that even the transportation and treatment of the wood with natural acetic acid cannot tarnish the positive CO₂ balance. It is not without reason that Accoya is cradle to cradle gold or platinum certified.

Whether Accoya products actually last over 50 years – as stated by the manufacturer – or perhaps a little less, is ultimately not decisive. The combination of longevity and rapid growth surpasses anything we have seen before. By choosing Accoya wood, cities can actively contribute to improving their carbon footprint while creating long-term, sustainable solutions to their climate challenges.

Suitable parkers as the key to success

Another important topic of Runge: your focus on mobility. Among other things, you have a bike rack for cargo bikes in your portfolio. In your opinion, how far along are German cities in dealing with the ever-popular cargo bikes? Is the commitment sufficient?

Early on, we focused on mobility and the development of urban infrastructure for cargo bikes. While there was hardly any talk of mobility change in cities in Germany, we were already active in London and supported the Cycle Superhighways project. Fast long-distance cycle paths have been under construction there since 2010, enabling cyclists to cover longer distances through the city safely and comfortably. Although our contributions mainly consisted of benches and waste bins, we observed the topic at an early stage and recognized the new demands on the infrastructure resulting from the change in mobility towards a pronounced bicycle culture and, in particular, cargo bikes.

From the point of view of urban furniture, cargo bikes have special requirements, especially when it comes to safe and available parking facilities:

1. space requirements: At up to 2.80 meters long and 1 meter wide, cargo bikes are significantly larger than conventional bikes. The maneuvering space and the movement of the bike when folding and unfolding the double stand must also be taken into account.
2. double stand: cargo bikes always have a double stand, which is why no leaning solution is required. It is primarily a matter of effective anti-theft protection.
3. cuckoo’s eggs: As parking spaces for cargo bikes can also be used by normal bikes, avoiding such cuckoo’s eggs poses a challenge. The availability for their actual cargo bike purpose is then unintentionally reduced.

Our Cargo Parker models have been specially developed for these requirements: They use pictograms to clearly signal that they are parking spaces for cargo bikes. The low connection height is designed for cargo bikes, whereas it is rather impractical for conventional bikes. If the classic bicycles are also offered sufficient parking facilities of their own within sight, then the cargo spaces can actually be kept free.

Until now, attempts have often been made to designate classic bike racks – as they have always been known in the city – for cargo bikes by means of signs or ground markings. Often with moderate success – they continue to be used by the old bikes. Recognizably different parking spaces that are suitable for cargo bikes are the key to success. Another good approach is to convert car parking spaces into parking facilities for several cargo bikes, which also impressively demonstrates how much space a single car takes up. Basically, the better the cycling infrastructure, the more people will use it. In existing areas, the space required for this can only come from the infrastructure for motor vehicle traffic. In new development areas, the space is planned accordingly. Consistent planning that leaves no bottlenecks for comfortable and safe cycling is important.

Even if the redistribution of space in existing built areas often leads to controversial discussions, we believe that both we and many cities are already well on the way to actively shaping the mobility transition and giving bikes and cargo bikes the space they deserve in order to create the supply that will make the transition independent.

Emphasizing the importance of good cycling infrastructure

As an urban furniture manufacturer, what can you do to encourage municipal commitment? In your opinion, what are the opportunities for planners? Can we, or should we do more?

We are big fans of attractive offers rather than regulation and bans. If we make getting around by bike pleasant, safe and efficient, then use and acceptance will automatically continue to increase. Studies in London already show that at peak times, bicycle traffic now accounts for 70 percent of all road traffic on certain routes. As a manufacturer of urban furniture, we want to and can offer well thought-out solutions that support this development. Our experience at home and abroad flows directly into product development, and we are happy to share our suggestions.

Planners can play a crucial role by continuously emphasizing the importance of good cycling infrastructure, even in smaller projects. Ultimately, the key lies in comprehensive and overarching city-wide master planning. Only through holistic and long-term planning can cities create the consistent framework conditions necessary to inspire enthusiasm for cycling and to promote and integrate it sustainably.

Increasing the frequency of seating options

What design approaches does Runge take to develop urban furniture that promotes both the comfort of citizens and climate protection?

For well over 100 years, our focus has been on the development of urban furniture that makes public spaces a pleasant and liveable place. We have always focused primarily on renewable and recyclable raw materials. Our products are characterized by their durability and ease of repair – aspects that are particularly important to us.

In view of climate change, shading and water storage are also becoming increasingly important in Central and Northern Europe. We are responding to this by developing products that enable greening with large plants – both in standard solutions and in individual project designs. Large raised beds are ideal when space is available but the ground does not allow sufficient rooting depth due to underground infrastructure. Large plant containers also offer the possibility of creating mobile greenery on sealed surfaces.

It goes without saying that benches should be located in the shade of large trees. We would also like to see Mediterranean-style seating groups under trees that promote social interaction and invite citizens to relax for longer in the cool shade in summer. In times of increasing climatic stress and an ageing population, it is also more important than ever to increase the frequency of seating so that people can take a breather more often. Our leaning seats, such as the Binga Steh, create resting points even where there is not enough space for a conventional bench.

Short vita

Oliver Runge has been managing owner of Runge GmbH & Co. KG since 2001. He previously worked as a management consultant at Roland Berger and as an assistant to the CEO at Pixelpark AG. He studied international business administration at the European Business School, with stages in Spain, the USA and Namibia. Runge has enjoyed developing new solutions for outdoor public spaces since childhood.

About Runge

Runge has been building furniture for outdoor public spaces for 116 years. The benches, often complemented by matching litter bins and bicycle stands, can be found in parks and gardens, along streets and paths and in squares; some have now become classics of street furniture. They can be found wherever people want to sit down and take a break. With its large planters, Runge helps to make public spaces greener and the urban climate more pleasant. As a ‘real’ manufacturer, Runge adapts products to the wishes of planners or realises free designs as individual customised constructions. At its headquarters in the district of Osnabrück, Runge offers all production steps from on-site customer consultation, design and construction to wood and metal processing and surface coating.

www.runge-bank.de

This interview is part of the Beat the Heat initiative, which Runge is supporting. Find out more about Beat the Heat here.