Cities
05.09.25
ADVERTORIAL
Cities
Modular Urban Furniture: UNITY by Vestre Redefines Public Spaces
Modular Urban Furniture UNITY by Vestre brings flexible, inclusive design and greenery into modern public spaces and school campuses. Photo: Felix Salazar
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Modular Urban Furniture is shaping the future of our cities, and Vestre’s new UNITY collection sets a new standard. Urban spaces are evolving rapidly. Once designed around traffic flow and rigid planning, today’s cities must adapt to new societal expectations—flexibility, inclusivity, sustainability, and creativity. Public furniture plays a surprisingly central role in this transformation. With its brand-new UNITY collection, the Norwegian manufacturer Vestre redefines how we experience shared spaces.
Developed in close collaboration with German landscape architect Nikolai Soyka and his studio schöne aussichten landschaftsarchitektur, UNITY is more than just seating or planters. It is a modular urban furniture system designed to transform plazas, schoolyards, and public squares into vibrant landscapes that invite play, relaxation, and social connection—while integrating greenery where traditional planting is often impossible.
Nikolai Soyka, co-creator of UNITY modular urban furniture by Vestre. Photo: Marie Staggat
A Modular System That Transcends Conventional City Furniture
At first glance, UNITY might appear simple. In reality, its strength lies in its flexibility. Each module has an asymmetrical, geometric base that breaks with the flat uniformity of traditional benches and planters. Available in seating modules, planting modules, or hybrids that combine both, UNITY creates dynamic structures that resemble miniature urban landscapes.
These modules can be combined endlessly. Their slanted surfaces and varied heights echo natural topographies, bringing depth and character into otherwise uniform urban environments. Installed individually, they function as striking stand-alone pieces. Linked together, they form integrated landscapes that structure and enrich public spaces.
“UNITY is deliberately open to interpretation,” explains designer Nikolai Soyka. “Is it a bench? A platform? A boundary? We wanted to create an object that resists fixed definitions, making it available to as many different people and uses as possible.”
Furniture That Invites Everyone
UNITY is designed to foster inclusion and social interaction in everyday life. The system does not dictate how it should be used; instead, it encourages spontaneous and diverse behaviors:
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Children approach it playfully, climbing or balancing.
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Teenagers use it as a relaxed hangout spot.
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Adults sit down, rest, have lunch, or chat.
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Groups can gather, while individuals can retreat into smaller niches.
This adaptability is at the heart of UNITY’s success. “In the best-case scenario, many things happen simultaneously,” says Soyka. “Children are playing, teenagers are chilling, adults are picnicking—and no one feels excluded.”
Such design philosophy reflects Vestre’s long-standing belief that public furniture should build community, not limit it.
Greening Cities, One Module at a Time
UNITY does more than offer seating. Its planter modules and optional climbing walls for greenery bring biodiversity into urban environments where permanent soil planting is often impossible. By integrating greenery directly into furniture, UNITY enhances both ecological and aesthetic value.
In the words of Soyka: “It’s about bringing more green into cities—even in small doses. The planter module gives us the option to integrate plants, something classical city furniture simply doesn’t provide.”
For municipalities, schools, and architects, this feature is a crucial tool for urban re-greening, contributing to healthier and more resilient city ecosystems.
Built to Last: Sustainability at the Core
As one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of city furniture, Vestre has a clear ambition: to be the world’s most sustainable furniture company. UNITY is fully produced at The Plus, Vestre’s award-winning, carbon-neutral factory in Norway, and at the company’s own steel plant in Torsby, Sweden.
Key features of UNITY’s sustainable design include:
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Materials: Robust Scandinavian pine wood and hot-dip galvanized, optionally powder-coated steel.
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Durability: Resistance to weather and heavy public use, ensuring long service life.
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Color diversity: Standard availability in nearly 200 RAL shades, allowing adaptation to any urban context.
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Ease of installation: Delivered partially assembled, with ground plates for direct fastening, minimizing installation costs.
This holistic approach ensures UNITY is not only functional and beautiful, but also climate-conscious.
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From a Berlin Schoolyard to a Global Vision
Interestingly, UNITY’s origins can be traced back to a school project in Berlin. Soyka and his team initially developed the modular concept for a large educational site. Recognizing its broader potential, Vestre collaborated with the architects to turn the idea into a series product for international use.
The process took over a year and involved many stakeholders. “It was a beautiful, collaborative effort,” Soyka recalls. “We wanted to balance design innovation with the technical and functional demands of public space.”
The result is a collection that is equally suitable for urban centers, educational campuses, recreational areas, and cultural venues worldwide.
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Why UNITY Fits Vestre’s DNA
Vestre is no stranger to groundbreaking projects. From New York’s Times Square to London’s King’s Cross, their designs have already reshaped iconic public spaces. What makes UNITY so aligned with Vestre’s DNA is its ability to connect people and environments while staying true to Nordic values of openness, clarity, and sustainability.
“Vestre has always stood for fresh, functional, and sustainable design,” Soyka notes. “That’s exactly the spirit we wanted to capture with UNITY.”
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Transforming the Future of Public Spaces
UNITY represents more than just a product launch. It symbolizes a shift in how we think about urban design, inclusion, and sustainability. By combining playful modularity with ecological responsibility, UNITY proves that city furniture can be a tool for positive change.
Whether in a bustling city square, a schoolyard, or a quiet neighborhood park, UNITY demonstrates that the right furniture can transform space into a living landscape—where community and nature flourish side by side.
Discover more about UNITY and explore the full collection here
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