Street furniture for climate resilience

topos Editorial Team

An S-shaped seating area in Lindflur, a district of Reichenbach. Photo: Nusser Stadtmöbel

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Today, urban planning is confronted with advancing climate change. The increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves, the high degree of urban sealing and the associated reduction in the quality of life in public spaces require a fundamental rethink in planning. In this context, Nusser positions itself as an innovative development partner for climate-resilient street furniture solutions that combine planning concepts with climate management.

Street furniture as a multifunctional element

Nusser combines traditional woodworking with forward-looking development methods to design seating systems that go beyond their primary function to serve as infrastructure elements that influence the microclimate. One example of this is a large S-shaped seating area in Lindflur, Lower Franconia. It is deliberately positioned in the shade of an established large tree. The integration of existing vegetation and flexible furniture demonstrates a fundamental planning principle: the synergy between recreational quality and microclimatic optimisation.

In view of increasing urban heat island effects, urban green spaces and parks are playing an increasingly important role as thermal compensation areas. In addition to their role as ecological and social meeting places, they contribute significantly to climate regulation in the urban fabric. A key prerequisite for their effectiveness is well-designed, functional and climate-friendly street furniture. Seating in shaded areas, drinking fountains, cooling floor coverings or green pergolas not only increase the quality of stay, but also encourage use during hot weather periods. Complemented by hydrological elements for evaporative cooling, this creates a multifunctional, climate-resilient urban space. A successful example of this is the Elisabethenanlage in Stuttgart.

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Richter Spielgeräte has designed a climate-friendly play area in Dorothea Dix Park

Integration of existing vegetation

The practical implementation of this concept is demonstrated by a current reference project for the redesign of a school grounds: the Salier Gymnasium in Waiblingen. The existing tree structure was defined as a central planning element and further developed under the premise ‘In the shade of the trees, space is created for breaks, encounters and climate protection’. Instead of conventional surface sealing, a modular system of seating elements was installed, which specifically activates the existing shaded areas and at the same time creates differentiated communication and retreat areas for the various user groups. The resulting planning outcome represents a climate-resilient open space that integrates educational and microclimatic functions and defines new methodological approaches to school open space planning.

Company philosophy

As a family business with over nine decades of experience, Nusser believes that credibility is achieved above all through consistent action. The award of the Climate Fit Seal by the state of Baden-Württemberg in 2025 documents the company’s ongoing commitment to climate-neutral process structures, regional value chains and sustainable material selection. The product range is based on certified wood assortments, recycled materials and energy-efficient manufacturing processes.

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Thanks to Nusser, students and teachers at Salier Gymnasium in Waiblingen now enjoy spending their breaks outdoors. Photo: Nusser Stadtmöbel

A new schoolyard is being created in the shade of the trees and benches in Nusser. Photo: Nusser Stadtmöbel

Future-oriented spatial systems

Whether product selection or new development – at Nusser, solutions are always project-specific and developed in close collaboration with landscape architects. Planning ideas and design concepts form the basis for street furniture that combines function, quality of stay and climate adaptation: Nusser Stadtmöbel sees itself not only as a manufacturer, but also as a partner in the development of climate-resilient, socially effective and aesthetically appealing urban structures.

This is more than a promise; it is a planning philosophy and an invitation to collaborate. Developing new perspectives for public spaces together: thermally optimised, usage-oriented and sustainable.

More at: www.stadtmoebel.de