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New European Bauhaus
Project

Parkly: a tool for happier public places

Never before, there have been so many ways to transform public spaces and accelerate the development of urban green infrastructure as there are today.

Parkly © European Union
Parkly
© European Union, 2021

Never before, there have been so many ways to transform public spaces and accelerate the development of urban green infrastructure as there are today.

Parkly is one of these new sustainable solutions. The initiative, founded in Helsinki, makes modular, circular economy outdoor lasting furniture with one objective: to connect nature, people, and places.??️

The proposal was one of many submitted for the 2021 New European Bauhaus award prizes in the category of "Reinvented places to meet and share."

Its concept relies on sharing knowledge, know-how, and existing infrastructure to promote circulation, decentralisation, and digitalisation of public spaces.

Plants and greenery may be easily implemented to almost any surface with Parkly, ranging from concrete yards to public squares and parklets. Their green modules feature edible herbs, pollinator-friendly plants, or small trees to provide more green in urban surroundings.??

Whether made of wood or metal, their modules are high quality, straightforward, and multi-functional. Centre on sustainability, the materials used come from sustainable resources and assist the plants in thriving and remaining healthy. When the trees used in the manufacture reach a particular age, they are replanted in forests across Finland. Metal is reused and repurposed. ??

Parkly also serves as a platform for co-creation and streamlined design. Modules can be created cooperatively with other companies, designers, and consumers. In collaboration with their contributors, the project provides services ranging from workshops to green care, maintenance, planning and counselling, and data collection.

One of the elements that distinguish Parkly's public furniture is its digitalisation use. For them, fast-tracking sustainable urban development entails integrating everybody and moving away from linear products and rigid solutions. In this sense, 3D and AR technology assist in lowering the barrier to participation and hastening sustainable urban change.

Parkly's ultimate aim is to provide circular economy solutions and a co-creation platform where placemaking knowledge meets social sustainability. ?️?

? © European Union