“Working with a world-class design firm like Designworks, a BMW Group company, is a special opportunity to push boundaries both aesthetically and technologically, and that’s exactly what we did with the Typology Collection,” says Landscape Forms Chief Creative Officer, Kirt Martin. “Typology is about sculptural, conspicuous forms that are functional, but more importantly stand out as works of art. Chaque élément de la collection Typology pourrait à lui seul constituer le joyau d'un site, mais, ensemble, l'effet créé par la collection est vraiment inspirant. »

For Tobias Adami, Creative Director at Designworks, a major design goal for the Typology Collection was to interact with and accentuate urban architecture through the innovative use of form and scale. "In cities we're often lacking visual perspective, limited by a closed-in and claustrophobic view of the world," describes Adami. "So our intention with this collection is to play in both the vertical and horizontal spaces of urban environments, to draw the eyes up into the sky, and to join the two domains with signature design elements both in the air and on the ground."

Grâce à ces deux visions directrices et au niveau élevé d'expertise en matière de conception, d'ingénierie et de fabrication que partagent Landscape Forms et Designworks, la collection Typology remet en question les idées préconçues sur l'aménagement et l'éclairage des sites, en créant des installations qui offrent une valeur fonctionnelle tout en surprenant, en ravissant et en améliorant le paysage, même lorsqu'elles ne sont pas utilisées.

"Imagine encountering a beautiful piece of art that you can actually touch and interact with, and you're drawn to it, and feel the need to explore it," says Landscape Forms President of Site Furnishings & Structure, Robb Smalldon. "That's the experience we're trying to capture with our new Typology Collection-to first grab people's attention with striking, artful aesthetics unlike anything they've seen before. And then, as they take a closer look, to pique their curiosity as to how what they're seeing was made possible." No doubt, the Typology Collection will provoke questions like "What is this made of?", "Where is that light coming from?" and "Can you really make this shape from concrete?"

In Landscape Forms' largest lighting and modular bench collection introduced to-date, Typology creates a magnetic and immersive user experience. Each piece has distinct and memorable design features, but the overall sculptural quality, the unconventional juxtaposition of form, material and scale, and the artistic use of lighting within each component enable the collection to make a larger, unified statement.

On the ground, the Typology ribbon bench serves as the flowing centerpiece for the collection. Modular segments with varying degrees of curvature enable the bench to meander seamlessly throughout the landscape. Le banc définit et relie les espaces, guide les piétons et peut même former des centres circulaires ou semi-circulaires semblables à un amphithéâtre qui favorisent l'interaction communautaire.

On each segment, a thin layer of extruded ultra-high performance concrete drapes like a mantle over cast metal supports to express an elegance, refinement and seemingly impossible lightness. Les bords doux et arrondis appellent au confort et à la détente. Contrasting the smooth, radiused form of the concrete profiles, the cast metal supports and end caps-with faceted surfaces like cut gems-communicate heft, angularity and precision in manufacturing. Les protubérances à la surface intérieure des profils en béton s'emboîtent parfaitement dans une structure de support, ce qui permet de joindre les composants sans utiliser d'éléments de fixation. The central gap between the two concrete profiles serves as a mounting point for optional backrests, armrests and extended functional surfaces to be implemented in strategic locations throughout the installation. Émanant de l'intérieur du banc incurvé, l'éclairage intégral dirigé vers le bas éclaire l'espace environnant, évitant les éblouissements et donnant presque l'impression que la structure lévite.

In the sky, Typology ring lights and stick lights reach upward, artfully illuminating the space above and guiding people to the installation. Like ethereal floating halos, Typology ring lights are stunning fixtures recognized instantly from almost a mile away. Une bande circulaire de DEL forme un anneau solide de lumière d'ambiance qui, vu d'en dessous, est comme un miroir du ciel. Les luminaires en bâton Typology transforment les luminaires traditionnels : le poteau lui-même devient une source de lumière solide. These vertical columns of warm white or colored light stake claim to the site, accompanying the Typology ribbon bench across its diverse configurations, and creating prominent visual landmarks that draw people into the site.

The Typology Collection reflects Landscape Forms' decade-plus long relationship with Designworks -a true collaboration between leaders in design whose expertise, processes and cultures continue to enhance and complement one another. "Science, design and art-Designworks is a well-rounded partner who brings it all," says Smalldon. « La façon dont les équipes de conception de produits et les équipes d'ingénieurs changent souvent de rôles pendant un projet – les ingénieurs aidant les concepteurs à prendre des décisions et les concepteurs aidant les ingénieurs à prendre des décisions – en dit long sur le niveau de confiance mutuelle et la passion commune qui constituent la base de cette relation importante. »

"It's always a joy to work with Designworks," adds Martin. « Ils ont toute notre confiance pour travailler constamment à un haut niveau sur des projets ambitieux comme celui-ci. But most importantly, Designworks is like family to us-we look forward to our weekly calls, excited to see what inspirations and spontaneous solutions will arise. I'm already eager to see where this partnership leads next."