Newbury Park, California, USA

To create the new Typology Collection, Landscape Forms partnered with Designworks, a BMW Group company, drawing on insights from the future of urban landscapes, mobility demands of the new public space, and global workplace and transportation culture

This collaboration leveraged between designer and manufacturer brought together complementary expertise in product innovation, artful design, and state-of-the-art manufacturing. 

The Typology Collection is an innovative seating and lighting system that adds dynamic new dimension to any site, enveloping the visitor—both from above and below—in an immersive experience. 

Sculptural elements play in both the vertical and horizontal planes, incorporating both light and shadow, to draw the eyes skyward then back to the earth with signature design features. 

The Typology Collection is systematic and adaptable, living comfortably in both new and existing architectural environments to guide the movement of traffic and create unique, three-dimensional spaces that invite and connect, surprise, and inspire. 

The materials are elegant and refined, yet resilient and enduring—cast aluminum and concrete run as a common thread through the collection to create a unified visual and tactile experience. 

Technological advances in manufacturing and lighting integration challenge preconceptions of form and space.

The Typology ribbon bench is the flowing centerpiece, bridging all elements of the Typology Collection. 

Modular segments in a straight configuration and two different degrees of small and large radius enable the bench to meander seamlessly throughout the landscape. 

It defines spaces, connects spaces, guides pedestrians, and can even form amphitheater-like semicircular hubs that encourage community interaction. 

On each modular segment, a thin layer of ultra-high performance concrete drapes like a mantle over cast aluminum supports to express an elegance, refinement and seemingly impossible lightness. 

Soft, rounded edges invite comfort and relaxation. Contrasting the smooth, radiused form of the concrete profiles, the cast aluminum supports, and end caps-with faceted surfaces like cut gems-communicate heft, angularity and precision in manufacturing. 

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 configuration. 

Emanating from within the ribbon bench, optional integral downward-facing lighting illuminates the space around the feature, creating an illusion that the entire structure almost levitates. 

Project: Typology Collection
Designers: BMW Designworks USA, Inc.
Manufacturer: Landscape Forms, Inc.