Bear Street’s bold and iconic Custom Site Furniture palette responds to The Town of Banff’s mountain atmosphere, local character, and historic construction techniques.

Supporting sense of place through custom design interventions involves observing and investigating the identity and character of the space. We research history; identify established material palettes; explore dual functions, seek opportunities for standout pieces, and engage with the local community.

The custom site furniture designed for Bear Street in the Town of Banff reflects a cohesive, yet distinct atmosphere. The site furniture ‘feels’ like Banff and is unique to Bear Street, while still fitting into the existing standard street furniture guidelines the Town has had for decades. Individual elements are unified under a single brand by incorporating details that span multiple elements.

The design team integrated timeless materials, already present in Banff such as rundlestone and cedar logs, reflected dimensions and historic construction techniques within detailing, integrated accessible features, and suggested complimentary extensions to the existing site furniture palette such as the moveable tables and chairs, bolder top benches, and signage posts. To emphasize meaning and local ownership The TULA Project collaborated with Byony Toon, a local artist to integrate custom inset metal etchings.

Location: Banff, Alberta, Canada

Partners: The Town of Banff / Bryony By Design (Local Artist)