Every day, we draw on the latest street furniture and urban design thinking from New Zealand and across the globe. Discover how to create unbeatable outdoor spaces that help improve daily lives in a fast-changing world.
18 October 2021
Formerly underrated for its effectiveness, hand sanitiser has undoubtedly become society’s saving grace in the last two years. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that hand sanitiser is one of the best tools available to avoid getting sick. It’s transitioned from the overly cautious […]
30 July 2021
Currently, New Zealand discards 1.5 million tonnes of waste each year. However, only 28% of this is recycled. This snapshot indicates New Zealand has a long way to go in waste reduction and recovery. With the number of products consumed daily, packaging is constantly straying into our environment, contaminating our beautiful landscapes and waterways, harming […]
2 June 2021
The sustainability movement is growing in momentum, driven by an increasing awareness and understanding that our quality of life now and into the future is dependent on how we care for, and manage our impact, on our environment. A serious, long-term commitment to sustainability from Governments, Councils, businesses and communities in the planning and design […]
30 March 2021
‘Tactical urbanism’ or ‘guerilla urbanism’ is one of the most exciting trends to hit our streets. Already making an impact in cities around the world, New Zealand cities are embracing the concept. But what is tactical urbanism? Tactical urbanism is the term used to describe ‘urban interventions’ that create more ‘people friendly’ streets and spaces […]
16 February 2021
At the start of 2021, Urban Effects reflects on how the challenges of 2020 have given New Zealanders a fresh perspective on the value of our parks and public spaces. The way we live, work and play has changed, driven by a deeper awareness of the importance of physical and mental health and the factors […]
29 January 2021
What Does Sustainable City Mean? Sustainable cities offer optimal quality of life to their current residents without reducing the opportunities for future residents to have fulfilling lives and flourish in their environment. These are cities that are designed with considerations for social, economic, and environmental impact, creating a resilient habitat that will continue to prosper […]
28 September 2020
We have seen them all before; old, sun-faded, and dilapidated outdoor furniture that is barely holding itself together. Cheaply made and destined for landfill, it is far too common a sight in the backyards, parks, and common areas of New Zealand and beyond. As New Zealand’s park and street furniture experts, we understand the importance […]
25 August 2020
Across the globe, more and more people are choosing to live in urban areas as opposed to rural areas. Cities and urban areas are attractive to people as they often provide more opportunities for employment, and access to better services such as health and education. On the surface, cities may appear to hold a lot […]
19 June 2020
In the world of urban planning, green spaces are an extremely important element. This is especially true here in picturesque New Zealand, where our natural environment is second to none. But what makes a perfect public park? There are some elements that are hard to ignore as being integral to a great green space, as […]
26 May 2020
The Importance of Parks Perhaps one of the elements of urban planning that are taken for granted most often, recreational areas and parks are important for a vast number of reasons. They provide the opportunity for far-reaching benefits on the health, economy, and natural environment of your local community. If you are wondering why parks […]
24 April 2020
In cities around the world, public spaces emphasise our human desire for inclusion and sharing. With common assets, public spaces allow us to congregate, meet, relax, share, and play. Since the outbreak of the global pandemic COVID-19, cities, societies, and humans have changed in ways we have never experienced. With the introduction of social distancing, […]
17 February 2020
Welcome to 2020! Urban Effects had a great 2019 thanks to our involvement in street and park projects around New Zealand. In 2020, our commitment to providing refreshingly different outdoor furniture solutions is as strong as ever. So, we’ve started the year by looking at the latest trends in urban planning and design, and landscape […]