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12 Game-Changing Urban Design Ideas Every City Needs Right Now
Content warning: Urban design has the power to transform how we experience cities, making them more functional, beautiful, and people-friendly. Below, we’ve curated 12 brilliant examples of urban design innovations that can enhance daily life and spark joy in public space
Urban design has the power to transform how we experience cities, making them more functional, beautiful, and people-friendly.
Below, we’ve curated 12 brilliant examples of urban design innovations that can enhance daily life and spark joy in public spaces.
More: 30 Sculptures You (probably) Didn’t Know Existed
Let’s dive in!:
1.
Green Walls and Urban Gardens.
Vertical gardens and green spaces improve air quality and beautify urban areas.
2.
Public Hat Stands.
Sculptural hat installations in sunny outdoor areas provide both artistic flair and a practical touch for sun protection.
3.
Street Libraries.
Free-access bookshelves foster reading habits and create community bonds. Photos is Cutest Bookstore on Wheels (7 photos)
4.
Comfortable Benches
5.
Sidewalk Traffic Lights for Smartphone Users.
Some cities now install traffic lights on sidewalks to keep phone-absorbed pedestrians safe while crossing streets.
6.
Colorful Basketball Courts.
Eye-catching courts like the one in Paris uplift neighborhoods and promote recreation.
7.
Extended Crossing Time for Seniors.
Cards that extend traffic light crossing times help elderly citizens cross streets safely.
8.
High Heel-Friendly Grates.
Metal grates designed with solid footpath sections ensure safe and stylish walking for those in high heels.
9.
Interactive Water Fountains.
These playful fountains double as art installations, inviting people to run through cascading walls of water for fun and cooling off.
10.
Typewriter-Inspired Benches.
Functional yet artistic benches resembling typewriters create conversation starters in public spaces.
11.
Space-Saving Bike Stands.
Smart bike racks maximize space efficiency while encouraging cycling.
12.
Bus Stop Swings.
Swings at bus stops bring playful energy to the wait for public transport.
More: Playing with statues (25 photos)
Which one is your favorite?
Sculptures You (probably) Didn’t Know Existed (30 Photos)
I love stumbling upon art that feels like a hidden gem—those incredible sculptures that stop you in your tracks and make you wonder, “How did I not know this existed?”
From massive figures seemingly rising from the earth to intricate works that play with gravity, these sculptures redefine what’s possible. Join me on a journey through 30 of the most amazing sculptures around the world, each with its own story and artistry that you probably didn’t know was out there.More: Sculptures With True Creativity (12 Photos)
1. The Statue of King Arthur, located in Tintagel, England, is a striking bronze sculpture by artist Rubin Eynon.
Erected in 2016, this statue stands on the cliffs of Tintagel Castle, a site steeped in Arthurian legend. The sculpture, named “Gallos” (meaning “power” in Cornish), depicts a cloaked and crowned King Arthur holding his sword, with his body appearing to merge with the landscape.This artwork symbolizes the enduring power and mystery of the Arthurian legends that are deeply rooted in the area.
More like this: 9 Amazing sculptures by Bruno Catalano: Fragmented travelers
2. Albert György’s sculpture, Melancholy, captures the emptiness left by grief.
As John Maddox eloquently states, “We may look as if we carry on with our lives as before… but this emptiness is how we all feel… all the time.”
3. Christ of the Abyss is an extraordinary bronze statue created by Guido Galletti in 1954.
This unique piece rests on the seabed of the Mediterranean Sea, nestled between Camogli and Portofino on the Italian Riviera. Submerged beneath the azure waters, it continues to captivate divers and visitors with its serene and mystical presence.
4. This colossal sculpture was created nearly 450 years ago by Flemish sculptor Giambologna as a symbol of Italy’s Apennine mountains. Standing at nearly 14 meters (45 ft) tall, it was commissioned by Francesco de Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, in 1579.
Positioned above a pond, the statue features a chamber in its head where Francesco would sit and fish at night. When a fire was lit inside, the Colossus’s eyes glowed red, and smoke billowed from its nostrils, creating a striking visual effect.
5. The Christ the Redeemer statue, standing atop Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks.
This 30-meter (98 ft) tall statue, with arms stretching 28 meters (92 ft) wide, overlooks the city, symbolizing peace and welcoming all with open arms. Completed in 1931 and designed by French sculptor Paul Landowski and Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, it has become a symbol of Christianity around the globe and an enduring image of Brazil.More: Christ the Redeemer: An Icon of Faith and Artistry
6. Not the most amazing statue, but definitely an amazing story. In Istanbul, Turkey, they made a statue to honor the famous stray cat (Tombili) that used to sit in this position and watch the passers by.
One month after its installation the sculpture went missing. A comment from Turkey MP Tuncay Özkan: “They stole the Tombili statue. They are enemies of everything beautiful. All they know is hate, tears and war”. The statue was safely returned a short time later. More photos here.
7. This eagle sculpture is the world’s largest bird statue, created by Indian artist Rajiv Anchal.
Located at Jatayu Earth’s Center in Kerala, India, the sculpture took a decade to complete. Spanning 200 feet in length, 150 feet in width, and 70 feet in height, this colossal work of art depicts the mythical eagle Jatayu from the Indian epic, Ramayana.
8. This stunning marble sculpture, Ajax and Cassandra, was crafted in 2022 by renowned Italian contemporary artist Jago.
The piece beautifully captures the dramatic moment between the Greek hero Ajax and the Trojan priestess Cassandra.
9. Sendai Daikannon in Japan, the eighth-tallest statue in the world at 100 meters (330 ft).
Its serene, watchful presence overlooks the quiet urban landscape, creating a striking contrast between its massive spiritual form and the everyday city life below.
10. The great challenge by Nicolas Lavarenne. Antibes, French Riviera.
This striking bronze sculpture depicts a dynamic, elongated figure balancing on the edge of a cliff, arms outstretched as if preparing to leap into the vast blue sea below.
11. This is how the Statue of Unity in India looks like. It’s the tallest statue in the world: standing at 182 meters (597 ft) tall, it’s nearly three times the height of the Statue of Liberty.
This monumental statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a key leader in India’s independence, stands on a massive platform with an observation deck, emphasizing its grandeur and scale.
12. This sculpture by Bruno Catalano
Portrays the profound emptiness experienced by migrants as they depart from their homeland—leaving their loved ones and their community behind—in pursuit of a better life:More: 9 Fragmented travelers – Amazing sculptures by Bruno Catalano
13. The incredible statue of Neptune (Poseidon) in Gran Canaria, Spain
Statue of Neptune (Poseidon) in Gran Canaria, Spain, standing powerfully against the waves with a trident in hand. This impressive sculpture captures the mythical god of the sea in a commanding pose, evoking themes of strength and the majesty of the ocean.More: The incredible ocean statue of Neptune (Poseidon) in Gran Canaria, Spain
14. Leshan Giant Buddha in China (800 AD) At 71 meters (233 ft) tall, this is the tallest pre-modern statue on Earth.
The Leshan Giant Buddha is carved into the cliffside in Leshan, Sichuan, China, overlooking the convergence of three rivers.
15. Close-up views of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s marble statue of David, housed in the Galleria Borghese in Rome, Italy.
The dynamic sculpture captures the biblical hero mid-action, winding up to sling a stone. Bernini’s David is depicted with intense focus, furrowed brows, and clenched lips, conveying determination. The statue’s muscular arms and detailed hands grip the twisted ropes of the sling, showcasing Bernini’s skill in portraying tension and movement in marble. This statue contrasts Michelangelo’s famous David by capturing the hero in the midst of battle rather than in a calm, contemplative stance.
16. The Kiss of Death is a marble sculpture made in 1930 and found in Poblenou Cemetery, Barcelona.
This emotionally intense sculpture is renowned for its depiction of the delicate boundary between life and death, symbolized by Death’s kiss.
17. The Weight of Thought, bronze sculptures by Thomas Lerooy.
18. Victor Noir’s grave in Père-Lachaise cemetery, created by Patrick Magaud in 1984, has gained fame not for Noir’s journalistic work but for the legend surrounding his death and burial site.
Noir was a journalist shot dead, and his grave features a full-sized bronze statue of him lying down, as if recently shot. Over time, the statue became a fertility symbol.Legend has it that kissing the statue on the lips, leaving a flower in Victor’s hat, and rubbing the genital area enhances fertility, improves one’s sex life, or helps find a husband within a year. This has led to the lips and trousers’ bulge on the statue becoming noticeably shiny from repeated contact.
In 2004, a fence was erected around the grave to prevent this practice, but public protest led to its removal. Victor Noir’s grave remains one of the most visited and talked-about monuments in Père-Lachaise.
19. The amazing handkerchief detail in this marble statue made by French sculptor Louis Philippe Mouchy in 1781.
Featuring a highly realistic handkerchief carved to appear as delicate lace, draped around the neck of the figure. The sculpture captures the fine details of the lacework, folds, and textures, showcasing Mouchy’s skill in replicating soft fabrics in hard marble, a testament to his mastery of the medium. The statue also displays the figure’s elaborate curls and formal attire, highlighting the elegance and refinement typical of 18th-century French sculpture.
20. The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, a renowned Baroque sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, located in the Cornaro Chapel of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome.
This intricate marble sculpture depicts Saint Teresa of Ávila in a moment of religious ecstasy, her face expressing both pain and bliss as an angel holds a golden spear poised above her. Radiant golden rays crafted from gilded bronze descend from above, symbolizing divine light and adding dramatic intensity to the scene.
21. Luo Li Rong is a contemporary artist renowned for crafting hyper-realistic clay and bronze sculptures.
22. The Dignity statue in South Dakota, a stunning 50-foot-tall sculpture of a Native American woman draped in a star quilt.
The statue features a blend of metal and vibrant blue diamond shapes that catch the light, symbolizing the cultural heritage and spirit of the Lakota and Dakota people. The woman’s expression is serene, with her arms outstretched as if embracing the landscape around her.
24. Freedom Sculpture, Philadelphia
“I wanted to create a sculpture almost anyone, regardless of their background, could look at and instantly recognize that it is about the idea of struggling to break free. This sculpture is about the struggle for achievement of freedom through the creative process” — Zenos Frudakis:
25. The vision of Constantine by Bernini is arguably one of the most underrated sculpture in art history.
Gian Lorenzo revolutionized the art form by infusing unprecedented movement into stone.
26. The Mud Maid by Sue Hill, located in the Lost Garden of Heligan, Cornwall, UK.
Depending on the time of the year, the mud maid’s hair and clothes change when the seasonal plants and moss grow over the sculpture.More: Mud Maid – Living sculpture by Sue and Pete Hill (5 photos and video).
27. Departure, a stunning bronze sculpture by artist George Lundeen, highlighted by the frost.
The sculpture is subtly highlighted by a layer of frost, enhancing the scene with a sense of cold and quiet intimacy, as if capturing a moment of departure or waiting.
28. The Resting Boxer, crafted more than 2,000 years ago, is one of the most realistic sculptures ever made and one of the finest examples of bronze sculptures to have survived from the ancient world.
It was excavated in Rome in 1885. Its incredible features, such as its pose, gaze, broken nose, cauliflower ears, scarred face, and bruised eyes, have been enchanting the world ever since.
30. The mesmerizing details of The West Wind, a surreal marble sculpture by American artist Thomas Ridgeway Gould.
Gould’s masterpiece likely drew inspiration from Percy Shelley’s “Ode to the West Wind,” in which the west wind serves as an allegory for the cyclical nature of change and revolution:More: Sculptures That Blend With Nature (10 Photos)
Which sculpture is your favorite?
Fragmented travelers by Bruno Catalano (10 Photos) - STREET ART UTOPIA
Embracing the Journey: Bruno Catalano’s Vision In the vast and versatile world of sculpture, few artists can make a claim to a style so unique that it becomes instantly recognizable. Bruno Catalano is one such artist.Vidar (Street Art Utopia)
Tree Became a Library (+9 More Book Artworks)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
In the quiet Dutch village of Ruurlo, a centuries-old chestnut tree has been transformed into something unexpected: a public library. Masterfully adapted by carpenter Rene Bruns, this open-air book haven now offers shelves of literature nestled inside the gnarled remains of the historic tree. With its glass-fronted wooden bookcases seamlessly embedded in the trunk, it’s become a beloved local spot—and a global inspiration. In this post, we begin with the Ruurlo tree library and will later explore more stunning examples where books and creativity meet in public space.
More!: 11 Public Book Spots We Love (Do it Yourself?)
1. The Tree Library — Rene Bruns in Ruurlo, Netherlands
This open-air library is built into the trunk of a giant, weathered chestnut tree, with eight custom-fit wooden cabinets inset into the wood. Each cabinet is protected by a framed glass door and filled with community-donated books. The curved shape of the tree trunk was preserved, giving the structure a natural, flowing design that blends into its rural surroundings.
2. Bookshelf Building — JanIsDeMan in Solnechnodolsk, Russia
A full side of an apartment building is transformed into a 3D bookshelf mural. Painted with impressive depth and shadow, it features shelves of oversized books in Russian, a Matryoshka doll, a castle model, and even a glass. The work celebrates literacy and identity through cultural references.
More by JanIsDeMan!: 8 Happy 3D Artworks by Jan Is De Man That Will Make You Smile
3. Book Benches
Benches shaped like open books line this public square. Each one features printed text across the “pages,” giving visitors the illusion of reading while they sit. The design encourages a literal pause for thought.
4. Nadine’s Evening of Adventure — David Zinn in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
A chalk drawing by David Zinn under a flowerpot transforms a simple corner into a magical vignette. A small mouse sits beneath the pot, lit as if it’s a lamp, reading a book in quiet solitude.
More by David Zinn: Street Art by Happiness Maker David Zinn (21 Photos)
5. The Bibliomoto — Mobile Library in Basilicata, Italy
This converted three-wheeled van has become a moving library, stocked with shelves of books and protected by a tiled roof. Known locally as the Bibliomoto, it brings literature to the streets of southern Italy.
6. Jimbocho Book Alley — Tokyo, Japan
An outdoor aisle of bookcases in Tokyo’s Jimbocho neighborhood, known as a haven for secondhand booksellers. Here, books line the walls of narrow alleys, inviting passersby to stop and browse.
7. Life is an Open Book — Brad Spencer in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
A brick sculpture shows children emerging from a vertical wall, climbing and playing as if breaking free from the structure. It’s both a metaphor for education and a statement on public imagination.
8. Upside Down Reader — Zabou in Moutiers, France
Painted on the underside of a building ledge, this mural by Zabou features a woman absorbed in a book, lying in a field of dandelions.
9. It’s Easy, Just Open a Book — HERA in Vincennes, France
This mural wraps around a bookstore facade, with a large red fox curled protectively around a child who reads inside its tail. A second child holds on to the fox’s tail, and text on the wall reads: “It’s easy. Just open a book.”
More!: HERA – Crafting Stories on Walls Around the World
10. The Boat Library — Puglia, Italy
An old fishing boat is upcycled into a seaside bookshelf. Set against the Adriatic coast, the boat’s painted interior holds dozens of books, inviting visitors to “take a book, leave a book.”
Which one is your favorite?
11 Public Book Spots We Love (Do it Yourself?)
From seaside coves in Italy to quiet backstreets in Japan, books have found their way into every corner of the world—not in shelves, but on wheels, in boats, in birdhouses, and even inside bronze sculptures. On this World Book Day, we’re celebrating the creative ways communities across the globe have made reading accessible, visual, and beautifully public. Here are 11 imaginative public book spots that combine charm, art, and the joy of sharing stories—no library card needed.
More birds!: 10 Street Art Masterpieces That Will Make You Fall in Love with Books Again
The Boat Library in Puglia, Italy
A flipped fishing boat becomes a coastal bookshelf along the Adriatic Sea in Southern Italy. Bright green and red, it invites visitors with painted phrases encouraging reading, love, and peace. The bottom reads, “Take a book, leave a book.”
Biblioteca Mini
This minimalist mini-library stands directly on the beach sand, shaped like a white house with blue windows and a red roof. The word “Biblioteca” is clearly visible, welcoming sunbathers to read.
Bibliomoto in Basilicata, Italy
Known as “Il Bibliomotocarro”, this three-wheeled mini-truck is a mobile library covered with glass panels and bookshelves, topped with a tiled roof. It travels to remote villages, bringing books to children and elderly readers.
Lakeside Sculpture Library
A sculptural bronze-like lighthouse stands by a lake—its interior packed with books. The weathered patina gives it a historic feel, blending public art and literature seamlessly.
Wagon Library
Mounted on red wooden wheels, this bright red wagon is packed wall-to-wall with books. Located in a public park, it blends rural nostalgia with literary abundance.
Jimbocho Book Alley in Tokyo, Japan
Stretching along a quiet alley in the heart of Tokyo, rows of bookcases filled with second-hand Japanese literature form a literary corridor in this famous bookstore district.
Little Library
This mini library near a lake blends perfectly with its wooded surroundings. Blue trim and shingled roof give it a cozy, handcrafted vibe, inviting quiet book exchanges.
Free Books Box in the UK
Simple but powerful, this cardboard box labeled “Free Books – Help Yourself” rests casually on the sidewalk, filled with thrillers and novels for anyone to grab.
Children’s Library
This dollhouse-like “Cherry Tree Children’s Library” is filled with colorful children’s books and tiny doll furniture. A literal storybook home.
Forest Edge Library in Nova Scotia, Canada
Nestled in a piney landscape, this deep-blue book hut holds everything from cookbooks to comics. It’s part of the global Little Free Library network.
Little Free Library
This wooden, house-shaped box with a natural finish and black trim is a classic example of a registered Little Free Library. Tucked among green shrubbery, it blends perfectly into its leafy surroundings.On World Book Day, these public bookshelves remind us that literature doesn’t just belong in formal libraries—it thrives in wagons, beaches, alleys, and handmade wooden boxes. Each one carries not just stories in their pages but the spirit of community, sharing, and freedom of access. Wherever you are in the world, there might be a book waiting for you around the next corner.
More: Cutest Bookstore on Wheels (7 photos)
Which one is your favorite?
