Ergonomic Design of C-Shaped Public Benches and Their Potential to Improve Social Communication

Public benches are commonly designed for individual rest, but their spatial configuration can also influence face-to-face interaction between people. This study investigates whether a C-shaped bench can provide more favorable conditions for social communication than a conventional straight-line bench. The research combined ergonomic analysis, observation of students using straight benches in a school environment, geometric design of a C-shaped bench, and a survey involving 65 residents and students. The proposed bench was designed for three to four users with a seat height of 42–45 cm, seat depth of 48–50 cm, backrest height of 42 cm, backrest angle of 102–105°, an outer radius of 1.7 m, an inner radius of 1.2 m, and an arc angle of 120°. Observations indicated that communication among three people seated on a straight bench typically lasted approximately 10–15 minutes, with body rotation contributing to discomfort. In the survey, 57 of 65 respondents reported that prolonged conversation on straight benches was uncomfortable and indicated that a C-shaped configuration could make social communication easier. These findings suggest that bench geometry may influence the physical conditions associated with face-to-face communication. However, because the study used a relatively small, locally selected sample and did not experimentally compare the two bench types under controlled conditions, the findings should be considered preliminary.