The Clear Nest: a fresh take on public seating
Alessandra Sangermano
Clear Nest is an innovative public bench with a flip-seat, aromatic mist, and wind-powered charging station, designed to keep seats clean from bird droppings while promoting comfort, sustainability, and community in public spaces.
Design Problem
Public benches in urban areas are often rendered unpleasant or unusable due to bird droppings. This affects a wide range of users, the elderly, families with children, and those with limited mobility, by discouraging rest and informal social interaction. It also impacts the overall appeal and functionality of public spaces. “How might we ensure benches remain clean, usable, and comfortable—even in areas with lots of birds?”
Clear Nest is a playful and practical solution to the familiar problem of bird droppings on public benches. Designed for cleanliness, comfort, and community, the bench features a simple, flip-seat mechanism that lifts when not in use, preventing droppings from accumulating and ensuring the next person always finds a clean spot to sit.
This prototype tackles the challenge of keeping public seating usable in bird-heavy areas. It combines multiple interventions: an aromatic mist system that releases essential oils as a natural bird repellent; a rotating windmill that both discourages birds and generates electricity for a phone charging station. The result is not just a cleaner bench but a smarter, friendlier, and more sustainable piece of street furniture.
Clear Nest is inclusive and encourages social interaction, aiming to improve an everyday public experience. It can be scaled for use in parks, squares, or open-air bus stops using recycled or locally sourced materials, supporting sustainable urban development.
Description of the Project
How It Works: The seat is designed to stay in a vertical, upright position when not in use, which naturally prevents bird droppings from accumulating on the surface. When someone wants to sit, they simply flip the seat down to reveal a clean, dry area. An integrated aromatic mist system, using essential oils, subtly releases scents birds dislike, acting as a natural deterrent. A decorative windmill spins in the breeze, further discouraging birds while also generating enough energy to power a small phone charging port—adding a functional and eco-friendly twist to the design.
Benefits: Offers a cleaner, more hygienic sitting experience with added functionality. It encourages public use of outdoor space and supports spontaneous social connection. The design is sustainable and eco-friendly, using low impact materials and renewable energy features. Importantly, it relies on non-harmful methods to deter birds, ensuring that no animals are hurt in the process.
The design process began with first hand observations in parks and public areas, where the problem was documented through photography and detailed notes. Early idea generation involved a creative brainstorming session conducted as a team, exploring a range of potential deterrents, visual, tactile, and mechanical.
Through sketching, peer feedback, and experimentation, the flip-seat concept stood out for its simplicity.
Subsequent iterations integrated complementary features such as scent-based deterrents, renewable energy sources, and ergonomic considerations. A low-fidelity model was built to test proportions and movement, followed by a full prototype.
During prototyping, a key failure occurred when the bench’s seat collapsed due to insufficient internal support, revealing the need for stronger structural reinforcement. This failure provided valuable insights that informed important refinements in the design.
Throughout the process, user-centred thinking, sustainability, and a playful design attitude guided the development.
Process
About me
I’m a creative visual thinker passionate about storytelling and problem-solving through design, aiming to grow technically and conceptually to advance in my career.