Leah Anders | Noah Hancke

Outdoor seating areas at Wandsbek Markt

an analysis of commercial and non-commercial seating areas

Wandsbek Markt is a busy place. As an important public transport hub in the North-West of Hamburg, a major shopping destination, and a town square, it attracts lots of people throughout the day. While many are simply passing through, others choose to stay—despite the crowds, the noise, and the air pollution. People use the available seating for many different reasons: waiting for a bus, enjoying a coffee or snack, meeting friends, or simply taking a moment to rest. These activities place different demands on public seating. But are there enough places to sit? Do the existing seating areas meet the needs of different users? And is there potential for improvement? This data story explores the outdoor seating at Wandsbek Markt, using data and observations to examine how the space is used and how it could become more comfortable, accessible, and inviting.

Where to sit at Wandsbek Markt? This map is your guide through all the options.

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A closer look: This map analyzes the seating options and sorts them by category.

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Non-commercial

covered

commercial

covered

appropriation

potential

Total numbers:

Hover over the diagram to see the total amounts of seating spaces per category.

The analysis suggests that Wandsbek Markt offers a sufficient number of places to sit. However, the existing seating does not fully meet the diverse needs of its users. This is reflected in the number of people who choose to sit on objects not designed for seating, even while some benches remain unused. Three ideas for improvements include:

- Improving accessibility by making existing seating easier to use by elderly and disabled people

- Creating additional seating options where there is demand to sit on objects intended for a different purpose

- Improving the micro-climate by covering existing seating options with protection against the sun and the rain