Designing and evaluating a modular public sculpture system for urban sustainability

Thesis Abstract

Public urban spaces increasingly prioritize social cohesion, accessibility, and environmental responsiveness, yet conventional sculpture programs often fail to adapt to evolving urban needs or to engage diverse communities. This study addresses the gap by designing and evaluating a modular public sculpture system that can be configured to respond to local contexts, promote sustainability, and support ongoing community participation. The aim is to develop a scalable design-and-implementation framework for modular sculptures that integrate material efficiency, adaptive form, wayfinding, and civic storytelling, while assessing user experience, cultural relevance, and environmental performance. Specific objectives are (1) to co-design a modular sculpture system in collaboration with municipal planners, local artists, and residents; (2) to operationalize modularity through standardized connectors, material palettes, and surface treatments aligned with sustainable manufacturing principles; (3) to implement pilot installations across three neighborhood precincts with differing socio-economic profiles; (4) to evaluate aesthetic impact, user engagement, and perceived place attachment using mixed methods; and (5) to formulate guidelines for scalable deployment and policy integration. The methodology follows a sequential explanatory design. The population comprises residents, visitors, and municipal stakeholders in three urban districts with comparable footfall and publicly accessible spaces, totaling approximately 5,000 observed interactions. A purposive sample of 60 residents for in-depth interviews and 30 local artists for design critique sessions will be recruited, supplemented by 200 on-site survey respondents to quantify perceptions of sustainability, accessibility, and social value. Data collection employs mixed methods semi-structured interviews guided by the Theory of Place Attachment and the Cultural Sustainability framework, complemented by standardized surveys measuring perceived safety, wayfinding efficacy, and aesthetic appreciation; observational checklists record interaction frequency and spatial usage; and project records document modular configurations, production energy, and material lifecycle data. Instruments will undergo face validity checks with a panel of ten experts and pilot testing with a subset of 20 participants. Reliability will be assessed via Cronbach’s alpha for survey scales and intercoder agreement for qualitative coding. Analytical procedures combine quantitative and qualitative techniques. Descriptive statistics summarize demographic profiles and baseline attitudes; exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identify underlying dimensions of place attachment and perceived sustainability. Regression analyses examine the predictive influence of modular design attributes (interconnectivity, scale, and material efficiency) on user engagement and perceived safety. ANOVA tests compare outcomes across districts to assess contextual effects. The qualitative component employs thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke, with coding conducted by two researchers and triangulated with design team records to ensure interpretive credibility. A design performance model will be specified to relate modular configuration variables to environmental impact metrics, including embodied energy, material reuse rate, and maintenance cost projections. Expected findings indicate that modular sculptures significantly enhance place attachment, routine use, and perceived environmental quality, with stronger effects in districts featuring active community governance. Designs incorporating interoperable connectors and low-embodied-energy materials (e.g., recycled aluminum and high-reel PLA composites) are anticipated to yield reductions in maintenance demands and lifecycle emissions. The study is expected to reveal nuanced trade-offs between sculptural complexity and wayfinding clarity, underscoring the value of participatory iteration in achieving culturally resonant yet durable installations. The contribution to knowledge lies in (a) a replicable design-and-implementation framework for modular public sculpture that aligns aesthetics with sustainability and civic participation, (b) empirical evidence linking modular design variables to social and environmental outcomes, and (c) a policy-ready set of guidelines for municipal adoption, procurement, and community co-creation processes. The study concludes that modular public sculpture systems can be scaled across diverse urban contexts when embedded within participatory governance, clear maintenance protocols, and material-circularity considerations. Recommendations include formalizing co-design workshops with residents, establishing a modularity standards charter for city procurement, integrating post-occupancy evaluation into annual urban-art planning, and expanding the evidence base through longitudinal follow-ups to monitor long-term social impact and environmental performance.