Four companies installed air-conditioned benches in Tokyo's Marunouchi Street Park on July 24 [1] to provide cooling in public outdoor spaces.
The installation arrives as the city faces an extreme summer heatwave. Because conventional air-conditioning is difficult to implement in open-air environments, these benches provide a critical intervention to help prevent heat-stroke for pedestrians and commuters.
The project is a joint development between Daikin Industrial Co., Kashima Construction Co., Iria Co., and point0 [2]. The benches utilize a rear spot-cooler that pushes chilled air through the interior of the bench. This air is then emitted through vents located in the back, and on both sides of the seating area.
According to a representative for the project, the system allows users to experience a perceived temperature drop of about five °C [3]. The representative said the cool air flows from the spot-cooler through the bench internals to reach the user's back and sides.
This pilot program tests the viability of integrating active cooling into urban furniture. By targeting the immediate area around the seated person rather than attempting to cool the entire street, the developers aim to create a sustainable way to manage urban heat islands during peak summer months [3].
“a perceived temperature drop of about 5 °C”
The deployment of targeted cooling furniture reflects a shift toward 'micro-climate' management in urban planning. Rather than relying on large-scale infrastructure, cities are increasingly adopting modular, localized cooling solutions to protect vulnerable populations from rising global temperatures in high-density commercial districts.
