5 TOP TIPS
ASHLEY TARRY
FIVE TOP TIPS
FOR CHOOSING STREET FURNITURE
BY ASHLEY TARRY, WOODSCAPE COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
Street furniture is available in an endless range of shapes, sizes and materials, but these five top tips will help you choose the right pieces, from the right
manufacturer, whatever your project requires.
1. CONSIDER THE LOCATION
Location, location, location holds true even
for street furniture, as you should consider
the environmental impacts on your chosen
pieces. Good old British weather delivers
extremes in temperature and humidity, and
our landscape features a diverse selection
of terrains to further impact your choice.
Wide open spaces and public footpath
areas can be exposed to severe weather, so
you should choose furniture with simple,
durable designs. Seafront locations can
introduce unique challenges, requiring only
highly durable products that can withstand
the constant highly corrosive sea air.
2. UNDERSTA ND YOUR CHOSEN
RAW MATERIAL
At Woodscape we specialise in Naturally
Very Durable Hardwood (NVDH), as our
40 years of experience have proven time
and again that concrete is unforgiving
of its environment, intricately designed
powder-coated steel will not maintain its
appearance for the long haul and plastic
will age and wear – but NVDH furniture
can be utilised for decades. As wood is the
only naturally renewable resource, for
many NVDH species within a lifetime, it
delivers a reassurance that you are taking
a responsible direction with your schemes.
Wood is pound for pound as strong as steel,
extremely durable, 100% biodegradable,
all waste being efficiently re-used, and
of course readily available with FSC
certification for added assurance. Why
would you use anything else?
3. INVOLVE THE MANUFACTURER
AT AN EARLY STAGE
While it’s natural to involve manufacturers
for bespoke designs, many people forget
to utilise their experience for more
standard products. If you source your
furniture direct from the manufacturer,
they can guide you in the right direction,
recommending pieces that are already
proven for your use, saving you time, effort
(and worry in the years to come). You
can also save the effort of sourcing from
multiple companies – present your plans to
a broad reaching manufacturer, as they may
be able to fulfil all of your requirements, or
advise on minor changes that would let you
source a single scheme all in one go.
4. MAXIMISE YOUR BUDGET
Find a manufacturer that can deliver
you bespoke solutions to your needs, but
also offers standardised products, so that
your budget doesn’t disappear into an
unnecessary design process. Carefully
chosen existing products in a unique
combination, can result in a cost-effective
solution. No bespoke manufacturing
means reduced need for drawings or site
plans and approval processes.
5. UTILISE SYMMETRY IN
BESPOKE DESIGNS
If you are fortunate enough to be
working on a fully bespoke product, from
specialised seating requirements, to
custom size bridges or sea walls, symmetry
in design can be a hidden money-saver.
Duplicated or mirrored shapes and sizes,
for example tapering either end of a seat
to the same angles, can streamline both
design and manufacturing, shedding man
hours, and letting you bring your project in
well under budget.
ABOUT WOODSCAPE: The Woodscape team have been applying the beautiful, natural appearance of hardwood into rural and urban environments for decades. This naturally strong material brings an air of
quality to any scheme, and its long life expectancy with minimal after-care makes our hardwood street furniture ideal for any location.
www.woodscape.co.uk
April 2018 | Landscape Insight
17