Landscape Insight April 2018 | Page 17

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