Urban Spaces

Public space landscaping

From the outdoor benches to the walkway pavers, the way an urban area is landscaped has a significant impact on its usability and attractiveness as a space in which to connect with the natural world. Public seating benches, for example, can offer an inviting place to sit, or the opposite, depending on where they are placed, how they are designed and their materiality. Public seats are generally durable, hardwearing pieces designed for heavy use and to withstand the elements over long periods outside. 

Street furniture is the same - whether it’s park furniture or the seating in bus shelters - urban areas need to be designed for high use and maximum durability. 

Urban park and street furniture and paving

Placemaking is a critical part of any public urban space, and it is often in the use and design of materials where a sense of place is created. Those areas where a contextual relationship with the natural surrounds are often those that are most well used and loved by the local community. Whether it’s the use of repurposed materials to create street furniture, or the clever design of park furniture to reflect the overall sense of place, the right materials combined with clever design and landscaping can have a significantly positive impact on the sense of community and amenity. 

Residential urban landscaping

Aside from the overall planting and landscape design scheme, a residential garden can be transformed into a haven of relaxation and connection with the outdoors with the right choice of furniture. Whether it’s garden benches or garden kerbing, the opportunities to create a synergy of place are unlimited. The design of an outdoor area will determine its success, with the allure of an outdoor area often determined with the clever use of materials and detailing. It may be the concrete garden edging, the well-placed garden hose or the use of outdoor furniture suites that create a harmonious and functional garden area. Perhaps it’s the outdoor bench seat that draws people to enjoy the shade of a mature tree or the shade solution that allows for year-round use of space. 

Find out more about choosing outdoor furniture for the home.