The demands of public spaces can be tough on street furniture, particularly in areas with a high level of foot traffic, or perception of low supervision.
Street Furniture Australia has supplied furniture for the public realm for more than 37 years. Our engineering team has tested all kinds of design forms, materials and finishes to maximise durability. If damage does happen, our factory is equipped to quickly supply spare parts for standard products.
Here are our top tips for repelling and repairing vandalism to street furniture:
1. Choose tough materials and finishes
For battens and frames, the Textura powder coat is an anti-mar, premium textured finish that is also very easy to clean. Repels stickers, graffiti and is more difficult to scratch than regular powder coating. Textura is available in a range of colours, as seen on the Colour Chart.
For a timber-look effect, select Wood Without Worry aluminium battens. These highly-durable, low maintenance battens come in five standard shades and feature internal supports so they are not easy to dent. They will not splinter or crack like real timber.
Aria Seating System with Textura connector panels and Wood Without Worry aluminium Spotted Gum battens.
2. Go for a purpose-built design
For set-and-forget furniture we recommend the Linea range, which features stainless steel frames for incredible quality and strength. The strength of stainless steel holds up well to vandalism, and the heavyset weight deters casual theft.
Heavy-duty versions of the Cafe Table and Stool are also available and have been used to furnish prison facilities.
For bin enclosures in areas where bottle collectors persistently attempt to open locked doors, a different approach may be recommended. Enquire with our team about solutions we have tested with councils.
Where lighting fires in bins is an issue, fire-resistant materials and finishes can be used. You can also chat with us about solutions we’ve supplied for customers who have experienced consistent fire-lighting. The Escola eBin comes with a sensor that alerts custodians in case of fire – this is intended to assist with accidental ignition associated with cigarette butts, and could be useful for detecting intentful vandalism.
The Linea range features strong stainless steel frames.
3. Touch-up and repair quickly
Even the hardiest of products sometimes cannot totally withstand the most determined vandals. Repairing damage as quickly as possible helps to prevent future destruction.
See our general maintenance guide for tips on maintaining the surface finish of your products; as a general rule graffiti can be sanded and buffed out or repaired with touch-up paint.
Should parts be damaged and require replacing, Street Furniture Australia’s Parts Promise ensures spare parts are available for the life of standard products or for a period of up to five years after the product has been discontinued.
Order spare parts for your products quickly and easily, and receive them directly from our factory. In replacing battens Wood Without Worry performs particularly well because the material does not visibly age like real timber, and new battens blend seamlessly with the originals supplied.
Wood Without Worry battens feature internal supports for strength. The colour does not age like real timber, so spare parts easily blend.
The Street Furniture Australia factory, in Regents Park, Western Sydney, is both a manufacturing hub and R&D studio for our Australian-designed and made street furniture products. We run fun and informative group events for customers throughout the year, to share how products are designed, tested and built, and the latest products and projects. Director of Tract Julie Lee said: “It was a great opportunity for our team to look behind the scenes and understand the innovation, research and climate positive outcomes Street Furniture Australia is focusing on. Thank you for having us!” Place Design Group Associate, Liam Isaksen, said: “The factory tour is a fun experience to learn about the design and manufacturing process of public furniture we use in landscape architecture design. Seeing the work behind the scenes and …
Did you catch these most-read case studies, furnishing tips, new product announcements and special industry events in your StreetChat updates in 2023? Each month our StreetChat enewsletter publishes new projects, products and trends from the public domain; subscribe to receive it in your inbox. 10. Which design firm can see Longhorn Cattle from their office window? 2 countries. 9 cities. 300 landscape architects. Street Furniture Australia and USA partner Spruce & Gander visited offices in Australia and Texas. There were key similarities and some notable standouts. 9. Jazz at The Mint: Product and Book Launch Sydney landscape architects gathered at the iconic Mint Courtyard to launch a design book by our founding directors Darrel Conybeare and Bill Morrison, and expansions to the Linea collection. 8. 2023 Good Cause Giveaway goes to …
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Thoughtfully designed and well-built street furniture, with durable materials and a consistent maintenance program, have lasted 30 years – or longer – in the public realm. Here are our top tips for street furniture that stands the test of time. 1. Select a timeless design Go for an aesthetic that will not date easily. Avoid trends that do not prioritise comfort, ergonomics and durability. 2. Select responsible, durable materials In our 35 years of designing, manufacturing and supplying street furniture, we have refined our selection of responsible and durable materials. We use only responsibly-sourced materials that can be recycled in our products and packaging. Durable materials retain their strength and integrity – they do not bow, sag, rust, stain or leach over time. Our selected eco-certified hardwood, aluminium (both anodised …
To ‘homify’ is to create an ambience that is comfortable and immediately relaxing … a feeling that evokes, ‘I’m home’. Street Furniture Australia proudly presented ‘Homifying Sydney Olympic Park’ – a webinar accredited by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects for 1 Formal CPD point – as part of the Land-e-Scape online festival. The presentation streamed on the Land-e-Scape conference platform and for free on YouTube. It is currently available to watch on demand via YouTube. Viewing link: https://bit.ly/3iUEKbwRegistration (optional): Register your attendance for CPD certification. What is the webinar about? The session will explore how human-centred design was applied for community consultation at Sydney Olympic Park. Human-centred design is a process more typically seen in product or software development than in placemaking. Street Furniture Australia uses human-centred design to create …
Under the Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992, known as DDA, public places must be accessible to people with a disability. The DDA is relevant to many aspects of street furniture. This article focuses on two products: Why is DDA important? DDA is part of universal design, which places human diversity at the forefront so places meet the needs of all users, regardless of age, size, disability or ability. It ensures that public spaces can be enjoyed by everyone. Ageing populations worldwide further increase demand for accessible design, to help people navigate and move through cities independently and in comfort. According to the UN’s World Population Prospects: the 2019 Revision, the number of people aged 80 years or over is projected to triple, from 143 million in 2019 to 426 million …
