Kerbing the way for kerbs

Kerbs mean more than meets the foot. They are ways of helping pedestrians and cyclists on their journeys as they tell them a message from the different types and sizes of kerbs. Kerbs are great way of sending out different forms of messages, used on roads, in car parks and on the streets – they all have a meaning.

USES:

Lets have a look at some of the uses for kerbs, what do they actually do, and why are they there?

• Kerbs form the edge between a pavement and the road; they retain the edge of the top layers of a pavement.
• Act as a demarcation for pedestrians and road users to locate where the road and path separation is. It distinguishes the carriageway and footway.
• Provides a check/channel for surface water management.
• Prevents accidents where vehicles could leave the carriageway.

TYPES:

The natural stones are durable and better quality but can be expensive, and Highway Authorities now dress the kerbs to a standard profile and finish, the difficulty is when they have to fix/repair older kerbs, and these do not match the standard profile.

Pre-cast concrete has now become popular; the hydraulically pressed kerbs are durable, cheap and strong, though they are not as strong as pressed concrete.

Steel kerbs have also become increasingly used for busy areas where the kerb lines are commonly used such as, towns, cities, motorways and dual carriageways – anywhere where there is heavy traffic.

Although you see plain kerbs around your local town and roads, textured and decorative kerbs are becoming popular. They look great, different and more noticeable but they are of course, more expensive.

There are also special kerbs, like the side offlet kerbs, which are designed to keep street litter out of the sewers. High containment kerbs are designed to protect vulnerable footpaths and sensitive roadside equipment, you could find these anywhere from fuel pumps to dangerous curves.

For all you bus travellers, you may have noticed special kerbs for bus stops, these helps pedestrians for ease of access and for the bus driver to align the bus correctly and to calculate the gap between the kerb and vehicle entrance.

What other interesting facts do you know about kerbs?

The Benchmark – Five of the Most Innovative Urbastyle Bench Solutions

Thinking outside the box is the essence of great design. It’s what creatives do with regular ease, and in doing so make our lives that little bit more interesting. Take the humble bench for example – it can be a rectangular block of concrete created simply for the purposes of sitting on and filling a space. Or it can be something else, something more beautiful, as much a piece of street art as it is a functional object. Here are five of the most innovative designs for urban benches that offer both beauty and practical solutions.
Bench Circular
As the name suggests this is simply a circular bench, a straightforward and attractive structure which provides adequate seating in parks or urban areas. What makes this uncomplicated piece of design so effective is that its centre is used for planting trees and shrubbery – essential for greener air in urban areas.
Bench Ouvertura
This bench is designed to fit securely over ditches or uneven surfaces, creating an eye-catching piece of street furniture that is safe to sit on and makes practical use of space. The size of the bench means that many people can sit together.
City Scape Concrete Bench
Stylish and contemporary this bench is a response to the need to create decorative seats in urban and conservation areas. The bench is surprisingly comfortable to sit on and has a slightly rounded style which means people don’t necessarily have to sit beside each other but can still see one another.
Bench Soft Seat
This unique bench is designed both for indoor and outdoor areas such as squares, parks, shopping centres, even art galleries. What is so clever about this bench is at first glance it looks like it’s made out of soft cushions but it is in fact made from concrete. Beautiful to look at this bench brings a certain warmth and charm to even the most sterile of spaces.
Bench B. Flex
This elegant concrete bench comes in a variety of colours and can be arranged in countless different ways. The parts fit together like building blocks to create a unique urban space. It is probably fair to say that this interesting piece of design could easily be mistaken for street art but it also acts a comfortable bench.
Bomax are Urbastyle street furniture specialists. Find out more about the Urbastyle Street Furniture that you can purchase through Bomax.

Five of the Best Urban Spaces

Puerta Del Sol

The Puerta Del Sol originated as one of the gates in the city wall that surrounded Madrid in the 15th century. It’s located in the very heart of the city. The square is actually almost semi-circular in shape and owes its current form to the major renovation work carried out between 1854 and 1860. All work since has been carried out sensitively allowing the area to maintain its character. Due to its city centre location and stunning architecture the Puerta del Sol is a fine example of how to utilise public spaces.

Princess Street Gardens

Princess Street Gardens is a lovely place to sit in the summer and people-watch whilst overlooked by some of Edinburgh’s most beautiful buildings. Green areas are essential in all large cities and this is one of the finest you’ll find anywhere.

Du Pont Circle

DuPont Circle is a traffic circle, park, neighbourhood, and historic district in Northwest Washington, D.C. At its centre is an elegant marble fountain which currently serves as a popular meeting point for locals and tourists alike. The DuPont Circle utilises the space expertly and has numerous trees planted around an otherwise urban area.

Millennium Park Chicago

Built on a site that was controlled by the Illinois Central Railroad for almost 150 years, Millennium Park is seen by the people of Chicago as the crowning glory of their city. The 24.5 acre Millennium Park is a magnificent modern park with state of the art facilities, unique public artwork and beautiful gardens.

London Olympic Park

Transforming wasteland on London’s East End into an international sports venue was a massive undertaking. From transport to and from the village to ensuring roads and pathways are adequate required planning on a mammoth scale. The resulting Olympic park, with its landscaped wildflower gardens, stands as a monument to the overall success of the games.

Street Furniture has come a long way over the last few years, making communal areas such as squares, parks and streets come to life. Bomax supplies a wide range of Urbastyle Street Furniture.

How can street furniture revitalise urban spaces?

A rapid rise in the popularity of online shopping has resulted in the decline of the high street in recent years. As boarded up shop fronts have become a familiar sight, the challenge to rejuvenate and revitalise our high streets is at the forefront of government thinking.

Street furniture from top design companies like Urbastyle can really help enhance the look and character of a high street or any urban space. Benches, bollards, planters and seats are all objects that, when positioned sensitively to their surroundings, can really say something about the space they occupy. This makes the area more enticing for shoppers and retailers thinking on moving into the area.

Practical solutions

As well as contributing to the overall charm and beauty of an area, street furniture is a practical solution to some of the problems encountered in inner city urban areas. For instance, cleanliness can be a problem in any town or city, with litter often dropped carelessly. Something as simple as well-designed and well-placed bins can scale litter problems back dramatically, helping an urban area to really look its best.

Bollards provide security and protection by separating traffic and pedestrian pathways, and come in a range of designs that can help increase the attractiveness of the area. Planters alongside kerbs and buildings can make even the most densely populated of urban jungles a more enjoyable and pleasant environment, providing a splash of colour to boost the area’s overall appeal.

Street furniture provides the public with facilities such as seats and benches, an essential provision for those who have been traipsing around shops all day. It also helps to establish the area as a social hub and is a sure-fire way to attract visitors.

Forward thinking

As with any design project it is essential that a lot of thought and planning goes into the process in order to create the right kind of vibe and aesthetic. Too much street furniture can cause a clash in styles and begin to look cluttered. It is vital that the street furniture is cohesive and laid out in a manner that complements the environment it occupies. The surrounding architecture, type of shops and street lighting should all be taken into account when using street furniture to revitalise urban spaces.

When implemented correctly, street furniture can improve the feel and atmosphere of an area and boost its aesthetic appeal. Much like street art, street furniture can help to attract subsequent developments, establish quality and raise standards.

Urbastyle Street Furniture – Spicing up the Streets

Street furniture is changing; it has become more of an innovative piece of artwork that is visually far more attractive, than the traditional plain furniture. As street furniture suppliers, Bomax recognise the worth of Urbastyle Street Furniture.

It’s all about creativity, design and standing out

It looks like local councils are taking more pride in the way they present their streets and roads to people, in style and sophistication. Do your streets and towns need a little character to brighten up things up? Street furniture can include:

• Benches
• Bollards
• Planters
• Seats

Below is a selection of Urbastyle Street furniture:

Urbastyle’s LED benches create a great ambiance at night, especially in parks and town centers. The low lighting is subtle but creates attention; its glow could be relaxing and definitely lights up a miserable dark night. You can just imagine taking a walk in the park, the benches have a little more personality and at night, you will feel a little safer and maybe you can even stop to have a sit down and reflect on your thoughts, on these lovely LED benches.

When it comes to bollards, you’d be surprised at the range of bollards out there. In this blog, Bollards of London, you’ll find policeman bollards, camouflaged, lipstick shaped, Royal bollards – you name it. Point being, bollards are more interesting to people than you may think. They generate interest and like the stabilo bollards below, can also be used as seats.

Street furniture is far more stylized, full of design features and spectators enjoy viewing the creativity that councils are now coming up with to make their streets and towns more visual.