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.

Kerb comparisons: Granite kerbs vs. concrete kerbs

There are many different types of road kerbs used in Britain today. An unsung hero, the humble kerb carries out a number of important duties on our streets and motorways. They retain the carriageway edge to prevent ‘spreading,’ and they also act as a barrier between road traffic and pedestrians or verges.

Granite kerbs

As a natural stone, granite kerbs usually tend to be more expensive than precast concrete kerbs. Whilst kerb stones that are specifically manufactured to do the job in hand are measured to a specific length and style, older kerbs – some of which have given over 100 years service – do not necessarily match this standard profile. This means replacing or repairing them can cause problems.

However the granite Kassel kerb is the natural equivalent of the standard concrete Kassel kerb – a unique, no-gap bus stop kerb for safe and easy passenger access – and is the perfect solution for use in conservation areas or where there is repair work needed for existing granite kerbs or pavements.

A natural stone granite is extremely durable, aesthetically pleasing, and is sensitive to its environment. Recreating the beauty of this natural stone is not easy.

Concrete kerbs

Precast concrete kerbs are now more commonly used due to their durability and cost. They can be manufactured to specific requirements meaning they can be tailor made to suit a particular job. They are easily shaped and moulded and come mostly in a clean and aesthetically pleasing grey. You can get more decorative colours but these are more expensive and are generally only used in prestige and ‘heritage’ schemes.

The evolution of concrete kerbs continues apace – for example a new generation of concrete kerbs know as scan kerb has recently entered the market. A ‘stick down’ kerb that is cost-effective, easy to install and reduces noise and dust contamination, it is set to take the industry by storm.

The argument between granite and concrete kerbs could really be characterised as an argument about old versus new, vintage versus modern or retro versus contemporary. They each have their own merits and advantages, and it really does come down to the individual job they’re required for.