Rundle Mall

Rundle Mall, in the heart of Adelaide, has introduced a new outdoor dining space designed to revitalise a key section of the city’s premier retail precinct.

Delivered by the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA), the project responds to a gap in the mall’s existing offering: the absence of outdoor furniture that supports comfortable dining and social interaction within the public realm.

“We have a lot of food courts for people to buy and bring their meals out and sit in the sun, but we needed to have tables for them,” said Katherine Masters, Projects & Operations Coordinator of AEDA.

Following the success of earlier temporary picnic-style installations, which demonstrated strong public demand, the decision was made to transform the space into a permanent stay.

The modular furniture system from Street Furniture Australia features Linea Benches, Lookout Tables, Seats and Planters along with solid top Cafe Tables and Piatto Stools. Crafted with aluminium woodgrain Spotted Gum battens, the furniture delivers a timber look with the durable performance of aluminium.

Linea Benches, Cafe Tables, and Piatto Stools are paired together to create dining areas and pause points within the high-traffic environment.

The Linea Planter was key to spatial layout, introducing planting at eye level, softening the hard urban environment while helping to structure the space.

“It helps separate different seating zones while still maintaining a visual connection. With the limited space we had, introducing greenery at sightline level became a really nice addition.” Masters said. 

Designed for longevity in a high-use public environment, the furniture addressed one of the major considerations for the mall—durability and susceptibility to graffiti and wear.

“Graffiti is quite common in public spaces, so there was some consideration around how the furniture would perform,” Masters said. “However, we’ve had very little on this furniture, and when it does occur, it’s easy to clean off.”

The colour palette was intentionally restrained so as not to dominate the space. A unified Pale Eucalypt finish was chosen to complement surrounding materials and allow the space to adapt across seasonal activations and events.