This seat is 20 years old: How to make street furniture last
20 years in the public realm: Classic Plaza Seats at the Australian War Memorial.
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 and powder coated) and stainless steel all meet this criteria.
3. Implement a consistent maintenance program
Anodised aluminium, stainless steel and powder coated materials generally require only a wipe-down with a cloth and soapy water when necessary to keep them looking great.
Any minor breaks in powder coating can be repaired in a few simple steps documented in our General Maintenance Guide.
Eco-certified hardwood may require more maintenance work, depending on your preferred look and whether you wish to maintain your Warranty.
To keep up a warm timber look with oiled finish (and maintain your warranty) Street Furniture Australia recommends oiling a minimum of every three months. Your products may require more regular oiling depending on the conditions of your site – for example if they are in full sun.
For a more low maintenance option, the timber can be allowed to silver, however your battens may not last as long and will not be covered by warranty.
Phases of oiled timber ageing. Left: freshly oiled hardwood. Centre: approximately three months on, re-oil to retain warranty or allow to silver. Right: silvery grey patina develops – battens should be regularly checked for splintering.
For a timber look without the maintenance, select a Wood Without Worry aluminium woodgrain batten – with five standard shades to choose from ranging from dark to light, cool to warm.
4. Repair, refurbish, recycle
Street Furniture Australia offers the ability to purchase standard spare parts, and recycle the originals, rather than purchasing a whole new product – treading more lightly on the planet.
The Australian War Memorial in Canberra is an excellent example of the right to repair in action. Classic Plaza Seats were installed 20 years ago, with the timber battens replaced in recent years to extend the life of the furniture.
Aluminium and stainless steel battens and parts can also be refurbished or replaced and recycled – with old powder coating removed and parts re-coated for a fresh look.
This is part of our commitment to circularity and responsible product stewardship – ensuring we consider the journey of each product from Cradle to Cradle, the right to repair and ability to recycle materials at the end of life.
A lasting place to rest: Classic Plaza Seats 20 years onsite at the Australian War Memorial.Street Furniture Australia products are made-to-order and powder coated inhouse, and quality-controlled to ISO standards.
Successful products are often followed by copycats. Over the past year we have become aware of an increase in reproductions of the Linea range attempting to create a similar aesthetic at a lower price. This can compromise the overall durability and environmental credentials of projects being delivered, affect ongoing maintenance requirements, and in some instances pose a risk of injury to the public. The design of Linea is deceptively simple while delivering exceptional attention to detail. Details matter not only for beauty, but also for providing durability, and safety, that will last decades. Linea strictly uses the highest quality and sustainable materials, has passed rigorous strength tests, and is designed for longevity, with easily replaceable parts. The product range is the result of hundreds of hours of research and development …
Melissa Gerke, our Communications and Education Specialist, is bringing a fun, interactive and informative presentation about our carbon neutral journey and latest products to customers in cities around Australia and in the US. In 30 minutes (plus Q&A) we will explore materials and finishes, touch and feel samples, and bond with your colleagues over delicious treats. There will also be a mystery prize for a lucky winner (optional). 2024 cities and dates include: Select from three catering options (optional): To book, contact Melissa Gerke mgerke@streetfurniture.com
Street Furniture Australia’s entire product range and manufacturing operation has received carbon neutral certification through Climate Active™. Achieving carbon neutral certification marks a significant milestone in our operation and the culmination of a four year long process of detailed measurement and analysis. Climate Active™ is the only Australian government-backed carbon neutral certification programme for businesses to measure, reduce, and offsets their carbon emissions. It is one of the most rigorous carbon-neutral programs in the world. An approved Emissions Reduction Strategy (ERS) is central to achieving certification through Climate Active. Street Furniture Australia has elected to use SBTi validated science-based targets to ensure their ERS is meaningful and aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement – to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. For those emissions that can’t be …
Street Furniture Australia collaborated with Mobility Design Lab from Monash University to reimagine how urban bus stops and shelters could look, feel and work in the near future. The concept proposal was recently shortlisted for the Smarter Hobart Challenge, an international design competition launched by the City of Hobart in 2020. The competition called for “innovative and exciting ideas to help transform Hobart’s public transport services, and help make waiting for the bus reliable, safe, accessible and socially connective.” More than 120 entries were received from teams in Australia, the US, India, South America, Russia, Ukraine, Singapore, Hong Kong, Italy and France. The concept by Monash University and Street Furniture Australia was one of five finalists. Bus travel can sometimes suffer from “a less optimal image” compared with other modes …
Ari Zaharopoulos is celebrating a significant milestone of 25 years working with Street Furniture Australia. Throughout his career he has processed an estimated 1.5 million battens. “If you have sat on a Street Furniture Australia seat or bench – anywhere around the country and overseas – the battens were likely processed by Ari,” says Head of Operations Christopher Morgan. Ari joined the company in 1995, when the factory was “much smaller,” he says, and located in Bourke Street, Alexandria. Production later moved to Buckland Street, Alexandria, before the upgrade to the Regents Park premises in Western Sydney. “There’s a lot more room to move now,” Ari says, “and the way we do things has become more and more efficient.” Batten drilling, for example, was originally done manually, with one hole …
This powdercoat additive uses silver ion technology to reduce microbial growth, such as bacteria and mold, up to 99.9% on coated surfaces. It is designed to be used in areas where there is an obvious need to maintain a low level of microbes with high traffic – for example in transport, schools and campuses, places of care and food preparation areas. The coating provides the same decorative and durable performance characteristics as your standard powdercoat, with an additional level of protection against microbial growth on its surface – making it easier to keep hygienically clean. The silver ion technology won’t wear off, wash out or leach from the coating. It is validated and quality control tested to ISO 22196:2011. Enquire with our sales team about adding anti-microbial protection to powdercoated …
