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.
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.
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 …
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 …
Our Presentation Specialists bring a fun, interactive and informative workshop about our carbon neutral journey and latest products to your office. In 30 minutes (plus Q&A) you will explore materials and finishes, touch and feel samples, and bond with your colleagues over delicious treats in the comfort of your office. There will also be a mystery prize for a lucky winner (optional). ‘The presentation content was informative, engaging, interactive and relevant. Genuinely one of the better supplier workshops! It was efficient yet insightful. The interactive nature of it enhanced engagement with the team,’ Sam Westlake, Senior Associate, Hassell, Sydney. ‘Possibly our favourite product presentation to date! Engaging, great content and appreciated the physical samples and prototypes,’ Alexa Ongoco, Senior Landscape Architect, TCL, Brisbane. ‘Thorough presentation with actual product to see and …
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 …
