Street furniture has become more popular than ever in recent years. Towns and cities across the country are putting more effort into improving their outside spaces for the benefit of residents and visitors alike, and street furniture can play a large role in this.
There are a number of reasons why this kind of furniture is growing in popularity, and some of these are explored below.
Encourages More Use of Outside Areas
One of the main functions of this furniture is to improve convenience for people whilst they are outside. When this furniture is installed in a public area more people are encouraged to use the area where before they might not have done.
Benches in parks allow people to rest without sitting on the grass, and picnic tables allow people to spend longer in a public area which encourages socialising. This all leads to a more pleasant atmosphere, and without such features, people would be less inclined to visit and spend more time in these public areas.
More Attractive Public Spaces
Inner city decay is something which can happen to any town or city over time. When people begin to take less pride in their area the effects are often all too easy to spot. Graffiti, broken benches, vandalism - all of these can become a problem and present a negative image of a town or city.
The public space is so important for the overall character of a town or city. By installing attractive and practical street furniture, especially furniture designed for the streets with a unique design, people become more involved in their community and more proud of where they live, and this rubs off on visitors and leads to a more vibrant and pleasant atmosphere.
Practical Purposes
As well as making a place look more attractive, street furniture also serves important practical purposes. Bus shelters complete with benches allow people to wait in comfort and benches in the park allow people to take the pressure off their feet, and these are important additions to any public space.
The Importance of the Construction Material
One of the reasons why this furniture is continuing to grow in popularity is due to the development of the materials that are used in its construction. Good street furniture requires a strong and durable material. Broken benches and bus stops are unpleasant to look at, and vandalised street furniture creates a negative impression. To counter this, recycled plastic is becoming increasingly popular as a material for the construction of street furniture.
Recycled plastic has a number of benefits, including:
• Lasts a lot longer than wood
• Vandal resistant
• Water resistant
• Free from maintenance
• Free from splinters, rot & cracks
• Non-toxic
• Weather proof
• Cost effective
With a material like recycled plastic, it is easy to see why this kind of furniture is becoming more popular. It will surely continue to become even more popular over time as more communities see the benefits that come from having solid, well-built, attractive street furniture in their public spaces.
