Outdoor benches

Backrests and armrests are not a detail

A bench without a backrest looks clean and suits a contemporary square, but it is noticeably less used by older people and by anybody with back problems. Armrests make the difference when sitting down and above all when getting up again.

The rule of thumb we apply: in places where people wait or rest, such as bus stops, walking routes, parks, hospital surroundings and residential care centres, choose a bench with a backrest and armrests. In places where people perch briefly, such as a shopping square or a school environment, a seating element without a backrest can be enough. A seat height of around forty-five centimetres works for the widest group of users.

Material and what it means over time

• Hot-dip galvanised and powder-coated steel: strong, repairable, available in any RAL colour, and still refurbishable after ten years without replacing everything. The most workable standard.
• Hardwood from certified forestry: the most comfortable to sit on, including in winter, because timber feels less cold than metal. It weathers to grey without periodic treatment.
• Composite from recycled plastic: maintenance-free, it does not splinter and it barely fades. Strong in places with intensive use or vandalism.
• Concrete: virtually indestructible and doubles as a barrier, but heavy and permanently placed.
• Combinations: a steel frame with timber or composite slats couples the strength of the frame to the seating comfort of the slats, and means that later on you only have to replace the slats.

That last point counts for more than it seems. A bench on which only the slats are renewed lasts for decades. We keep the parts supply going and deliver replacements, even years after installation.

Placement and orientation

A bench that faces a wall or a car park stays empty. Orientate it towards something worth looking at: children playing, water, greenery, passers-by. Where possible, set benches in pairs or at an angle to each other, so that people can talk instead of sitting side by side.

Think as well about shade in summer, about the distance to a litter bin, and about enough clear width alongside the bench for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Anchoring is advisable on the public domain; we anchor chemically or mechanically, depending on the substrate.

Vandalism and management

In sensitive locations a heavier version pays off: closed constructions without loose parts, concealed fixings and a coating that releases graffiti. Speed of repair matters just as much. A damaged bench left standing for months invites more damage; the same bench repaired within the week usually stays intact for years.