Timber Seating
Timber seating brings warmth, comfort and a natural material finish to outdoor public areas. From traditional park seating to contemporary benches and loungers, it can be specified across town centres, parks, education campuses, residential developments, commercial schemes and transport environments.
BSFG supplies a broad range of timber seating for architects, landscape architects, main contractors and sub-contractors. Options range from straightforward timber benches through to design-led seating combining timber with steel, stainless steel and other structural materials.
The right choice depends on more than appearance. Timber type, supporting materials, fixing method, accessibility, maintenance and how the seating coordinates with the wider external works package should all be considered during specification.
WHY SPECIFY TIMBER SEATING?
Timber provides a softer, more natural character than an all-metal or concrete seat, making it particularly effective where landscape design is important.
It can work within contemporary urban developments as well as parks, heritage settings and landscaped residential schemes. Combining timber slats with steel or stainless steel frames also allows designers to balance the appearance and tactile qualities of timber with the structural performance required for high-use external environments.
For architects, the breadth of available forms means timber seating can support the wider design language rather than being treated as an isolated piece of street furniture. For contractors, product durability, fixing arrangements and installation requirements are equally important.
Richard Burns, Graduate Business Development Manager at BSFG, explains,
“Timber seating can change the character of an external space quite significantly. The important thing is to look beyond the appearance and make sure the materials, fixing method and overall design are right for how that particular space will actually be used.”
WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER WHEN SPECIFYING TIMBER SEATING?
Timber type and finish
The species and treatment of the timber affect appearance, weathering and ongoing maintenance.
Projects should consider the required visual finish alongside exposure, anticipated use and maintenance strategy. Timber will change in appearance as it ages outdoors, so the intended long-term finish should be considered rather than assessing the product purely when new.
Where particular timber species, treatments or sustainability requirements form part of the project specification, these should be confirmed against the technical information for the selected product.
“Customers often ask about how a timber seat will look when it arrives, but it is just as important to understand how it will weather over time,” comments Alice Rolfe, Sales Support at BSFG. “We can talk through the available materials and finishes so the product suits both the design intent and the practical requirements of the site.”
Supporting materials
Many external timber seats combine timber with a steel, stainless steel or cast iron frame. This provides structural support while allowing timber to remain the principal contact surface.
The supporting material should suit the environment. Stainless steel, galvanised steel and coated steel each offer different aesthetic and performance characteristics, while the surrounding architecture and other street furniture will often influence the choice.
Seating form and accessibility
A successful seating design strategy should provide different ways for people to use a space. Backrests and armrests can provide additional support for longer dwell times and improve usability for some users, while backless benches provide flexible access from either side and suit high-circulation areas. Loungers can create informal spaces intended for longer periods of rest.
Rather than repeating one seat across an entire scheme, consider whether different locations require different seating types.
Fixing and installation
Fixing requirements need to be coordinated with paving, foundations, drainage and other external works before installation.
Depending on the product, timber seating may be surface mounted or fixed below ground. Establishing the fixing arrangement early gives groundworkers and installers the information they need and reduces the risk of changes once finished surfaces are in place.
For main contractors and sub-contractors working towards tight completion programmes, this coordination can be as important as the choice of seat itself.
“The earlier we can understand the finished surface, fixing requirements and where the seating is going, the easier it is to avoid problems later. Street furniture is often installed towards the end of a programme, so resolving those details before the site reaches that stage makes a real difference,” comments Richard Burns.
TIMBER SEATING FROM BSFG
BSFG offers timber seating for different architectural styles, applications and budgets.
Deacon seating
Deacon Seating provides a clean, contemporary option for public realm, commercial and landscape schemes. Available using hardwood or softwood timber with steel supporting components, it can be specified with or without a backrest and is surface mounted.
It is particularly suited to schemes requiring a straightforward timber seating form that can sit comfortably alongside other contemporary external works.
Greengate Lounger
Where the objective is to encourage people to stay in a space for longer, the Greengate Lounger provides a more informal seating position.
Manufactured using steel and timber, the UK-made lounger is designed for outdoor environments including parks, campuses, commercial developments and landscaped spaces. It can also be coordinated with other street furniture to create varied areas for sitting, resting and socialising.
Bardot seating
For schemes requiring a more traditional appearance, Bardot Seating combines cast iron supports with Sapele hardwood timber.
Its traditional form makes it relevant to parks, town centres and other external environments where a classic rather than strongly contemporary street furniture aesthetic is required.
Bradford seating
Bradford Seating combines timber seating surfaces with stainless steel frames and is available in seat and backless bench configurations.
The range can be specified in grade 304 or grade 316 stainless steel and provides both root-fixed and surface-mounted options, giving project teams greater flexibility when coordinating the seating with different site conditions.
Saarbrucken seating
For more design-led public realm projects, Saarbrucken Seating combines substantial timber boards with laser-cut steel side elements.
The 2m modular bench system includes backless, backrest, high-back and armrest configurations and can be arranged in repeated linear runs. This makes it particularly relevant to civic spaces, promenades, campuses and other projects where seating contributes strongly to the architectural character of the landscape.
COORDINATING TIMBER SEATING WITH THE WIDER EXTERNAL WORKS PACKAGE
Seating rarely sits on a project in isolation. It needs to coordinate with litter bins, planters, cycle parking, bollards, shelters and other elements across the external environment.
BSFG's Design to Delivery approach supports projects from early design and specification through manufacture, delivery and installation. An in-house CAD team can provide drawings and visualisations, while dedicated installation teams support delivery from site survey through to completion.
Bringing several external works categories together under one supplier can also reduce procurement complexity, coordinate materials and finishes, streamline deliveries and give contractors a single route for project support and aftercare.
Alice Rolfe explains, “When someone comes to us for seating, we can also help them look at how it fits with the other products being specified around it. Having one team to speak to about seating, bins, planters, cycle parking or shelters can make the whole process much simpler, particularly when a project is moving quickly.”
SPECIFY TIMBER SEATING WITH BSFG
BSFG brings together street
furniture, cycle infrastructure, shelters and canopies, bollards and barriers,
and sport and play equipment within one group. Its timber seating range forms
part of that wider approach to designing and delivering coordinated outdoor
environments.
Whether you are specifying seating at design stage, pricing an external works package or preparing for installation, BSFG can provide product information, technical guidance and support to help identify the right timber seating for the project.
Contact the BSFG team on 01625 322 888 or hello@bsfg.co.uk to discuss timber seating for a current or upcoming scheme.
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