Challenge

The Dragon School in Oxford was looking for bespoke outdoor furniture for a new playground scheme. 

Solution

After visiting the site, Benchmark designed one-off items for the school. The concept came from the company's Shoreline range, adapted to meet the demands of a busy playground.

A communal oval table with matching curved benches required some innovative design solutions. To simplify the production of the unique slats that make up the tabletop, a cutting template was made. The client also requested that the design allowed for potential future relocations. Benchmark achieved this by including a detachable mechanical fix between the tabletop and stainless steel profile, as well as a solid resin fix between the profile and the large free-standing granite blocks. This enables the tabletop and granite blocks to be disconnected and relocated as manageable separate items.

This versatile double-fix solution was also incorporated into the accompanying benches, along with staple ends to protect the timbers as well as offering a smooth continuous look.

Benchmark also supplied their standard Shoreline SL008 curved bench and SLPL planter. With a 2.5m diameter and 1.8m height, this is one of the largest planters the company has produced to date and required engineering to keep it safe and workable. To this aim Benchmark fitted a large aluminium liner to take the additional weight.

Outcome

The overall scheme provided a high quality, bespoke furniture range to the renovated playground, as well as a few excited comments from staff who thought the planter being installed was a hot tub.