Overview

Woodscape was chosen to work with architects at Gillespies and BBUK to develop custom seating and podium solutions for Elephant Park in London that represent the very best of hardwood street furniture.

Project

The Elephant & Castle area of London, south of the River Thames, is referenced as far back as 1765, and is famed for its fascinating history and culture. Southwark Council and Lendlease are currently delivering a £2.3billion regeneration programme, spanning 28 acres of this area.

With the project aiming to revitalise the community, create spaces to support local arts, and reflect influences from the broad range of cultures represented locally, as well as increasing visitors, and enhancing shopping and social venues, every aspect of the scheme demands a modern approach.

Custom seating solution

Bespoke seating steps and decking form flexible seating at the entrance to the Elephant Park play area, and feature hundreds of individually shaped timber slats over a powder-coated steel subframe, with anti-slip discs and concealed lighting channels ensuring the finished result is both practical and beautiful.

The highlight of the project is the incredible waved seating designs, which were developed from the initial concept to the intricate masterpiece now in place, and are designed to seat users in varying positions and heights to make the most of its location. Several seats were created, culminating with a 9m-long seat that’s become sculptural in appearance, with swooping contours and impactful use of the materials making this much more than just seating.

The ‘broom yellow’ powder-coated steel framework houses specially designed lighting trays to allow illumination between the slats and wiring provision to allow for inbuilt charging points in the end panels. Between the hardwood slats, a range of possible materials were sampled resulting in polycarbonate diffusers that work perfectly with the lighting units, providing a warm glow that integrates the seats with their surroundings. Individual hardwood slats become a sturdy but flowing shape via a joint designed especially for this project, with each piece being manufactured using Woodscape’s unmatched CNC capabilities and seamless hand finishing.

Outcome

Everything about the street furniture produced for Elephant Park was a labour of love worthy of the area, sure to be admired by residents and visitors alike, with several phases of the development still to come, Woodscape hope to be back soon and continue to play its part in this epic project.