Challenge

Benchmark was tasked with providing a number of bespoke curved benches for Cheltenham Borough Council's new ‘pocket park’ at Clarence Fountain, creating an attractive focal point for all to enjoy.

Ares Landscape Architects designed this pocket park with the aim of improving biodiversity and air quality, as well as providing more adequate seating for all ages.

Solution

Benchmark's Exeter street furniture range was selected as it can easily be adapted to suit a variation of fixing methods and needs.

With a historic fountain at the centre of this pocket park, seating needed to be wall-mounted yet self-supporting as the fabric of the fountain wall could not be broken due to its age and water-tightness. The solution was to create a self-supporting front panel that would secure the weight of the above bench.

With an existing tree being relocated and planted into a new steel planter, Benchmark was asked to create a cantilevered curving bench that could be bolted on after the install. This provided a number of issues but, by working closely with all parties, a simple and effective solution was found. The Exeter range of street furniture is manufactured using FSC iroko hardwood on a durable steel framework, designed to adapt to suit a host of scenarios.

Outcome

Cllr Max Wilkinson, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing, said: “It’s fantastic to see the completed project that will make a massive difference to our town centre.