Context

Artform Urban Furniture manufactured and supplied unique and playful street furniture elements for Stockport Interchange, a new state-of-the-art facility aimed at improving public transport for the town and connecting locations across Manchester and Cheshire and beyond.

Project detail

Collaborative design process

From an early stage, Artform Urban worked alongside BDP and CW Studio to develop a range of furniture that would be design-led, functional and satisfy the demanding design brief from the end client, Stockport Council.

Playful seating for the interchange

An elevated green space surrounding a large oval opening brings natural light to the bus stops beneath. Here, the Splash bench has been dotted around offering an inviting and playful seating option.

The organic design of Splash echoes that of the green space while bridging the gap between the contemporary aesthetic and the playground elements that occupy the space - creating a welcoming environment for all visitors. 

Benches for the shopping centre

The Merseyway Shopping Centre, situated opposite the interchange, has also seen recent refurbishment works to elevate the centre in line with the other developments in Stockport. CW Studio specified more Splash seating and the Tree Line modular concrete seating units.

These robust benches come in various shapes and sizes that interconnect to create visually interesting configurations that inspire social interaction. The bench is manufactured from a durable mix of granite and marble stones but with a softer edge making it less industrial than typical concrete bench designs.

Bespoke oval planters

Finally, to bring natural colour and green to the high street, 2 large bespoke oval planters with integrated seating were designed for the project. Each planter / seating system consists of 5 self-contained sections that are movable and easily assembled into place, requiring no groundwork. The integrated hardwood seat toppers offer various seating options with backrests and armrests available providing easier access for the elderly. These were all set off on new paving throughout the area.

Boosting footfall

The Interchange and Merseyway developments are a continuation of Artform's work in Stockport on projects such as Redrock and Stockport Exchange, which are all part of efforts to boost footfall and appeal to the town.

"It’s always an honour to be involved in projects on our doorstep especially when they have the potential to positively impact and bring huge benefits for the area and surrounding businesses."