Urban SF was commissioned by Publica architects to design and deliver a bespoke planting scheme for Elizabeth Street, replacing an ageing, inflexible installation with a system built around durability, fine detailing, and on-site adaptability.

The Brief

The existing planters on Elizabeth Street were generic black containers that had deteriorated over time. They also offered no flexibility: moving them required emptying out the plants and soil first. Publica's brief called for a replacement that matched the area's local architectural style and materials, while staying easy to service and rearrange - without looking like an off-the-shelf product simply placed into the streetscape.

The Challenge

Retail streets increasingly need to flex with changes in tenancy, footfall, and use. Urban SF worked closely with the client to finalise dimensions within a tight set of pavement restrictions, while preserving as much café seating space as possible. A particular focus throughout was minimising visible seams and joint lines, while keeping installation and future maintenance straightforward.

The Engineering Solution

Urban SF's engineering-led approach produced a structural system with individually replaceable timber coping, decorative outer panels, and floor trims - each serviceable without emptying the containers. The planters are built in modular sections, joined with hidden linkages so they look like single unified planters. Each section has a reinforced base with fork pockets, allowing it to be lifted and relocated using standard plant equipment without disturbing the soil or planting inside.

Materials and Finish

The planters are constructed from stainless steel for long-term durability and finished in a high-quality powder coat to the client's specified colour. FSC-certified hardwood timber trims, treated with non-toxic preserving oils. To keep costs manageable, the design incorporated off-the-shelf corrugated cladding materials which required careful detailing to ensure the pattern lined up continuously across panel sections.

Installation and Outcome

Six bespoke planters with custom corrugated cladding and hardwood coping were installed by Urban SF and levelled to accommodate the uneven falls across the paving, using site-measured trims to close any gaps to the floor. The finished scheme met the architects' requirements for aesthetics, modularity, and movability, improving the overall look and feel of a key retail and hospitality area.