A new scheme designed by BCP Council has now transformed the area into a vibrant, contemporary public open space designed to be much more welcoming to shoppers and visitors and for the first time, encouraging people to use the area as a social space. The central circular paving feature, which includes public art celebrating Bournemouth's literary history, combined with step-free surfacing serves to unify the space at what is effectively a junction of three roads. The circular theme is further reinforced by the placement of curved seating around the edge of the central paving feature and large circular patterns in the surrounding resin-bound paving.
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Furnitubes' RailRoad range was the ideal choice in this situation – providing wide bench platforms that can be used from both sides (allowing people to face in or outwards), with backrests for additional comfort on sections of the seating, occasional armrests to aid less able-bodied people in sitting down and integrated planters to introduce some welcome greenery to the area – all achieved using standard modules.
Five separate seating / planter configurations were supplied in total – three comprising three seating modules (two with curved backrests) and two with two seats – providing capacity for at least 24 people at any one time, and even more when the bench sections are used simultaneously from both sides. Although these configurations would normally be supplied freestanding (with planters filled and attached to the seating this is sufficiently heavy to prevent the overall assembly from being easily moved), the pronounced falls at Beale Place necessitated seating supports to be set into the ground to take up the level variations.
The 'Loop' circular post support is perfect for such situations and has been installed here into an F1 ground socket so that the seating can also be easily removed in the future, for example for large vehicular access or to open up the space for special events.
Steelwork is hot dip galvanised for maximum corrosion resistance in this maritime environment, with a green polyester powder coating on top, and timbers treated with a UV protective finish to delay the fading effects of the sun.
The opening of the newly redeveloped Beale Place was marked by a weekend of celebrations that included music and children's entertainment, with the RailRoad seating being very well used right from the outset.
