When it comes to designing school environments, outdoor furniture and landscape elements play a crucial role in creating a conducive atmosphere for learning, socialising, and stimulating young minds.
Among the various material options available, precast concrete furniture stands out as a versatile and advantageous choice for use in school spaces, providing clear benefits such as longevity, low maintenance requirements, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
Well-designed outdoor areas that feature a combination of natural and manmade landscape elements can positively impact students’ wellbeing, imagination, and social interactions.
Longevity: Built to Last
One of the primary advantages of precast concrete furniture in school environments is its exceptional longevity. Concrete is renowned for its durability and ability to withstand harsh weather conditions, making it ideal for outdoor use. Unlike wood, which may rot or deteriorate over time and can cause unsightly staining from tannins, or steel, which can rust and become dangerously hot when out in the sun, precast concrete furniture holds its own with ease in the outdoor environment. Regardless of weather conditions, concrete remains cool to the touch and exhibits a strong resistance to rot, rust, wear and tear.
Once installed, concrete furniture is a reliable, long-lasting investment for schools, which can enjoy the benefits of concrete furniture for many years without the need for frequent replacements.
Low Maintenance Requirements: Set and Forget
Schools are busy environments with limited resources, making low maintenance requirements an important factor in selecting outdoor furniture options. Precast concrete furniture requires minimal upkeep as it is resistant to damage and discoloration, instead developing a natural patina over time, which contributes to its aesthetic beauty. Unlike wood, which requires regular sealing and refinishing, concrete is easy to clean with mild soap, a stiff brush and water.
For schools concerned about graffiti or stains, precast concrete furniture can be treated with a coating of pre-sealer prior to installation, which ensures any dirt or grime from the installation process can be easily cleaned off post-install. Pre-sealing also helps to reduce the impact of graffiti or other stains on concrete furniture. For the best way to protect precast concrete assets, a regular cleaning and penetrative sealing regime by professional cleaning contractors is recommended every 5-10 years.
The low maintenance requirements of precast concrete furniture allow school staff to focus on other important tasks, without worrying about constant repairs and upkeep.
Durability: Withstanding the Demands of School Life
School furniture must endure heavy use and high traffic by users that aren’t always considerate of their surroundings. Precast concrete is the best material for withstanding heavy impacts, resisting scratches, and enduring rough handling, ensuring reliable performance in high-use areas such as schoolyards and outdoor seating areas.
The sheer weight of concrete furniture also makes it virtually immovable and difficult to vandalise. Its sturdy construction provides students with reliable seating and surfaces that can withstand prolonged use, offering a sense of security and stability.
The Cost-Effectiveness of Modular Design
Cost efficiency is highly valued for school design projects as a way of reducing expenditure. Schools can unlock significant cost savings when choosing to use modular design – namely, design that utilises a set number of furniture modules in repetition.
The modular nature of precast concrete furniture allows for easy customisation and configuration. By using different configurations of repeating modules, designers can achieve diverse, functional spaces that cater to various needs, while being connected by a unified design style.
Great examples of modular design can be found in the recent VSBA school projects, which involved the opening of several new schools in growth areas throughout Victoria. Landscape architecture firm Formium designed a series of four concrete furniture modules that were utilised in multiple configurations within the outdoor play and rest areas of five new schools.
Aesthetically Pleasing, Functional Design
Precast concrete furniture offers a broad spectrum of design possibilities. By experimenting with shape, size, colour, mix design and finish, designers have a wealth of options to create visually appealing outdoor furniture and landscape elements that can enhance the overall aesthetic of the school environment.
Large-format concrete products can also have multiple functional purposes. For example, reinforced concrete bench seats installed at the boundaries of carparks double as vehicle deterrents, enhancing pedestrian safety by presenting sturdy physical barriers.
Another project that cleverly incorporated multiple functions into custom concrete modules is Prahran Square, where large-format planters were designed with protruding edges to provide seating for the public, while also housing large trees to provide shelter.
The Impact of Outdoor Design
Spending time outdoors has numerous benefits for students’ mental and physical wellbeing. Access to well-designed outdoor spaces encourages students to spend more time outside, promoting a healthier lifestyle, reducing stress levels, and encouraging socialisation and collaboration. Concrete furniture in these outdoor environments acts as a catalyst for students’ engagement with nature and the surrounding environment.
Thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces can also have a profound impact on students’ cognitive abilities and concentration. By providing comfortable, spacious seating options, schools can create outdoor spaces that foster relaxation and focus, encouraging students to engage with their surroundings and learn in non-traditional classroom environments. Strategically placed concrete furniture can facilitate social interactions, group discussions, and collaborative learning, promoting teamwork and communication skills among students.
Well-designed concrete furniture can also serve as an artistic and visually stimulating element. Its unique shapes, textures, and finishes can spark students’ creativity, encouraging them to think outside the box and explore new ideas. By providing aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking elements, concrete furniture contributes to creating an environment that inspires imagination and innovation.
In Summary
Incorporating precast concrete furniture and landscape elements into school environments not only enhances the overall aesthetics but also creates spaces that support the holistic development of students. From outdoor seating areas to interactive installations, the benefits of precast concrete furniture in schools are evident, providing a durable, low-maintenance, cost-effective, and visually appealing solution that fosters a positive educational experience for students.
