Designing an Iroko Hardwood Bench as part of a Landscaping scheme
Commercial hardwood bench at Kew Bridge, designed and installed as part of an important landscaping feature. The main feature is an open courtyard scheme with substantially raised planters and stepped walkways with occasional timber seating throughout the scheme.
Furthermore, the Scheme is part of the prestigious development by St George WL and is situated alongside the Thames at the famous Kew bridge. Hundreds of apartments including luxury penthouses, the development even has its own pub “One over the Ait, by Fullers”
In the first instance, decorum was approached to offer a timber solution to concept drawings as well as work alongside Joseph Gallagher and Broadway Malyan to create the floating benches.
The civils, carried out by the specialists at Joseph Gallagher and comprised of hundreds of tonnes of formed concrete. We also worked with McNealy Brown to create a design for the 10mm stainless 316 frames and bracketry. Fixed with resin anchors and millimetre precision.
Timber choices and fixing methods
The Iroko, certified FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council), in large sections was reverse anchor fixed. We formed the benches over concrete upstands and had to account for massive expansion joints in the concrete forms. Because of this elongated holes and specialist designed nylon fixings allowed the benches to move with the concrete
Most exterior timbers in a commercial situation are specified as Cumaru. This is getting a scarce commodity and not always correctly certified. Further, that with EUTR and the regulatory decision to only use well documented and ethically sourced timber has forced a decision change for Karl Harrison Landscapes. It’s also common knowledge that the major timber importers and distributors in the UK refuse to carry these tropical hardwoods anymore. They prefer to recommend Accoya®, Kebony® and Lignia® (In no particular order) sustainable, certified and warranted for insane duration and all with incredible durability for exterior use.
Karl Harrison said, “Tropical hardwoods are becoming increasingly difficult to authenticate for their certification, I prefer to specify modified timber… its more efficient in all attributes as well as certification of course”
Furthermore, Karl Harrison Landscapes offers a design consultancy for landscaping works, exterior materials and construction solutions for exterior works.
Credits and Further information
Location Richmond upon Thames, Hounslow
Main Contractor: St George WL
Civil works: Joseph Gallagher
Architect: Broadway Malyan
Metal Fabricator: McNealy Brown
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