With growing anticipation that Covid-19 social distancing will have to continue for at least 12 more months in the UK, the importance of integrating clear and more permanent physical solutions into our built environment is becoming clear.
That’s the view from Robert Hawgood, a specialist in street furniture and demarcation solutions and Managing Director of Studmarc, a supplier and installer of architectural, tactile and road studs.
Since the beginning of the original lockdown in March this year, Studmarc and its associate company Landmark Street Furniture have been working with architects and developers in the public and private sectors on designing solutions for town centres, transport hubs, residential and commercial developments.
“The second lockdown in England and Wales has reinforced the rationale for creating safe areas and routes for pedestrians, workers and residents in a range of architectural scenarios,” said Mr Hawgood.
A need for permanent social distancing solutions in the built environment
“We’ve seen an array of temporary solutions, such as pop-up cycle lanes, cone-widened walkways, and socially distanced seating areas created in most town and city centres to help ensure safe distancing in public areas.
“This has been mirrored in workplaces, residential complexes, communal areas and commercial development, including office and shopping complexes.
“However, we’re now witnessing a rise in enquiries and orders for permanent solutions that can be retrofitted into existing architectural environments or introduced as part of new or ongoing developments. It’s about future proofing area where we shop, work or live.”
Studmarc, which supplies and installs a wide range of anti-skateboard, demarcation, tactile and road studs to local authorities, private developers and contractors, is seeing its products integrated into larger street furniture schemes.
Integrating and retroffting into new and existing developments
“We’re lucky that close integration between Studmarc and Landmark Street Furniture ensures a complete solution. While street furniture can create more solid structures, the inclusion of studs adds an element of enhanced guidance and direction.
Street furniture projects are helping create safer areas for people by encouraging social distancing through the positioning of seating, planters and other furniture.
Specialised demarcation studs can be used to mark out areas for walking, cycling or parking and can be installed in outdoor and indoor situations. These can range from town centres to shops or showrooms, where social distancing and guidance of direction need to be emphasised.
Tactile studs provide even more physical presence, ensuring pedestrians or cyclists are alerted physically which makes them take note of a situation.
Road studs identify areas for vehicle movement, parking, crossings, and boundaries.
Additionally, a range of anti-skateboarding studs and bars can also reduce anti-social behaviour in public and private areas by deterring skateboarders and reducing damage to the built architecture, whether buildings or street furniture.
“Through good planning and design a complete solution that not only enhances the aesthetic feel of an area but encourages social distancing can be obtained with street furniture and studs,” said Mr Hawgood.
“It’s far more cost-effective to incorporate such a solution into a new or existing development than continue with temporary solutions.”
Studmarc is based near Newtown, Powys, where its team can be contacted on 01686 689198 or by email [email protected]. Its full range of studs can be found at www.studmarc.com.
You can contact Landmark Street Furniture by emailing [email protected] or visit www.landmarkstreetfurniture.com.
