Client: Sutherland Council
Completion: 2017
Collaboration: 2barrows Concrete

A modular and versatile concrete block design was the foundation of a suite of furniture designed for the Street Furniture Ocean Grove Plaza Cronulla tender for Sutherland Council. 

The challenge

The brief required the furniture:

• to be manufactured in various modular design

• should be solid in nature - i.e, concrete or granite

• could potentially be used as part of anti-terror installation

• to have an element of design incorporated into it.

Our solution

Adaptable designs

2barrows Concrete engaged Michelle Herbut I.D. to design a suite of furniture for the tender submission. Rather than different sized concrete blocks that could be installed in various configurations, Michelle wanted to limit the number of block designs to keep mould costs down. She leaned towards an adaptive, creative solution with only 1 or 2 designs that could deliver multiple seating solutions.

Complementing the space

Concrete structures are typically seen as quite boxy, but due to the councils proximity to the ocean, Michelle‘s aim was to make the form quite organic with a sense of movement. 2barrows also encouraged the use of a bespoke custom tile that could be used as a feature paver and flow through the space to act as a connector between the benches.

The timber seating component was used to introduce warmth and add texture to the bench design. This component was the most customisable piece and aided in the creation of various seating elements.

The result

The final concept had two block designs which consisted of a bench and backrest, and connected together could create numerous seating solutions that had the ability to flow through the landscape. Some designs encouraged socialising or alternatively more introspective type seating.