Written by Made by Landmark - 19 Dec 2024
Urban spaces are the lifeblood of modern communities, offering places to connect, relax, and recharge. Yet, as cities and campuses grow, creating cohesive, functional, and aesthetically pleasing environments becomes a pressing challenge. Recent findings from 2023 show that 87% of children and young people spend time outdoors at school most days or every day, with a 33% increase in outdoor lessons or activities compared to 2022. Children and young people reported visiting various green spaces regularly, such as gardens (67%), parks (64%), and nearby grassy areas (43%). Despite this growing engagement with public spaces, many urban areas struggle with disjointed designs, cluttered layouts, and underutilised features. These issues not only diminish the user experience but also create inefficiencies in maintenance and usability. This is why Made by Landmark has introduced Mettro—a thoughtfully designed range of coordinated outdoor furniture that redefines urban functionality and aesthetics. What makes it excellent for urban spaces? Read further below.
This innovative range features consistently sized sections of metal and timber that can be arranged in various layouts, reducing costs and speeding up delivery times. Each piece is customisable, allowing you to tailor the furniture to your specific outdoor space and create a truly unforgettable destination. From benches to bins and pergolas to cycle stands, it provides a seamless appearance that unifies outdoor spaces.
For town parks, housing developments, campuses, or other urban areas, its adaptability ensures it can enhance any environment. It reduces street clutter and establishes a unified aesthetic as it redefines urban functionality and aesthetics, making it an ideal solution for modern communities seeking to revitalise their public spaces.
Uniformity in urban design is more than just an aesthetic choice—it’s a functional necessity. Research highlights that physical features like accessibility, mixed land use, and thoughtfully placed street furniture can foster social interaction and cohesion. These elements, coupled with factors like safety perception and visual appeal, influence how people perceive and use public spaces, ultimately shaping their sense of attachment to a place.
Disjointed furniture schemes, on the other hand, often result in visual clutter, inefficient use of space, and higher maintenance challenges. Without a cohesive design approach, public spaces can feel chaotic, reducing their usability and undermining their purpose as places of connection and relaxation. Coordinated schemes address these challenges by creating a unified aesthetic that enhances both functionality and visitor satisfaction.
Our products demonstrate how a scheme of seamlessly integrated furniture can transform public spaces. Its modular, scalable, and adaptable design supports wayfinding by providing consistent visual cues, helping visitors navigate with ease. Whether installed in town parks, campuses, or housing developments, Made by Landmark ensures a harmonious look and feel that promotes a sense of belonging while optimising the space for practical use.
Urban spaces face a unique set of challenges that require thoughtful solutions to achieve a balance between aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability. As cities grow and public areas evolve, maintaining visual harmony while meeting diverse community needs is increasingly complex. The demand for flexible and scalable designs has made modular schemes a practical choice for addressing these concerns, offering the adaptability needed to fit various settings, from bustling town centres to tranquil parklands.
One of the most significant obstacles in urban space transformation is reducing visual clutter without compromising utility. Modular designs help streamline layouts by combining essential features—like seating, waste disposal, and shade—into cohesive schemes that save space and improve usability. In modern urban parks, for instance, coordinated layouts enhance the visitor experience by making spaces more inviting and easier to navigate, while housing developments benefit from designs that unify shared areas, fostering a sense of community.
These scalable solutions also align well with sustainability goals by using durable, low-impact materials and reducing maintenance demands. Real-world examples show measurable benefits, such as increased foot traffic due to more inviting spaces and improved efficiency in upkeep thanks to the standardised design.
Sustainability is a key focus in urban design, with stakeholders seeking solutions that reduce environmental impact while offering long-term value. Our products address this through eco-conscious materials like FSC or PEFC-certified timber, which stores carbon and lasts over 50 years, and galvanised, powder-coated metals for durability. These sustainable practices help councils and contractors meet environmental targets while ensuring functional, lasting urban spaces.
Designing urban spaces that balance functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability is a complex challenge. Mettro designs bring harmony and efficiency, sustainability ensures long-term viability, and adaptability allows solutions to fit diverse environments. By embracing thoughtful approaches, communities can transform their public spaces into vibrant, welcoming areas that meet both current and future needs.
As urban areas continue to evolve, it’s worth considering how well-designed schemes can enhance usability and create meaningful connections for those who use them. Now is the time to rethink how we shape our shared spaces, ensuring they are functional and inspiring for generations to come.
Written by Made by Landmark - 19 Dec 2024
FSC® certified products available upon request