How do timber monoliths add a timeless touch to public spaces?

There’s something captivating about the presence of timber monoliths in public spaces. These structures, with their natural warmth and understated elegance, manage to stand out without overwhelming their surroundings. Whether as landmark signs or subtle features, they seamlessly balance functionality and beauty, offering a gentle, lasting impression that enhances urban and green spaces alike.

In the UK, timber and wood hold a special place in urban design, blending sustainability with timeless charm. Recent efforts, such as the 2023 Environmental Improvement Plan, highlight a commitment to expanding the domestic timber supply and promoting woodland growth, with targets to increase England’s tree canopy and woodland cover to 16.5% by 2050.

Such initiatives aren’t just about preserving nature—they’re also integral to reducing the built environment’s 25% share of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the nation’s Net Zero goals. Timber’s versatility and eco-friendly nature make it an increasingly important material for public projects, ensuring that timber structures remain as sustainable as they are enduring.

What makes timber monoliths a timeless choice?

Monoliths crafted from timber are aesthetic, durable, and timeless. Let us explore the qualities that make these structures an enduring choice for public spaces:

Aesthetic appeal

Timber’s visual appeal lies in its natural warmth and organic textures, which effortlessly blend into green and urban environments. In public spaces, these monoliths add a sense of harmony, seamlessly integrating with their surroundings. The rich hues and intricate grains of wood create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere, offering a refreshing contrast to the often cold and sterile materials found in urban settings.

When used in green spaces, monoliths made from timber complement the natural beauty of their environment, enhancing the overall aesthetic experience. The organic nature of wood resonates with the surrounding foliage, creating a cohesive and harmonious visual landscape.

In urban areas, these structures provide a calming and grounding presence, offering a respite from the often harsh and unyielding lines of concrete and steel. Timber brings a warmth that artificial materials struggle to replicate, creating an inviting atmosphere that encourages people to linger and appreciate the beauty of their surroundings.

Durability and sustainability

Premium timber is so resistant that it can endure the harshest weather and extreme environmental conditions for years, leaving its natural look intact. For this reason, wooden monolith signs stay natural looking, making them well-suited to places such as parks, trails and open areas. Functional, yet unobtrusive, structures of timber offer clear directions or form part of a décor scheme in environments where beauty and function co-exist.

Timber is also a sustainable and greener choice for public projects, aligning with the UK’s Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener. As part of efforts to decarbonise the built environment—responsible for about 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions—the strategy emphasises the use of renewable and low-carbon materials. Initiatives like woodland expansion and promoting homegrown timber supply further highlight timber’s role in reducing emissions and supporting environmental goals.

Timeless Design

Wooden monoliths possess a timeless appeal that transcends fleeting trends, making them a versatile and enduring choice for public spaces. Their organic warmth and natural textures create a welcoming ambience, effortlessly blending into both urban and green environments.

In parks and nature trails, monoliths harmonise seamlessly with their surroundings, enhancing the overall aesthetic experience and fostering a connection with nature. Their organic essence resonates with the surrounding foliage, creating a cohesive and visually appealing landscape.

In urban settings, these structures offer a grounding presence, providing a refreshing contrast to the often harsh and unyielding lines of concrete and steel. The rich hues and intricate grains of wood introduce a calming and inviting atmosphere, encouraging people to linger and appreciate their surroundings.

With their timeless beauty, versatility, and eco-friendly nature, monoliths made from timber are a harmonious and enduring choice for public spaces, offering a perfect blend of form and function.

Practical uses

Monoliths are versatile structures that seamlessly blend functionality and aesthetics in public spaces. Their practical uses are numerous:

• Wayfinding: Strategically placed monoliths, often paired with fingerpost signs, can serve as effective wayfinding tools, guiding visitors through parks, trails, and urban landscapes with clear signage and directional markers.
• Informational Signage: These structures provide an ideal canvas for displaying informative content, such as historical facts, environmental awareness messages, or interpretive panels, enhancing the educational experience for visitors.
• Artistic Installations: These monoliths can be transformed into stunning artistic installations, showcasing the creativity of local artists and adding a unique cultural element to public spaces. These installations can range from intricate carvings to abstract sculptures, captivating the imagination of passersby.

Being timeless and adapted to architectural structures that effectively combine functionality, aesthetics, and balanced ergonomics, timber monolithic designs provide comfort and an aesthetically engaging environment for all visitors.

Customising monoliths with Made By Landmark

Made By Landmark specialises in helping landscape architects, councils, and trusts enhance the character of their spaces through unique, custom monolith and totem signs, as well as fingerpost signage. From bespoke designs to the selection of high-quality, sustainable materials, every project is tailored to meet specific needs while ensuring the finished product is functional and visually striking. Whether for wayfinding, signage, or artistic installations, we combine craftsmanship and creativity to bring ideas to life.

One standout example of our work is the signage and wayfinding project for Eastbrookend Country Park in East London. This 84-hectare park, part of a 250-hectare network of green spaces, offers a rich blend of history and wildlife, making it a haven for visitors. For this unique destination, Made By Landmark used reclaimed tropical timber from the Woolwich Ferry Terminal to craft durable and striking posts. This exceptionally hard wearing wood, known for its density and weathered appearance, posed challenges during production but resulted in stunning signage that perfectly complements the park’s natural and historical character.

Conclusion

Timber monoliths are a popular and stylish addition to public spaces, and with good reason—they are reliable, resistant to the elements and environmentally friendly. Proprietary to them is the flexibility to integrate into urban and greeneries to boost functionality while aligning with green initiatives. Starting from simple navigational and informational signage to artistic installations, these functional forms are always eye-catching.

At Made By Landmark, we specialise in crafting monoliths that are as unique as the spaces they inhabit. With a focus on high-quality materials and bespoke design, our monoliths are tailored to meet your specific needs, offering a perfect balance of style and utility.

Explore our range of outdoor features and discover how we can help you create an enduring statement for your public space. View our collection here.