Client:
McArthurGlen
Contractor:
McLaren Construction (South) Ltd
Project details:
Designed by the Richard Rogers Partnership and engineers Buro Happold, the Ashford Designer Outlet opened in March 2000, and its popularity has grown ever since, with its 120 stores now attracting over 3.6 million visitors annually. In 2019 the centre expansion will see 50 further brands accommodated, a new food piazza, a dedicated events space and an interactive children’s play area. Many of the new stores are to be clad in tens of thousands of plants that will create Europe’s largest living wall. There is substantial new planting at ground level as well, contained by low level retaining walls at a height suited for seating, but in being a concrete construction they can often be too cold or wet to use as such.
Furnitubes’ Alta range is the ideal addition to the concrete wall, offering stylish and comfortable seating with backrests that is simply fixed onto the top of wall as a retro-fit solution. 24 seats have been supplied to the scheme, all as 1.5m module lengths to accommodate 3 people on each. 16 of the seats are the open back design for placement where the rear can’t be directly seen, with remainder being enclosed back versions which offer an attractive aspect from all sides. The steel framework to the seats, much of which is largely hidden by the timber surfaces, was supplied in a galvanised finish that provides the ultimate in protection against corrosion and will be maintenance-free for many years. The iroko hardwood slats were cleansed and treated so that the soluble extractives within the timber do not leach out and stain the freshly struck concrete walls.
Visit the Furnitubes International website for more information on Ashford Designer Outlet Expansion, Kent