Outdoor chairs and loungers

Outdoor chairs and sun loungers for squares and parks

Outdoor chairs and sun loungers are loose seating elements for the public realm: chairs, stools, lounge seats and day beds that people can move themselves or that stand freely spread out instead of in a row. They change how a square is used. A fixed bench tells you where you may sit; a loose chair lets people choose whether they sit in the sun or the shade, alone or five together.

They are chosen by municipalities and cities redeveloping a square, by park managers, by campuses and schools, and by companies that want to make their outdoor space usable during the break. We think along with you about the balance between comfort, durability and the risk of furniture disappearing or ending up where you do not want it.

Applications

• Squares and dwelling areas in the town centre
• School grounds, campuses and corporate terraces
• Temporary layouts for a summer bar or an event zone

Versions

Loose chairs and stools are light and stackable and are often put outside for the season and brought in for the winter. Heavier lounge chairs and loungers stay in place and are harder to remove because of their weight. Anchored versions are fixed into the ground and are the choice in places with heavy footfall or a history of vandalism, with the drawback that you lose the very flexibility that makes the concept attractive.

Material and finish

The usual materials are powder-coated steel, aluminium, hardwood or thermally treated timber, and plastic composite. Metal is strong and low-maintenance but gets hot in full sun and cold in winter, so a wooden or composite seat is more pleasant in an exposed spot. Wood needs periodic maintenance but ages well. Composite sits between the two: little maintenance and pleasant to the touch.

Choose coatings and timber species that can take UV radiation and damp, and pay attention to drainage: a seat that holds water goes unused for an hour after every shower.

Installation and practice

Put seating where people want to sit, not where there happens to be room. That means at the edge of a space rather than in the middle, with a view of what is going on, and with shade in summer. Think of a mix: a few chairs with a back and armrests for those who find it harder to get up, and a few lower stools for short stays. Keep a free, level spot next to every seating group for a wheelchair or a pushchair.

On a public square, movable furniture is only sustainable if somebody follows it up. Agree who gathers the chairs together in the evening and who steps in when they keep ending up in the same wrong place.

Maintenance

Clean seats with water and a soft brush, repair damage to the coating quickly and check fixings at the start of the season. Store stackable versions dry over the winter.

When this is not the right choice

In a place with no supervision and no management, loose furniture is often gone or damaged within a season. There, a fixed bench or an anchored seating element is more realistic. On a busy through route where people only pass by, comfortable seating furniture also goes unused. The classic mistake is banking on the image of a welcoming square without arranging who manages the furniture day to day.

What determines the price?

The price follows from the material and construction, the dimensions and the model, the finish and colour, whether it is anchored or stackable, the comfort options such as a back and armrests, and the number of units. Transport and any installation also play a part. Tell us how many seats you want and how the place is used, and we will draw up a proposal.

Filling in your outdoor space together

Tell us how the place is used and how long people stay there. We will propose a combination that is comfortable and that your management can handle. Get in touch for advice and a quotation.