Making Time to Recline: How Public Loungers Can Redefine Public Spaces

The way we use outdoor public spaces varies hugely and is usually determined by the site’s core purpose. Users of a transport interchange will, for example, use the facility in a very different way to those who use the outdoor spaces at a business park or on a university campus.

For many sites, however, one consistent goal is the provision of street furniture that facilitates rest and relaxation, usually in the form of seats, benches and tables. As important as these are, however, users can be encouraged to spend even more time in the public space when loungers – often referred to as chaise longues – are provided and integrated into the street furniture package at the design stage.

This is an important objective for the owners of many outdoor sites to respond to an ever increasing appetite for people to want to spend more time outdoors. This is, in part, due to an increased understanding of how ‘being outdoors’ helps to improve our health and wellbeing, particularly in densely populated towns and cities where few residential units have gardens.

How does spending more time outdoors boost health and wellbeing?

According to studies, spending just 15 minutes a day in nature is enough to boost our mood, concentration and physical health. The reasons for this are many and varied but researchers have identified a strong connection between nature and our mood, meaning that positive feelings, such as happiness and optimism, are boosted when we spend more time in nature. This reduces feelings of sadness, anxiety and rumination (a state of mind where we fixate on negative thoughts).

In addition, outdoor spaces also facilitate socialising. This is really important for our mental health in that it supports our ability to build social connections and have meaningful interactions with people. Designing outdoor spaces in a way that encourages people to spend more time there is crucial, therefore, to help combat the loneliness epidemic, which is significant in many urban areas, and is a contributor to mental health issues, physical health problems and even premature mortality.

Taking a break outdoors can make us more productive

There is a further dimension to why outdoor spaces designed for extended stays are important at workplaces, schools, colleges and universities given how they can help to improve the performance of individuals. In the 2017 study ‘Exploring pathways linking greenspace to health: Theoretical and methodological guidance’, researchers found that a one-hour break in a nature setting is enough to create a mental and physical distance from everyday stressors, such as emails and to-do lists, and restore and build our capacity to handle the day’s challenges.

There is also plenty of evidence to show a connection between taking breaks in nature and improved cognitive performance. Studies have found evidence showing that simply having access to green spaces can improve working memory and attention span in children, and that people who work in offices can improve their concentration by taking short outdoor breaks during the workday for as little as 10-15 minutes.

Unlocking a site’s potential using outdoor loungers

The case for incorporating loungers into an outdoor space is strong for all the reasons we’ve highlighted in this article, but there are several early considerations that will determine exactly which type of lounger to specify.

One of the key design goals is to ensure the loungers support inclusivity. Importantly, will the choice of loungers be suitable for people with disabilities or wheelchair users? And will their design be useable for people of all ages and levels and mobility?

Another important consideration is aesthetics. Will the lounger be compatible with the overall design vision for the site and be able to complement other street furniture elements or site features?

Finally, will the lounger be fit for its environment? Will its construction and materials be suitable for the environmental conditions and weather in its location, and will they be sufficient to withstand anticipated usage throughout its service life? And will it be able to resist vandalism?

Lounger styles to suit every project

The diverse range of loungers available from Bailey Street Furniture Group (BSFG) gives architects, landscapers, site owners and developers the opportunity to feature these beneficial street furniture products in their outdoor spaces, whatever the overarching design objective.

The company’s partnerships with the world’s leading street furniture designers, coupled with its bespoke design and manufacturing capabilities, means it is ideally placed to provide clients with solutions which are appealing to users, aesthetically suitable and deliver long term value.

This is exemplified in the Kore Bench, a collection of free form modular seats designed by Metalco which is manufactured in HPC (High Performance Concrete), equipped with four thick steel sheet supports. These seats are available in three different shapes (A, B & C) which can be installed individually or in a linear composition (A+B+C) to create loungers which are eye-catching, inviting people to interact with them and relax.

Durability plus unique styling for seaside transformation

Kore was one of the loungers selected for a major project completed by BSFG in 2024 in north Wales. They were incorporated into the Colwyn Bay phase 2 project to extend the coastal defences from the town’s beach to Rhos on Sea, which were being upgraded to safeguard the seawall and increase protection of the properties and infrastructure behind it. The durability and style of the Kore bench was ideally suited to this project, with its ‘wave’ appearance replicating the sea onto which they face.

Another type of BSFG lounger was also incorporated into this project – the Live Lounger. Also Metalco designed, this is a chaise longue consisting of WPC (Wood Polymer Composite) slats attached to laser-shaped steel sheet side supports and steel tube reinforcements. The integrated side table makes Live an ideal lounger for spending time relaxing outdoors, and particularly so for the Colwyn Bay promenade by offering a modern take on the traditional seaside deckchair.

A chaise longue reflecting the human form

A very different style of lounger comes in the form of the Chill, a creation by Frog Design for BSFG’s partner Landscape Forms. This rotationally moulded polyethylene chaise longue is designed to introduce a welcoming and relaxed posture into the public sphere, with a sculptural form echoing the human body. This helps to support the user in a position that is reclined, without being exposed.

An excellent example of how the Chill lounger can enhance an outdoor space functionally and visually is a project completed by BSFG for Ten Traffic Street, a new purpose built student accommodation development in Nottingham. This new building was designed with a roof terrace to provide students with easy access to a high quality outdoor space, complete with a vibrant colour scheme.

Warming to the appeal of timber

Timber loungers are extremely popular because they offer year-round usability given how they are warmer to the touch in cooler conditions compared to some other materials. Amongst the popular timber options available from BSFG is the Greengate Lounger, which is manufactured with a 5mm mild steel, hot dipped galvanised frame and hardwood or softwood timber slats. The longevity of the timbers is enhanced through treatment with an external stain, making the lounger a durable option too.

These were some of the reasons why the Greengate Lounger was chosen for a contemporary new apartment development in central Manchester. At Excelsior Works, BSFG supplied the loungers as part of an extensive package of street furniture, all designed for aesthetic consistency, including planters, seating, tables and litter bins, to help create a space where residents will want to spend as much time as possible outdoors.

Similar in appearance are Sundecks, a modular seating concept available from BSFG in a number of forms. It can be specified in a rectangular shape, a C-shaped to accommodate vegetation or with two levels in one or two opposing heights. Sloping backrests make it appealing for lounging and the WPC slats give it a pleasant feel.

Offering a 360-degree lounging experience

Whilst all outdoor loungers are designed to be fixed to the ground, that does not mean users are not able to enjoy a different perspective throughout the day. The FJORDPARK Sol F Sun bolted lounger, designed by studio VE2, has a swivel function so users can make the most of the sun or the view as they relax throughout the day, making it an appealing option in many different types of public spaces.

It is constructed using narrow Sapele mahogany (FSC®-certified) or wide slats in either pine or Sapele mahogany (FSC®-certified) mounted on a hot-dip galvanised, steel-profile frame which can be powder coated in any RAL colour. The design provides a curved seat and backrest to offer a comfortable seating position optimised for lounging.

Further creative potential with bespoke loungers

In addition to the designs offered by BSFG’s internationally renowned design partners, the optimum results may be achieved in public spaces by utilising the company’s expertise in bespoke loungers. These are usually selected where there is a very specific aesthetic goal to be achieved or where the sizes of the products within the BSFG portfolio are unsuitable for the spaces within the site.

One example of what can be achieved with a bespoke lounger solution is a project completed by BSFG at All Saints Park in Manchester. Here, the company provided a bespoke suite of street furniture for the reimagined space, which is now a central and vibrant green space in the heart of Manchester Metropolitan University’s campus. This includes tiered loungers provided by BSFG which mirror the shadows cast by surrounding university buildings and accommodate the unique challenge posed by the site’s complex, multi-level terrain.

A very different form of bespoke lounger was provided by BSFG for another university campus project in London. Here, an extensive podium lounger at the University of East London – Stratford Campus was used to create a curved amphitheatre structure which spans over 30 metres in length. Its design and construction was facilitated by BSFG, requiring 1,523 individually hand-finished pieces of Sapele hardwood in 128 different sizes and shapes to fit into the welded steel frame.

To find out more about the lounger options available for outdoor spaces, contact us at enquiries@bsfg.co.uk