Case Study www.marshalls.co.uk/select

St David’s, City Centre

Giove Large Planters

Background involved the construction of three main buildings; To provide a contemporary, attractive planting In 2009, Cardiff City Council commissioned a major a new main shopping area, Central Library building solution for plants and small shrubs, a planter from development scheme to help boost shopping and ’ first John Lewis store. Marshalls Street Furniture’s Italian partner, Bellitalia facilities and tourism in the city. was specified. A key element of the Council’s overall development The project was focused around the redevelopment masterplan for the centre was to improve the The Giove is a planter with a 501L capacity, and extension of the St David’s shopping centre function, character and quality of the public manufactured from marble concrete. Bellitalia in the heart of the city centre, one of the main spaces around the St David’s Centre. This was to finish the planter using a unique polishing process retail areas in the Welsh capital. The vision was be achieved with significant investment in the to leave a smooth sleek finish, which is then treated to create a unique shopping, leisure, cultural and surrounding public realm, bringing a cosmopolitan with a protective varnish to provide a glossy, tourist destination, in order to establish Cardiff look and feel to the city centre. polished effect. as the gateway to Wales and a leading European destination. Planting Requirements and Solutions To be able to introduce tree planting into the area, One of the key design aspirations for the scheme Hyland Edgar Driver commissioned a bespoke The development of St David’s built upon regions was to introduce attractive planting to improve solution for Cardiff city council. They requested already popular in Cardiff, including the original aesthetics and provide seasonal interest. To do this, the bespoke design of a larger version of the Giove St David’s Shopping Centre and The Hayes. The robust and attractive planters were required, that planter to coordinate with the other planters aim was to revitalise the Southern end of the city were suitable for both plants and trees. around the site, whilst providing the capacity centre, encouraging people to visit the previously required to accommodate the root ball of a tree. under used area and helping confirm Cardiff as the Marshalls were approached by Cardiff City Council home of fashion in Wales. to provide a contemporary street furniture solution to enhance the landscape. The project involved the construction of a £675m extension to the original St David’s Shopping Working closely with Cardiff City Council and the Centre and consisted of two key development project architects Hyland Edgar Driver, Marshalls phases. The initial phase was the new St David’s Street Furniture were able to successfully meet the Centre, adjoining St. David’s Hall. The second phase requirements of the project. www.marshalls.co.uk/select

Marshalls Street Furniture liaised with Bellitalia, which make up the Critical National Infrastructure was likely to provide a different crash test result to who provided a design for the architect’s approval, (including transport, emergency services and key that of the frame alone. then set about ordering the mould for the larger utilities) and also any ‘Crowded Places’ with large 2000mm diameter wide and 1100mm high planter. gatherings of people. The Giove was fitted with the RhinoGuard 75/50 frame and crash tested using a 7.5 tonne N3 vehicle An initial ten Giove Large planters were supplied to In order to provide assured levels of protection to traveling at 50mph, again bringing the vehicle to a the St David’s site, although the Council has since these areas, the CPNI has devised the BSI PAS 68 complete stop. placed an order for a further eight Giove Large standard for vehicle security barriers. This involves planters to enhance other the city centre areas. the physical crash testing of security products Results using vehicles of varying size, traveling at differing Following completion of the St David’s project, the To provide visitors with adequate rest areas around speeds. To meet the requirements of Cardiff City shopping centre is now the eleventh largest in the the shopping centre, seating was provided by centre, products specified would need to be UK, with an expected average footfall of 33 million Woodhouse, a sister company of Marshalls Street capable of resisting an impact from a 7.5 tonne two visitors each year. Furniture specialising in premium coordinated axle lorry traveling at 50mph. ranges of street furniture and architectural lighting. The street furniture specified gives the surrounding Working closely with the council, Marshalls Street public space an attractive, cosmopolitan look, The contemporary Geo seat was specified for Furniture were able to provide a truly innovative which remains sympathetic to the historic use around the St David’s Centre, which were solution to the Cardiff’s counter-terrorism architecture surrounding the modern St David’s installed in between the Giove Large planters. requirements. centre. The positioning of the seats between the large planters provides visitors with an opportunity to Utilising the capabilities and expertise of Marshalls’ Use of the Giove Large planter provides an ideal rest in the shade of the overhanging trees. Escofet highly specialised RhinoGuard PAS 68 design team, solution for tree planting in an urban street scene, Socrates concrete benches were also supplied by a high strength steel frame was developed that which is proven to show many benefits. Many Woodhouse to provide additional contemporary could be incorporated into Giove Large polished studies have shown natural landscaping to have seating around the St David’s Centre. concrete planters to protect a critical site in the city a positive impact on well-being, with benefits to centre. both physical and mental health being attributed Security Requirements and Solutions The RhinoGuard 75/50 planter frame was initially to spending time in green spaces. Marshalls were later approached again by Cardiff crash tested in accordance with BSI PAS 68 by itself, Council to discuss physical security requirements using a fully laden 7.5 tonne N2 lorry traveling at The enhancements to shopping centre and for another site within the city centre. Following 40mph. The vehicle was stopped with ease with the surrounding area have gained international consultation with the Centre for Protection zero penetration beyond the frame. Following recognition for Cardiff. St David’s was crowned of National Infrastructure (CPNI), the council this, the frame was then tested at 50mph using international shopping centre of the year in 2010 was advised to introduce appropriate security a larger 7.5 tonne N3 vehicle, again completely by Global Retail Leisure International, beating measures throughout the city, to provide adequate immobilising the vehicle. competition in Portugal and Singapore protection against potential vehicle-borne terrorist attacks. The RhinoGuard 75/50 Planter Frame can be By incorporating the RhinoGuard 75/50 Planter supplied inside almost any cosmetic planter Frame into the Giove Large planter, the City Council With the threat of international terrorism currently design, however, before the frame could be used is able to integrate assured counter terrorism at unprecedented levels, the UK government inside the Giove planter, an additional test was security into the Cardiff street scene, safeguarding has identified the need to introduce effective required. Due to the large size and significant wall against vehicle-borne attacks without sacrificing hostile vehicle mitigation measures to sites at thickness of the concrete planter, the Giove was design quality. most risk. These are deemed to include any areas deemed to be structural, therefore meaning that it www.marshalls.co.uk/select

Standard Giove Planters www.marshalls.co.uk/select

Nero Polished Concrete Finish www.marshalls.co.uk/select

Crash tested in accordance with BSI PAS 68, using a 7.5 tonne N3 lorry traveling at 50mph. www.marshalls.co.uk/select

Woodhouse Geo Seats

Client: Cardiff City Council

Architect: Hyland Edgar Driver

Contractor: Skanska

Marshalls Products Used: • Giove Planter • Giove Large Planter • RhinoGuard 75/50 Planter Frame with Giove Planter • Geo Seat • Escofet Socrates Bench

Specialists Involved:: Marshalls Street Furniture Woodhouse

Escofet Socrates Benches