In busy public spaces, heavy vehicle mitigation – the need to keep people safe from potential vehicle impact (whether accidental or deliberate) – is a growing priority for councils, architects and town planners alike. This doesn’t mean we need to fill our cities with harsh, unsightly barriers and bollards. At Anston, we believe that safety infrastructure not only keeps people protected – it also offers an opportunity to enhance the way an environment looks and feels.
Anston offers high-strength precast concrete planters, seating, bollards and spheres. These robust landscape elements are built tough enough to prevent vehicle intrusion and designed to appear as if they belong in the space, rather than just added as an afterthought. Concrete products are heavy and hard to move, creating visibly intimidating barriers that drivers tend to avoid. They form effective ram raid deterrents that also serve a second purpose; of making streets, plazas and shopping precincts more enjoyable for the people using them.
Anston has been frequently called upon to supply bollards and protective furniture throughout the City of Melbourne, contributing to multiple security upgrade projects in recent years. The Shrine of Remembrance and Princes Bridge are some of the higher profile locations you’ll find Anston products in. These custom-designed HVM products required Anston to work closely with council and the project team of designers, engineers and installers, ensuring our concrete elements met the safety, performance and aesthetic requirements of each project.
More examples of concrete elements in HVM applications can be found at Mernda Town Centre and Leopold Gateway Plaza, where the suburban hubs required physical protection around pedestrian zones. Our robust rectilinear planters and benches bring a touch of nature to the landscape, while also creating a safe, pedestrian-friendly environment without the need for fences or barriers.
At Knox Shopping Centre, large Anston concrete spheres are spaced along the external walkways to control traffic, while also giving the space a calm, sculptural feel. They deter unwanted vehicle encroachment without impeding on pedestrian thoroughfares, making them the perfect addition to an area with such high foot traffic.
At The Round, Whitehouse Performing Arts Centre in Nunawading, 25 Cylinder bollards were installed at the boundary of the outdoor carpark. The seat bollards provide an effective means of zoning off the pedestrian areas while also offering options for seating where visitors can rest or gather. Made from long-lasting architectural concrete, the bollards are practical, functional and built to last.
Next time you’re at the Queen Victoria Market, walking along Southbank or strolling through Little Collins or Little Bourke Streets in Melbourne, keep your eye out for our subtle yet effective charcoal Cave planters and Block bench seating. These products provide subtle pedestrian protection of the city’s key pedestrian zones, helping to elevate the appeal of these areas while maintaining aesthetics.
At all these locations, our products help to maintain vehicle and pedestrian separation, while also supporting outdoor dining initiatives with the inclusion of greenery and spaces for social interaction. You wouldn’t realise that you were sitting on or walking by a piece of security infrastructure, and that’s the point!
Every outdoor project is different, which is why Anston offers a wide range of colours, textures and formats in our catalogue range of products, as well as the option to customise elements or produce completely bespoke pieces.
Whether you seek a bold statement piece or something that blends quietly into the background, we can assist with the optimal product to cater to your specific requirements. The strength and durability of our architectural concrete product suite helps to keep people safe, while the beautiful, premium concrete finish adds to the visual quality of any space.
At Anston, we’re proud to contribute to the furnishing of public spaces that deliver better outcomes for all users – where safety, functionality and design come together.