The long view: building furniture that outlasts fashion

Designing for generations we may never meet
Twenty years from now, when someone rests on a Furnitubes bench, I hope they won’t think about us at all. They’ll be absorbed in conversation with a neighbour they’ve just met, or watching their grandchild discover that a table can be climbed, a planter can frame a game of hide-and-seek. They won’t notice the craftsmanship that supports them; they’ll simply feel welcome in a space that works.
That’s what success looks like to me. Not market dominance… just the quiet enrichment of everyday moments. Communities who know each other better. Neighbourhoods that feel genuinely looked after. Outdoor spaces that hold real social and economic value because they’ve been designed with care.

What “for good” actually means
When we say we make urban furniture “for good,” we’re making a promise in both senses of the phrase. Good as in beneficial, certainly — furniture that serves communities well. But also good as in permanent, enduring, lasting. The two meanings can’t be separated. Furniture that transforms spaces into realms of wellbeing must be built to witness decades of those transformations.

This commitment shapes every decision we make. Climate change isn’t a future concern we’re preparing for; it’s a present reality we’re responding to. The furniture we place in outdoor spaces today must withstand not just British weather as we’ve known it, but weather patterns we’re still trying to understand.

The advantage of looking inward
We’re fortunate to be part of BAMUK Group Ltd.; it’s how we continue to keep our production standards high. When we wanted a way to protect our furniture for generations, we partnered with Custom Wytelyne, to develop the Triple Process powder coating protocol. When we require specific fabrication, we draw on decades of collective expertise. This approach brings efficiencies that planned obsolescence could never match, because we’re not constantly seeking the cheapest supplier or the fastest turnaround.

We’re building relationships that allow us to do our best work.
These partnerships also keep us honest about materials. We’re in an ongoing conversation about what durability really means, how craftsmanship adapts as options evolve, and which innovations serve genuine longevity rather than merely appearing modern.

We’re also constantly streamlining our product range, which might seem counterintuitive in a market that often equates breadth with capability. But we’re craftspeople, not catalogue manufacturers. Each product we offer must justify its existence… not through novelty, but through solving a real need in a way that will remain relevant for generations.

This discipline comes from our caring spirit, which keeps us curious. We’re always searching for ways to improve outdoor spaces, for more sustainable materials and methodologies, and for partnerships with institutions that share our commitment to evidence-based design.

Moreover, when you care for your team and create space for them to feel relaxed and open, innovation follows naturally.

What keeps me awake at night (and what gets me up in the morning!)
Honestly? Inclusivity keeps me awake at night. I think about safe, happy outdoor spaces that welcome everyone regardless of age, gender, ability, or race. I think about proxemics, about how different groups use space differently, about what makes a place feel genuinely accessible rather than merely compliant. We have products to develop that will serve needs we’re only beginning to understand.

But that same concern is what excites me most. We’re learning about the life of social outdoor spaces in ways that previous generations never could. We’re partnering with researchers, gathering evidence, demonstrating that transforming outdoor spaces into realms of wellbeing is practical investment in reduced healthcare costs, improved social cohesion, and enhanced biodiversity.

The challenge ahead isn’t whether demand will exist for beautiful, effective outdoor furniture. The challenge will be keeping pace with that demand once we’ve proven what thoughtfully designed public spaces can achieve for humanity and the planet.

Craftsmanship as sustainability
I see craftsmanship as essential to sustainable manufacturing. Not craftsmanship as artisanal decoration, but as fundamental integrity. When something is well made, it can be maintained. When it’s thoughtfully designed, it can be repaired. When it’s built with lasting materials, it can be refreshed decades later rather than replaced.

We’re building out a repair and maintenance service that aligns with these values, which is, in my view, the natural extension of making furniture designed to outlast us all. If we’re serious about our responsibility to future generations, we must support the furniture we create throughout its entire working life.

The spark that remains
I remember watching a child use our furniture in a way we didn’t exactly plan for: a bench became a stage, and a table transformed into a fortress… all while their grandparents sat nearby on another piece we’d designed. That moment contained the best of the future we’re trying to build toward: multiple generations sharing space, furniture supporting uses its designers hadn’t prescribed, family connections strengthened through simple proximity in a well-designed setting.

That spark still drives every decision we’re making at Furnitubes. Sure, times change. The urban landscape evolves. And our tools and materials advance. But people always deserve beautiful products that last.

That’s the legacy worth leaving. That’s the long view we’re building towards. And that’s what “for good” truly means.

When I think about the next twenty years, I’m filled with a sense of responsibility – but also optimism. The work we do today will shape how future generations experience their towns, campuses, and city streets. That’s both a privilege and a promise I don’t take lightly.
At Furnitubes, we’re not just building furniture; we’re shaping spaces where life unfolds – quietly, beautifully, and for good.

— Catherine Barratt, Managing Director, Furnitubes

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