Residential growth in Victoria is progressing at a steady pace, and developers continue to release new master planned communities and housing estates in the state’s growth corridors. These projects also involve the construction of green spaces such as parks, gardens and play spaces, offering shared public amenities to appeal to new residents.

Designers and developers can take advantage of the numerous benefits offered by precast concrete when considering what products should be used to furnish and enhance these shared community spaces.

Versatility and aesthetics

Precast concrete is a versatile material that can be moulded into various shapes and sizes, allowing landscape designers and architects to create innovative, visually appealing designs. The ability to use different colours, textures, and aggregate materials also allows ample scope for creativity, providing many ways to enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of the landscape. Designing spaces using bespoke concrete items empowers specifiers to guide the activity and flow of movement through the space.

Longevity and low maintenance

One of the most significant advantages of precast concrete for landscaping is its exceptional durability. Unlike traditional materials such as wood or natural stone, precast concrete is highly resistant to wear, tear, and weather, withstanding harsh climate conditions without losing its structural integrity or appearance. Precast concrete landscaping elements retain their beauty and functionality for years.

This inherent durability also requires minimal maintenance. Precast concrete’s resilience and resistance to deterioration mean it only needs periodic cleaning and inspection for ongoing maintenance and the long-term upkeep of the community environment. The need for frequent replacements or repairs is reduced, which translates to cost savings for homeowners and owners’ corporations.

Ease of installation

Precast concrete landscaping elements are manufactured off-site in controlled conditions, ensuring high quality and consistency. Once the components are ready, they are transported to the project site when the site is ready for installation. This prefabrication process significantly reduces the time and labour required for on-site construction. The flexibility of delivery timing also eliminates the need for onsite storage of precast items, helping to reduce inefficiencies and speed up the overall project timeline. Additionally, the shortened installation process effectively minimises disruptions to residents on-site.

Concrete furniture, flooring and features

Designers are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding how precast concrete can be used to enhance their residential landscape design. A wide variety of precast concrete products can be used in residential projects, whether these are sprawling housing estates, high-rise apartment complexes or grouped units or flats with shared common property.

New housing estates

Sprawling urban sub-divisions and master planned residential communities include shared green spaces and public amenities for residents and visitors to enjoy. These spaces can be easily enhanced with precast concrete seating, pavers, and landscape features such as planter boxes, bollards and signage elements.

Precast concrete resists deterioration and is free from rot or rust, making it an excellent material for use in an outdoor environment. Landscape designers can unlock many design possibilities when using precast concrete to create landscape elements within a large residential estate.

Flats and units

Though space can be limited for units on shared property, there are still opportunities to use precast concrete products such as pavers, planters or bench seats to furnish common areas including shared driveways, walkways or courtyards. Thanks to the low maintenance requirements of precast concrete, unit owners and residents can enjoy aesthetically pleasing spaces that offer great value to cost benefits.

Apartment complexes

Apartments and other high-rise developments can also utilise precast concrete products such as furniture, paving or landscape features to decorate balcony spaces, terraces, and rooftop gardens. In these elevated spaces, concrete pavers can be installed on a pedestal system for easier installation that eliminates the need for grouting. For these specific applications, it is recommended to use a sturdy, high-performing paving product to ensure pedestrian safety, such as the reinforced pedestal pavers available through Anston Architectural Products.

SVC Products offers designers and developers an extensive range of landscaping products that have been successfully deployed in many types of residential developments. Apart from a catalogue range of furniture, paving and ready-to-make concrete items, SVC can also support architects and specifiers with the manufacture of completely custom precast products, giving them ultimate flexibility and control over the product design and its impact on the built environment.

The use of precast concrete for landscaping in new residential developments presents a multitude of advantages. Its versatility and aesthetics offer designers the freedom to create visually striking landscapes, while its durability, ease of installation, and low maintenance requirements make it a practical and cost-effective choice for developers. By speaking to SVC to learn how to incorporate precast concrete into landscaping design, developers can create vibrant, enduring residential communities that cater to the needs of modern urban living.