Natural Shelter Design & Engineering

The Natural Shelter range is designed and developed by Benjamin Stedman Design. The company provides high quality market leading shelters based on credible sustainable design principles to public authorities, and major transport operators.  

Benjamin and Stedman are experienced industrial design consultants who have worked on a broad range of clients in sectors such as education, medical, transportation and consumer goods. The work has involved blue sky projects for clients, and translating ideas from concept through to production. Clients are very varied and range from multinationals to micros' and International Government Organisations.

Ethos

Natural Shelter product development is focussed on bus and train shelter designs based on the latest developments in engineered wood. Numerous other complimentary products are in development. Through this approach we have developed a range of proven market ready shelters that are low carbon and based on the highest levels of sustainable design. A key feature of the shelters sustainability credentials is the longevity of the materials and designs that are warranted for 50 Years in public service. 

Natural Shelter uses the latest CAD/CAM digital manufacturing approaches to bring high quality long life shelters into public service. We have an extensive network of manufacturing partners in the UK and across Europe to bring bespoke and custom shelter design to market at competitive cost. By working with the latest industry standard 3D CAD software and advanced digital manufacturing we bring rapid design and shelter deployment into being at competitive cost. 

Wood and plant matter are renewable resources and as such are more secure as a resource and often have superior properties over metals and polymers. 

Yorick Benjamin (BA Hons. MDes RCA. PhD, FRSA)

Yorick trained as an industrial designer. For over 30 years he has delivered sustainable product design research, assessment tools, products and database driven web sites in support of sustainable product design. He is recognised as an international leader in the field. As such he has taught in universities throughout the EU, and held the role of Senior Researcher (United Nations Environment Programme-WG-SPD) at University of Amsterdam and Director of Sustainable Design at Falmouth University. He has acted as Director for Studies to PhD students and as External Examiner. 

Clients and advisory board positions include:

  • The European Environment Agency
  • United Nations Environment Program
  • SMART Cornwall Advisory Group
  • Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership (LNP)
  • The European Foundation (autonomous agency of the European Commission)
  • Vision 2000 (original WEEE Directive (Germany)
  • Pan European EUREKA-PREPARE (Netherlands)
  • Centre for Innovation and Sustainability (Denmark)
  • Chartered Society of Designers 'Green Committee' (UK)
  • Body Shop International

Jonathan Stedman (B.Eng. MDes RCA) 

Jonathan has designed urban infrastructure for more than 20 years, with designs implemented by GMPTE, Centro, Nexus and many other Passenger Transport Authorities. As a seasoned industrial designer he has worked across many manufacturing technologies and product areas. 

He is responsible for approximately 10,000 installed shelters, providing excellent service to installer, passenger, advertiser and transport operator alike. He is a well respected designer who behind the scenes has repeatedly delivered urban street furniture designs on time and to budget. In 1998 he was awarded the World Intellectual Property Organization's Silver Medal.

Other clients include the largest supplier of scientific school equipment in the field. The projects involve work on the latest technologies for monitoring, tracking and recording scientific data via wireless and RFID systems.