Street advertising columns

Street advertising columns are a traditional feature of the urban landscape used for displaying posters, notices and local information — a practical solution that brings order to a city's information space and reduces fly-posting.

They are widely used by municipal authorities when organising public spaces in town centres and on residential estates.

As an item of street furniture, advertising columns are part of our wider range of street furniture, alongside benches, litter bins and bike racks. The classic cylindrical form of an advertising column allows posters to be applied around its entire circumference, significantly increasing the available display area compared with a flat noticeboard. Galvanised, powder-coated steel construction ensures weather resistance and many years of trouble-free use in the urban fabric.

The standard height of an advertising column allows posters to be placed at a height convenient for passers-by, usually between one and two metres, although the overall height of the structure is often greater and also includes the foundation section permanently set in the ground. A concrete foundation keeps the column stable even in stronger winds and under the heavy load of many layers of posters.

Some models are additionally fitted with a canopy protecting the upper edge of the poster surface from water streaks, and in locations with higher aesthetic requirements, with illumination that improves the legibility of notices after dark and enhances the visual appeal of the column itself as an item of street furniture.

Local authorities managing a network of advertising columns often divide the available surface into sections for different types of notice — cultural, commercial or official — which organises the use of the shared information space and makes it easier to enforce rules on where and how materials may be posted.

Regular maintenance, including removing out-of-date posters and periodically washing the surface, keeps the column in a condition that encourages its proper use — a neglected column plastered with old notices loses its organising function and is often the first place where fly-posters appear outside the designated area.

The location of a column should be planned with natural pedestrian routes in mind — proximity to public transport stops, shop entrances or junctions with heavy foot traffic increases the number of people who actually read the notices displayed, making such spots the most sought-after locations in terms of effective local communication.