When most people think of scaffolding, images of construction sites and towering buildings often come to mind. But scaffolding is far more versatile than it appears. At 7 Bays Scaffolding, we love thinking outside the box. Whether it’s for a construction site or a community project, our team is always up for a new challenge. We’ve seen our structures used in creative, surprising, and sometimes quirky ways. Here are seven unexpected uses for scaffolding beyond the usual bricks and mortar.
1. Event Staging & Platforms
Scaffolding isn’t just for building—it’s perfect for entertainment too. There are many local events and festivals in Cornwall which benefit from our scaffolding services. Scaffolding can support all sorts of structures for festivals and events, whether for stage structures or rigging, ramps or fencing; scaffolding has a myriad of uses. From local music festivals to community fairs, scaffolding provides a sturdy and adaptable base for stages of all sizes. Scaffolding can also create raised viewing platforms, giving spectators the best seat in the house, even at packed events.
2. Art Installations & Exhibitions
Artists and event organisers have discovered scaffolding’s potential in the creative world. Temporary art installations often use scaffolding to create interactive, multi-level experiences. Scaffolding provides robust mounting points for hanging large-scale pieces, projectors, lights, and sound equipment. The grid-like structure offers flexibility for positioning elements at precise heights and angles. Artists can incorporate the industrial aesthetic of the scaffolding itself as part of the installation.
In open spaces like beaches or parks, scaffolding can display artwork at scale while blending with its surroundings. Such as to support the recent mural in Newquay and the scaffolding we provided to support this incredible art installation at Cornwall’s Eden Project. Multi-level performance spaces can be created using scaffolding, allowing for dynamic presentations across different heights. This works particularly well for dance performances, living sculptures, or multimedia shows where artists need various elevated positions.
3. Temporary Access for Film & TV
Cornwall’s scenic landscapes often draw film crews, and scaffolding plays a vital behind-the-scenes role. Film and television production companies often use scaffolding as it provides essential temporary access solutions for camera crews, lighting technicians, and production teams. The modular nature of scaffolding allows for quick assembly of custom-designed platforms, enabling cinematographers to achieve dynamic overhead shots, crane positions, and elevated filming angles that would be impossible from ground level. For period productions or specific scene requirements, scaffolding can be easily concealed or dressed to blend with the set while still providing secure access to technical crews.
4. Extreme Sports & Adventure Courses
Think scaffolding is only for work? Think again. Scaffolding structures make great frameworks for climbing walls and challenging obstacle courses at events and competitions. The modular framework allows course designers to construct challenging elements at varying heights, including parkour platforms, climbing walls, zip-line launch points, and freerunning obstacles – all of which can be regularly reconfigured to maintain participant engagement. In coastal areas like Cornwall, scaffolding can even be used for training towers in surf lifesaving clubs, simulating rescues from heights. Structures can be easily modified or expanded to accommodate different skill levels, create new challenges, or respond to changing safety requirements, making it an ideal foundation for both temporary event spaces and permanent training facilities.
5. Temporary Walkways & Bridges
Scaffolding provides safe and sturdy pathways where standard access just won’t do. When repairing popular walking routes along Cornwall’s coastline, scaffolding creates safe detours over tricky terrain. Once, we were even asked to build an enormous 100m+ ramp from the top of the gorge to the river at the bottom to provide access and for transporting all the materials needed to build the new bridge at Lydford Gorge!
6. Green Spaces & Urban Gardens
Yes, scaffolding can go green too! Scaffolding can be adapted into vertical gardens for community projects or creating lush green walls in urban spaces. Temporary scaffold platforms can be used for rooftop gardens, making the most of underused city spaces. Scaffolding allows for seasonal adaptability, enabling structures to be reconfigured for different growing seasons or garden events, while also providing practical support for maintenance tasks like pruning tall hedges or maintaining mature trees.
7. Emergency Response & Rescue
In critical situations, scaffolding can save lives. In the aftermath of floods, fires, or landslides, scaffolding can be rapidly deployed to create safe access for emergency crews. If a building is at risk of collapse, scaffolding can stabilise it long enough for safe evacuations or repairs. Fire and rescue teams can utilise portable scaffolding systems to create stable platforms for evacuation training, establish temporary bridges across unstable terrain, or set up elevated observation points during search and rescue operations.
Scaffolding: More Than Just Poles and Boards
Whether providing crucial access for maintenance teams or creating immersive entertainment venues, scaffolding’s fundamental design principles of safety, stability, and flexibility have established it as an essential tool for professionals across countless fields. As industries evolve and new challenges emerge, scaffolding’s versatility ensures it will remain a crucial element in enabling creative and practical solutions for years to come. If you have a creative idea that could use a solid foundation, give us a call on 07957 981950. We’d love to help bring it to life!