High-End Custom Manufacturing Company
High-End Custom Manufacturing Company
MJY Fabrication fabricated a series of custom, exterior-grade sculptural seating installations at Guildford Town Centre as part of a larger creative placemaking initiative.
Working alongside MASSIVart, Charlemain Productions, and artists Craig & Karl, the project aimed to transform a high-traffic outdoor plaza into a vibrant, interactive public space. The scope included five distinct bench types, each combining bold geometry with functional performance.
These were not standard seating elements, but sculptural forms designed to operate as both public art and durable, high-use infrastructure.
The primary challenge was building complex, public-use structures from minimal design information.
MJY Fabrication was provided with rough dimensions and conceptual direction, requiring our team to interpret the artistic intent and develop fully resolved fabrication drawings and strategies. Each piece featured unique geometry while needing to meet strict requirements for structural integrity, safety, and long-term exterior durability.
Maintaining the integrity of the artists’ vision while ensuring real-world performance was central to the project.
MJY Fabrication approached the project as both a design development and fabrication exercise.
Starting from conceptual inputs, we developed detailed drawings and determined the most effective construction methods for each seating module. Given the variation across the five bench types, each required a tailored fabrication strategy.
CNC machining was used to achieve precise curved geometries, particularly when working with bendable plywood. Custom cutting and assembly methods were developed to maintain consistency while accommodating complex forms.
Throughout the process, each piece was engineered to safely withstand heavy public interaction while maintaining its intended form and finish.
The installation consisted of large-scale sculptural seating modules, each with a distinct form and presence. As illustrated in the original module concepts , the pieces ranged from elongated bench structures to cylindrical and stacked forms, unified by a bold and playful visual language.
All components were fabricated using MDO plywood and bendable plywood, enabling smooth curves and complex profiles. Due to their scale and structural requirements, each piece was substantial in weight, requiring careful handling throughout fabrication and installation.
The final finish was achieved using high-grade vinyl wrap, translating the artists’ graphic patterns and colours onto the three-dimensional forms.
Several modules were fabricated in sections and assembled on-site using heavy-duty bolting systems. Given the weight and geometry of each piece, placement required careful coordination to ensure accuracy, safety, and long-term stability.
