Infusing a sense of playfulness and whimsical fun into a front garden with a metal sculpture. Paul Hellard revisits Laser 3D and Entanglements Metal Art Studio, on the Elsternwick Build
Damon Nehls from Laser 3D spoke about a unique one-off fabrication project, a metal sculpture infused with a sense of playfulness and whimsy for a small front garden space.
In what was called ‘The Elsternwick Build,’ commissioned by ABC’s Grand Design program, the paper plane is a folding process remembered clearly by anyone who has had a childhood. But this presented a unique challenge and aluminium opportunity for teams from both Laser 3D and design studio Entanglements Metal Art Studio.
Laser 3D is a laser cutting service with a network of outlets in QLD, SA and Victoria. Starting in 1992, Laser 3D’s modern machinery now includes six CNC press brakes, twelve flat bed CO2 and fibre lasers, 2-axis and 5-axis cutting, machining, edge rounding, finishing and welding services.
Entanglements Metal Art is a renowned Australian-based studio specialising in creating unique metal art pieces and sculptures. Founded in 1998 by Helen Neyland, Entanglements has gained recognition for its distinctive and innovative designs that blend artistry with functionality.
The studio offers a wide range of metal art pieces, including Corten sculptures, laser cut screens, wall art, and fire pits curved benches, garden ornaments, and architectural features. Each piece is meticulously crafted using high-quality materials and advanced fabrication techniques, resulting in durable and visually stunning creations. With the help of Laser 3D, Helen Neyland and designer Laurie Brandstone, the design took shape with the proviso that it would be folded to resemble a paper plane but be made in metal.
Laser 3D is more than a supplier, they work in partnership with their customers to streamline their production processes and assist in their product development. The foundations of these partnerships result in successful long-term business relationships. With Laser 3D’s national reach, they assist their customers nationally with laser tube cutting, 5-axis laser cutting, 2-axis laser cutting, CNC machining, folding, tapping, countersinking, surface finishing and welding.
“At first there were going to be words from her travels all over the face of it but the design started to look like a newspaper,” said Neyland. “We couldn’t simply rely on an off-the-shelf perforated sheet for this project because cutting the angle would create knife-like edges. Instead, we had to employ a more intricate approach: firstly laser cutting all the holes. To ensure precision, we drew the holes along with the borders.
“We were going to do it in Corten steel but ended up with aluminium and a powder coat,” added Neyland. But of course, the heat generated during the cutting process posed a challenge, as it caused the sheet to buckle. “To overcome this obstacle, we implemented several ingenious techniques to maintain the integrity of the sheet and ensure the desired outcome.”
For its place in the garden in Elsternwick, the aluminium took on the effect of a shadow of a plane rather than a solid. Helen Neyland has always relied on manufacturing in her work as a designer. “When I first started out about 30 years old, and I went around to lots of machine shops and had to beg to get my first design made. One effect was that the staff working in the factory enjoyed the work very much. They liked to do something a little bit more challenging than the usual,” she added.
“I managed to build a business by using local metal fabricators and now I rely heavily on them.”
There was a lot of excitement as we gathered for the folding process at Laser 3D, accompanied by the Laser 3D team and the Grand Designs film crew,” said Neyland. “This was a pivotal moment; the fold had to be just right, ensuring the paper plane would securely hold its position at the precise angle of the landing. And to add to the pressure, all of this was unfolding in front of the TV crew, capturing every moment. We were sort of all-hands-on-deck trying to work it out as we were doing it in front of the camera.”