Integrating Art and Culture in Steel Shade Design

Your steel shade structure doesn’t have to be run-of-the-mill. You can use bespoke design features to make it stand out. In our experience, integrating art and culture works well. It’s a great way to bring originality to your shade concept, and you can also make valuable connections with the local community.

There are many ways to use art and cultural references when creating a steel shade structure. Consider including installations, murals, and emblems that connect with the vibe of the neighbourhood and local heritage.  

We will dig deeper into how including art and culture works to make a final result that is aesthetic and functional. You will see just what you can achieve by embracing a design element, or several elements, that reflect local art and the customs and traditions of the people around you.

Bringing the Culture and Interests of the Local Community to Your Organisation

Your shade structure is an integral part of your organisation, whether you are covering a sports court, part of a park, or a school playground. So, it makes sense that the design you choose helps your organisation to fit with the local environment and the people who live there.

Using art and symbolism that promotes local ideals, history, and initiatives is an excellent way of achieving this. Think about symbols, images, and colours that evoke pride and allow local people to see that you are interested in them and their lives.

An example of the importance of local culture is the Walkatjara Art Centre at Uluru. Artists from the Mutitjulu community, like Rhoda Carroll, demonstrate their artistic skills to visitors and discuss the influence of features like the local waterholes and rocks. There is a real connection between art and the community.

You can include this type of cultural reflection in your shade structure. Remember to carefully consider the way you include local customs and history and that you do the necessary research. You can only get the best results from including cultural references if they are apt and they resonate with members of the community.

Including local people in the design process helps you get it right. For example, artists, architects, and other creatives are often happy to work with organisations within their community. As George Bernard Shaw said,

"I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.”

You can also host competitions or workgroups to get local opinions about what culturally significant images and symbols you should include. Social media is a useful tool to use as it will often already be a vital part of your customer engagement strategy and helps you reach a wider audience during your planning process.  

Collaborating With Talented Local Design Professionals

"Architecture is really about well-being. On the one hand, it's about shelter, I think that people want to feel good in a space... but it's also about pleasure."

Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid – Architect.

Professionals like the late Dame Hadid relish the opportunity to make people feel good about the space they inhabit. We have already touched on how working with local creatives helps bring relevant culture and themes to your steel shade design.

Creative minds also have an innate understanding of how to use art and cultural references to make your structure a standout feature of your locality and an attractive space that engages people. Remember that there are many sources of artistic talent that you can tap into, including professional artists, designers and architects, community art groups, and local colleges.

Considerations Behind Your Integration Plans

It’s easy to get carried away on a wave of imagination when integrating art and culture in your steel shade design. However, it’s essential to consider all aspects of the overall design. This is something that we are happy to help with, and we will bring our knowledge and insights to your project.

During the project, you must think about,

• Steel fabrication innovations that can bring a unique touch to your structure, such as 3D printing and laser cutting.
• The functionality of your steel shade. If it does not provide the required shelter due to artistic design elements it will not work.
• The durability of materials used. Overall, steel is a long-lasting, fire-resistant material which makes it an excellent choice for shade structures.
• How easy it is to maintain the structure. If a design aspect interferes with the maintenance of a shade structure you should consider changing your ideas. Another aspect of this is that incorporating materials such as COLORBOND® steel increases the durability and makes maintenance easier.

By integrating carefully considered art and cultural symbolism in your shade structures, you can make a positive impact on the local community. Your designs can inspire local people and make them more likely to use your amenities. You can also enrich the surroundings around your structure by creating something that is a good fit and a positive addition.

We are happy to help you understand how art and culture can feature in the design of your shade structure. To get the conversation started contact us to discuss your requirements.