Arch
Artist: Lorenna Grant
Year: 2009
Location: Decommissioned. Formerly at the intersection of James and Lake Streets in Northbridge.
Owner: City of Perth
Re-energising the heart of Northbridge, the 8.5 metre x 10 metre artwork, “The Arch” has been described as ‘a visual rhythm, a pulse, a guardian.
This project was first conceptualised by Lorenna and through her outstanding creative talent she produced the sculpture and transferred it into a 3D conceptional model which DENMAC then started the task of turning the concept into a reality.
DENMAC’s Architectural Metal Work division manufactured the structural steel components of the artwork at our factory ready for the DENMAC Façade division to manufacture and clad the artwork in Alucobond aluminium composite. It was critical that the geometry of the design was maintained and the fabrication team relied on the drawing set to ensure the construction was millimetre perfect for when the pieces would be installed to the concrete footings and each other on site.
The design incorporated two colours of the Alucobond range both white and black in varying shapes and sizes which were all custom manufactured in-house to the design schematic and required sizes with certain pieces being left off the project strategically to allow for lifting and transport. DENMAC manufactured custom bracing and saddles to allow for transportation on a flatbed truck without causing damage to the Alucobond finish.
DENMAC also managed the crane erection and traffic management of “The Arch” in the busy streets of Northbridge with a tight installation timeframe to ensure the impact on local traffic was kept to a minimum, whilst performing the installation works from an Elevated Working Platform (Knuckle Boom).
In 2023 the City of Perth decommissioned the arch sighting maintenance costs. At the time it was estimated the costs of maintenance would be just $40,000. Further information: www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/perth-breakfast/northbridge-arch-sculpture/104937244