Landmark sculpture
Landmark sculpture engineered for wind, weight and public safety.
- Shanghai Xionglan Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (brand: Xionglan Art)
- Shanghai-based workshop · delivery in 67 Chinese cities
- 10 capability groups / 102 individual techniques · design, fabrication and installation in-house
- Phone +86 156 0163 6249 · Mon–Sun 09:00–18:00 (CST)
A landmark piece is an engineering project as much as an art project: wind loading, foundation design and access for maintenance all shape the form. We start from the site survey and work with your structural engineer from the first sketch.
Commissioned work in landmark sculpture normally runs from 6 to 30 m², with 3–8 working days in production from approved drawings. The reference range for this technique is CNY 0+ per m², quoted itemised. It sits within our Sculpture Fabrication capability, alongside 13 related techniques, and the 4-point deliverable below is what a commission includes as standard.
When landmark sculpture is the right answer - and when it is not
Landmark sculpture is chosen where a place needs an identifier - something that appears on maps, in photographs and in directions given by word of mouth. It suits entrances, junctions, gateways, campuses and destinations. The design requirement is quite different from gallery work: it must read at distance, from an angle, and often through traffic, and it will be photographed more than it will be studied.
How the work is actually carried out
The design is tested against real viewing conditions - the approach speed, the distance at which it is first seen, and the silhouettes that will actually register. Form is simplified so the piece reads as a shape rather than as detail, since detail is lost at landmark distances. Material and finish are chosen for durability and for night-time appearance, with lighting designed as part of the piece rather than applied afterwards. The engineering and the foundation are resolved early, since these pieces are large and often on exposed sites.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Materials | Stainless steel, steel, aluminium, GRC |
|---|---|
| Engineering | Wind load analysis and foundation design with the project engineer |
| Maintenance | Access strategy agreed for cleaning and inspection |
| Lead time | 3-6 months including engineering and approvals |
| Capability | Sculpture Fabrication |
| Reference range | CNY 0+ per m² |
| Techniques in this capability | 14 |
| Coverage | Shanghai base, nationwide delivery, overseas projects on request |
Reference price bands for Landmark sculpture
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for landmark sculpture. A firm price follows a site survey and an itemised quotation split into material, labour, finishing, packing and freight.
| Pricing basis | Priced per piece or per project rather than per square metre |
|---|---|
| Reference range | CNY 0+ per m² |
| How we quote | Itemised: material, labour, finishing, packing and freight shown as separate lines |
Build tiers for landmark sculpture
Landmark sculpture is not one product at one size: the table below is the same scope ladder we quote on, so you can see where your project sits before asking for a price.
| Build tier | Typical area | Production days | What changes at this tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | Up to 30 m², one substrate and one access setup, 3–8 days in the workshop. |
| Tier 2 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 3 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 4 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 5 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 6 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 7 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6 m² and above, multiple substrate types and phased access, 3–8 days with a join and numbering plan. |
What we deliver
- Concept sketches and a scaled maquette for sign-off
- Structural calculation and internal armature where required
- Fabrication, welding, surface finishing and protective coating
- Delivery, on-site assembly and foundation coordination
Faults we see most often in landmark sculpture
Each of these is a field failure rather than a workshop one, and each is cheaper to prevent at enquiry stage than to correct after installation.
- Designing detail that will never be seen from the distance the piece is actually viewed at.
- Leaving lighting to a separate consultant at the end, so the piece reads as a silhouette in daylight and as nothing at night.
- Underestimating the foundation and wind requirements of a large vertical form on an exposed site.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Viewing conditions | Tell us the approach route and speed, and the distance at which the piece should first register. It sets the whole design. |
|---|---|
| Night-time appearance | If the piece must work after dark, say so at the start. Lighting integrated into the form costs less and looks better than added lighting. |
| Foundation and engineering | Landmark pieces are engineering projects. Confirm who is responsible for the structural and foundation design. |
Working with us from overseas
Enquiry to installation, one point of contact. Export packing, shipping, commercial terms and quality control →
Design intent and what drives the cost
| Technique | Landmark sculpture |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Landmark sculpture engineered for wind, weight and public safety. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 6–30 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 3–8 working days from approved drawings |
| Main cost drivers | Area and repetition; substrate preparation; detail and modelling time; surface finish; access and working hours |
| What we quote separately | Material, labour, finishing, packing, freight and site measures - each as its own line |
Representative work
Sculpture Fabrication projects photographed on completion.
Sculpture Fabrication — Cast bronze sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Mirror-polished stainless sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Animal & mascot sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Stone sculptureCommon questions
Who signs off the structural design?
How is a tall piece illuminated?
How long does a large sculpture take end to end?
Discuss landmark sculpture
Send photographs, drawings or a 3D file with approximate dimensions. You will get a technique recommendation, a reference price band and a production schedule.
Other techniques in this capability
- Mirror-polished stainless sculpture
- Brushed stainless sculpture
- Coloured stainless sculpture
- Perforated stainless sculpture
- Cast bronze sculpture
- Forged copper sculpture
- Stone sculpture
- FRP & resin sculpture
- Cement / GRC sculpture
- Figure sculpture
- Animal & mascot sculpture
- Abstract sculpture
- Garden & landscape sculpture