CASE STUDY: Womens Suffrage Sculpture
Concrete Creates a Platform for Community Engagement
Customer: Jasmax
Project: Womens Suffrage Sculpture
Date: 2019
Architectural firm Jasmax, commissioned by Auckland Council, were tasked to create the third sculpture in a series to honour women’s suffrage in New Zealand. Designed by Prue Fea, Olivia Collinson, Stephanie Darlington, Vanessa Coxhead and Madeleine Racz, the piece pays homage to Kate Sheppard and other suffragettes, reflecting the ‘soapboxes’ used to spread their message of women’s rights.
Having worked together previously, Jasmax approached Jackson with the task of building the highly intricate moulds that would form the concrete structure. After initial discussions it was clear that site restrictions meant standard concrete could not be used due to weight restrictions on loading and placement so Jackson proposed the use of GRC instead.
The mould building process itself was time consuming and consisted of essentially 2 separate components to incorporate the base and the ‘lid’ of the completed sculpture.
Jackson’s in house moulding material, Caro-C, was used to form the 7 separate pieces required to form the 2 mould components which were then CNC machined to the desired pattern layout. The mould pieces were assembled and shipped as 2 complete parts.
Reaching the final stages the moulds were delivered to GRC NZ for manufacture of the final sculptural elements.
The installation of the Soapbox and the two other sculptures in the series is intended for a five year lifespan, thereafter, new artwork will be erected in the five locations across Auckland.
To see a Timelapse of the build, please click here.
Press for this incredible project:
Design Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards 2020
Jasmax
Auckland Council | Our Auckland: “Takapuna artwork ‘Soapbox’ offers a platform for all voices” 10 May 2019