Head of Product Development Wesley Kirk
explores the design and engineering innovation behind the new Jacaranda Shade Shelter
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SUMMARY - Developed from a custom project for Queens Park Ceremonial, Healing and Remembrance Place. - New extrusion design unlocked larger spans and greater design flexibility. - Supports concave, convex and straight configurations through a single engineered system. - Built around collaboration, helping designers achieve distinctive outcomes with confidence. |
When you see Jacaranda for the first time, its curved form looks impressively effortless.
What you don't see are the substantial design refinements, engineering collaborations and problem-solving that were required across its development to transform it from ambitious concept to design realisation to market-ready product.
Engineering Around the Curve
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Jacaranda Shade Shelter |
Jacaranda began as a bespoke solution for Ipswich City Council for Queens Park Ceremonial, Healing and Remembrance Place. The initial concept was striking, featuring external posts, a curved aluminium canopy and decorative cut-outs designed to complement the surrounding yarning circle, however there were a series of technical challenges that needed to be resolved before it could become a reality.
The biggest challenge was how to support the aluminium canopy effectively with the curved cantilevered form.
With standard available aluminium sections, the original solution was successfully solved by extending the rear beam behind the support posts to balance the weight of the canopy.
When the project was greenlit for further development, the team asked the question: Can we create the same visual impact in a more efficient way?
Working closely with our engineers, GX developed our own innovative new aluminium extrusion that improved the structural performance and allowed us to completely rethink the shelter geometry.
The result was a cleaner design, larger spans and greater flexibility that can incorporate concave and convex designs of almost infinite radii.
More Options, Less Complexity
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Jacaranda Shade Shelter |
As the design evolved, so did the opportunity. The design and engineering teams continually challenged the boundaries of the original concept, unlocking a wide range of configuration options while maintaining structural integrity.
As a result, Jacaranda can be configured in concave, convex or straight arrangements, allowing designers to respond to different site conditions and project objectives, from linear walkways through to gathering spaces, yarning circles and destination features, without starting from scratch.
The canopy can be specified using wedge, segment or pergola roof panels that allow designers to customise Jacaranda depending on the needs of the project.
The segment option is ideal for larger laser-cut artwork and more complex decorative treatments, making it well suited to projects seeking stronger place-based expression. The wedge format works particularly well where colour variations or smaller graphic elements are required, while the pergola options add architectural character through filtered shade.
Integration of vine-wire systems allow you to join Jacaranda with the surrounding landscaping, and GX Outdoors’ comprehensive suite of colours and finishes ensures each design is as unique and memorable as the spaces in which they sit.
Distinctive Outcomes, Simplified
Consultation is a critical part of the Jacaranda experience. Working closely with our teams right across the organisation, each customer will be guided through a series of key design decisions that shape an outcome that is practical, buildable and structurally sound.
Together, we translate each project’s goals, site constraints and design intent into a tailored and distinctive solution with engineering certainty.
From Project Insight to Product Platform
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Jacaranda Shade Shelter |
What began as a custom project ultimately became an opportunity to extend ourselves well beyond the requirements of the original project.
Every challenge we encountered led to another question: could we make it stronger, more flexible or capable of doing more? The result wasn't simply a refinement of the original concept. It was the development of an entirely new structural platform, capable of significantly greater versatility through a single engineered system.
For me, the most rewarding part of the product development process lies in taking a design challenge and uncovering opportunities that weren't obvious at the outset.
Jacaranda demonstrates what can happen when vision and engineering work together from day one to deliver greater flexibility for designers, greater confidence for councils, and a system that opens new possibilities for future projects.
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