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Real Corten architectural reference · final Apollo fabrication is project-specificApollo Outdoor Systems · weathering steel
A material-led collection for outdoor architecture and landscaping: pergolas, pavilions, screens, planters, edging, feature structures and selected fire products built around the distinctive naturally weathered character of Corten steel.
Corten product pathways
This page is Apollo’s material and project-planning hub for weathering steel. SVALDR covers the elemental outdoor architecture collection, while established products such as FJARVIK remain under their existing identities.
Real Corten architectural referenceOpen-beam pergolas, decorative overhead structures, pavilion-style outdoor rooms, feature frames and project-specific steel structures. Current pathways include Open Beam, Decorative and Premium Pavilion formats.
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Real weathered-metal landscape referenceRaised planters, garden edging, landscape walls, low retaining features and custom fabricated forms for residential, hospitality, commercial and public landscape projects.
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Real weathered-steel screen referencePrivacy screens, laser-cut panels, feature walls, entry frames, pathway arches and sculptural elements where the warm weathered finish is intended to become part of the architecture.
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Fire Ball decorative Corten fire sculptureApollo’s Corten-linked fire pathway includes FJARVIK live-fire cooking, The Lumen, Kossuth, Huoshen, Seren and the decorative Fire Ball Corten Steel Collection. Current configuration and availability are confirmed against the project brief.
Explore pathwayThe material
Corten is a weathering-steel family selected for its architectural appearance and ability to form a protective oxide patina in suitable environments. That patina depends on the steel being able to wet and then dry; the surface is intentionally variable, with colour and texture evolving rather than remaining factory-uniform.
The surface develops from darker raw-steel tones through orange and brown stages toward a more mature weathered finish.
Early weathering can release oxide runoff. Pale concrete, porous paving, rendered walls and drainage paths should be considered before placement.
The warm finish works particularly well alongside stone, timber, concrete, aggregate and planting, allowing structures and landscape elements to share one visual language.
Weathering steel is not automatically right for every site. Coastal and salt-laden locations, persistent dampness, trapped moisture and permanently wet interfaces require project-specific material and detailing review.
Corten project planning
Weathering steel performs and looks best when the project accounts for how water reaches the steel, where oxide runoff travels, what sits beside it and whether the surface can cycle between wet and dry conditions. Apollo treats drainage, separation and exposure as part of the product design rather than an afterthought.
New weathering steel does not arrive with one permanent final colour. The surface evolves through darker, orange and brown stages as the oxide layer develops. Colour variation is normal and should be expected in the design.
Oxide-rich water can mark pale concrete, porous paving, masonry and adjacent finishes during early weathering. Setbacks, drainage, sacrificial surfaces or other project-specific detailing should be considered before installation.
Raised feet or stand-offs, protected or replaceable bases, planter liners, open drainage paths and separation from permanently wet soil can all form part of the detail. Water traps should be designed out, and fasteners or dissimilar metals selected with compatibility in mind.
Marine salt, persistent dampness, enclosed locations and unusual industrial exposure can interrupt the wet/dry cycle that weathering steel relies on. Coastal and aggressive environments therefore require site-specific review of material grade, detailing, hardware and whether weathering steel is appropriate at all.
SVALDR Custom Corten · made to measure
Some projects need more than a standard size. A planter may need to follow the geometry of a building, a screen may need to conceal a specific view, or a commercial project may require repeated modules built around a drawing set.
Apollo can review variations of existing Corten products or develop a project-specific fabrication pathway from your dimensions, photographs, sketches, architectural drawings or project brief.
Start a Custom Corten ProjectWhat can we create?
Linear, square, corner, tree and modular planter systems.
Privacy screens, patterned panels, fencing, gates and entrance features.
Fire surrounds, fire structures, cooking islands, storage and architectural enclosures.
Water walls, troughs, cascades, rills and integrated planter/water compositions.
Benches, planter seating, landscape furniture and integrated gathering elements.
Edging, raised borders, tree surrounds, steps, dividers and feature walls.
Property markers, address panels, gateway features and signage structures.
Sculptural, architectural and unusual project-specific steel elements.
Like something already in the range but need another width, height, depth, configuration or quantity? Send the product and required dimensions.
A photograph, screenshot, inspiration image or hand sketch can be enough to begin. It does not need to be professionally drawn.
Architects, designers, developers and builders can provide plans, CAD files, elevations, sections, schedules, specifications and tender information.
What we need from you
You do not need everything below. Even a few photographs, approximate measurements and a clear idea are enough to start the conversation.
Country, city or region, distance from the coast where relevant, plus salt, poolside, persistent dampness, rooftop or other exposure information.
A short description of the requirement, idea or outcome is enough to begin.
Width, length, height, depth, footprint and quantity where known.
Wide views, close-ups, access routes and surrounding materials help us understand the site.
Hand sketches, plans, CAD, elevations, sections or consultant drawings are all useful.
Surface, fixing approach, gate widths, stairs, crane or forklift access and site restrictions.
Drawings + project information
These SVALDR examples are illustrative design-intent examples, created to show the kinds of information that can help define a custom project. They are not construction documents, completed-project claims or a substitute for project-specific engineering, approvals or consultant documentation.
View example Show the whole site relationship: paths, planting, walls, entrances, planters, screens and the dimensions that matter.
View example Dimensioned plan, elevation, section and exploded views can define the fabricated assembly and how the pieces relate.
View example Front and side views communicate height, proportion, screening, openings and the relationship to the surrounding architecture.
View example Sections explain what is happening through the build-up: soil, drainage, bases, footings, paths, screens and finished levels.
View example Close-up details can define folded edges, drainage outlets, frame connections, brackets, fixings and other fabrication interfaces.
View example A specification can organise materials, finishes, dimensions, tolerances, drainage, installation considerations and exclusions.
View example For larger projects, scope, inclusions, exclusions, drawing registers and project information can be packaged for pricing and review.
View example A hand sketch is enough to start. Approximate dimensions, arrows, notes and a reference image can communicate the idea surprisingly well.
How to measure
Provide external length, width and height. Add intended soil depth, base type, drainage preference and whether the planter needs to remain movable.
Provide overall width and height, number of panels or openings, fixing surface, desired privacy level and approximate wind exposure.
Provide overall dimensions, intended fuel or appliance information, surrounding materials, clearances and installation environment.
Provide width, height and depth plus intended water movement, pump/reservoir location, waterproofing approach and service access.
What we can help work through
Custom fabrication is not only about changing dimensions. The project may need to be broken into transportable modules, stiffened for larger spans, detailed around drainage, or coordinated with other materials and local installation requirements.
Review scale, modules, repeated units and whether the piece is best made as one component or several sections.
Consider plate thickness, folded edges, supports and interfaces with concrete, timber, stone, membranes and planting.
Translate the design intent into a fabrication pathway that can be packed, handled and supplied efficiently.
Consider project size, quantity, destination, packing and freight constraints for international delivery.
Your project journey
Share the idea, dimensions, photographs, sketches or drawings you already have.
We assess application, material route, missing information, fabrication practicality and destination.
Dimensions, modules, interfaces, drainage, access and construction intent are clarified where required.
Once scope is sufficiently clear, Apollo prepares a project-specific quotation manually.
Approved components are fabricated to the agreed project specification and manufacturing drawings.
The project is packed for transport and supplied to the agreed destination, including global project pathways.
Tell us about the environment
Tell us approximate distance from the sea and exposure. Very high salt exposure can affect the normal weathering behaviour of weathering steel and requires project-specific review.
Poolside environments introduce moisture, chlorine, salts and sensitive surrounding finishes. Include this in the brief from the beginning.
Soil-filled planters and large steel elements can become very heavy. Structural capacity, drainage, waterproofing and access must be assessed by the relevant project professionals.
Specialist burners, fuel systems, pumps, liners, waterproofing, electrical work and local safety/approval requirements sit outside the steel fabrication unless expressly included in the project scope.
Architects · landscape designers · developers
Plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, specifications, tender documents and CAD exports can all form part of the review. For repeated commercial or development work, include estimated quantities and the project programme where available.
Important: illustrative website drawings show design intent only. Final fabrication, structural design, foundations, waterproofing, fire requirements, building approvals and local compliance are project-specific and should be confirmed by the appropriate professionals and authorities where required.
Architects & specifiers Request Corten material / finish sampleHave something different in mind?
A photograph + approximate dimensions + a rough sketch is often enough to start.
Start Your Custom Corten ProjectAlso in Fire & Cooking
FJARVIK uses a Corten-steel base, while The Lumen and Kossuth are established Corten fire pathways. The Fire Ball Corten Steel Collection adds a strong decorative sphere pathway with wildlife, woodland, botanical and rural laser-cut scenes illuminated by the fire inside.
Planning a Corten project?
Apollo will confirm the suitable product or fabrication pathway and prepare pricing manually. No automated price estimates are shown.
Start Project BriefWeathering-steel project pathway spanning Open Beam, Decorative and Premium Pavilion-style structures; Corten planters, garden edging, landscape walls and low retaining features; privacy screens, laser-cut panels, feature walls, entry frames and pathway features; plus Corten-linked fire products including FJARVIK, The Lumen, Kossuth, Huoshen, Seren and decorative Fire Ball concepts. The protective weathering patina relies on suitable wet/dry cycles; persistent dampness, trapped water, permanent wet-soil contact and aggressive chloride/marine exposure require project-specific review. Apollo detailing should prioritise positive drainage, stand-offs or protected bases where appropriate, planter liners,…
Landscape · Developers · Hospitality · Councils
Project Configured
Steel · Weathering Steel
Outdoor · Coastal Caution
New Zealand · Australia · India · Portugal · Ireland
This snapshot summarises the current Apollo product record. Final configuration, interfaces, engineering, certification and destination requirements are confirmed against the project.
Project planning
Apollo's catalogue owner, project-brief pathway and core product record are complete enough to progress into project review and manual quotation. This is not a statement of engineering approval or destination compliance.
This pathway has an explicitly controlled made-to-measure or project-dimensioned option. Final limits, interfaces and technical requirements are confirmed against the project.
Apollo has an explicit regional priority map for this product. Regional mapping supports discovery and project review; it is not blanket compliance certification.
Configuration, technical evidence, interfaces, exposure or destination requirements need product-specific review before the final supply package is confirmed.
Final engineering, testing, approvals and destination requirements are confirmed for the actual project where applicable.
Connected project pathway
Explore the current Weathered Steel Outdoor Architecture range, project pathways and product information.
Open pathway Planning guideWeathered Steel Outdoor Architecture Planning GuidePlan the project around application, site conditions, interfaces, evidence and local responsibilities before the final configuration is frozen.
Open pathway Project filesProject Upload ToolSend plans, dimensions, photographs and project information for review.
Open pathway TechnicalTechnical & Specifier CentreUse current product information, technical documentation and professional project resources.
Open pathway Project briefWeathered Steel Outdoor Architecture Project BriefSend the project scope, destination, dimensions, quantities and supporting information for manual review.
Open pathwayReview this system against the actual island, coastal exposure, wind or cyclone criteria, freight route and local project responsibilities before the final configuration is selected.
No current public document is registered against this exact page yet. Tell Apollo what the project needs and the team can review the current product/configuration-specific information available.
APOLLO CITATION AUTHORITY · TECHNICAL REFERENCE
Weathering-steel performance depends on alloy, detailing, drainage, repeated wet/dry exposure and chloride environment. Constant dampness, soil contact and high-chloride exposure require project-specific material and corrosion review.
REFERENCE SOURCES
No unrelated external standard is added merely to increase citation count. Apollo uses the current controlled product evidence for this owner and keeps exact project documents authoritative for the supplied configuration.
AUTHORITY MESH
Apollo NZ Global. Weathering Steel Technical Reference. Edition 2026.3. Reviewed 4 October 2026. https://apollonzglobal.com/corten-steel