The National Museum of Australia in Canberra is one of the country’s most architecturally expressive cultural buildings. For its renewed public landscape, Sun Young Stone fabricated the faceted “bowtie” granite seating walls and benches — angular, sculptural stone elements that echo the museum’s bold geometry.
- Location
- Canberra, Australia
- Project Type
- National Cultural Institution
- Materials
- Grey Granite
- Finishes
- Honed, Flamed (Anti-slip)
Complex Faceted “Bowtie” Geometry
The signature seating walls twist and fold along their length, with crisp angled facets meeting at sharp arrises — a true test of stone engineering. Each piece was modelled, cut and finished to exacting tolerances so the faceted segments align into continuous, flowing forms that hold their geometry across long runs of bench.
Workshop Drawings and Precision Fabrication
A project of this complexity is built on detailed workshop drawings. Working to the same exacting level of detail across both the Canberra and later Sydney installations, our team developed full shop drawings for every facet and joint, then fabricated and dry-fitted the components so they assembled cleanly on site.
A Result Praised by Client and Director
The finished stonework drew direct praise from the client and design director, who noted the walls were very well made and fitted together beautifully — leading to a follow-on commission for further bowtie walls. The granite benches and surrounding paving complete a cohesive, durable landscape for one of Australia’s leading museums.
Stone Applications in This Project
- Sculptural Seating Walls
- Granite Benches
- Paving & Pathways
Frequently Asked Questions
What stonework did Sun Young Stone produce for the National Museum of Australia?
We fabricated faceted “bowtie” granite seating walls and sculptural benches, along with granite paving, for the museum’s public landscape in Canberra — complex angular forms built from detailed workshop drawings.
Can Sun Young Stone fabricate complex sculptural and faceted stone elements?
Yes. Using detailed workshop drawings, CNC machining and careful dry-fitting, we produce highly complex faceted and sculptural stone forms — such as the museum’s bowtie seating walls — that assemble precisely on site.
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