Creating the wayfinding signage for these striking residential apartments on the doorstep of one Manchester’s most exciting neighbourhoods.
Project: Oxygen
Location: Manchester
Sector: Residential
Client: Alliance City Living
Partners: F.r.a. Creative
Oxygen sets an innovative approach to renting apartments and luxury living
Stunning views of Manchester
Situated in one of Manchester’s most upcoming and creative areas with a beautiful marina and excellent schools. Its prime city location is highly accessible with a rich heritage as well as an exciting future ahead of it. Its apartments boast stunning views of Manchester and beyond with a host of luxury services and amenities including a gym and spin studio, cinema room, 25m luxury pool as well as a 5-star spa
Working with FRA, a leading branding and graphic design agency
After a rigorous but thorough tender process, we were delighted that F.r.a. Creative, contracting for Alliance City Living, selected us to build and install their wayfinding design. F.r.a.’s tender proposal was extremely detailed as was their specification documentation, which stipulated their expectations for the entire project, outlining the exact requirements for design and materials, to construction and installation.
We are proud that we consulted on and met all elements of F.r.a.’s brief. For some insight into how we dealt with some of the specifications most significant challenges, please see Oxygen: Spec challenges below.
Upmarket wayfinding signage depicting luxury and indulgence
The project utilised bronze, brass and illuminated signage throughout the building creating a luxurious feel. As brass signage specialists, this was a superb project to work on. We were able to create unique brass as well as bronze signage to captivate the feel of indulgence and luxury. Wonderful signage was created throughout building and estate with a huge variety of materials. With this scheme running throughout the whole building, a whole suite of original and custom-built signage was created, delivered and installed.
Aged Copper Signage
To create this aged copper signage with a verdigris green colour for the 5-star Spa, we utilised a unique process where the brass was fabricated and then treated with chemicals to give it this venerable feel with the engraving on the brass filled to give it extra depth and complexity.
Lift Signage
To create all the lift signs, powder coated metal to a specific Analok powdercoat match were used and incorporated into aged bronze and folded metal.
Unique Signage Scheme
Lots of custom processes were utilised to create an upmarket luxurious feel throughout the building. This sign involved etching, folding of brass, laser cut brass lettering and patination, creating a unique signage scheme.
Projecting Illuminated Signs
An exquisite upmarket external sign was created using illuminated projected signage with a fabricated metal bracket which houses an acrylic LED illuminated sign.
A content client and a continued business partnership
Overall, we are proud to have produced and installed Oxygen’s signage to F.r.a.’s specifications, on time and within budget.
Illuminated Letters
This striking signage for the entrance of the building uses bronze patination on brass with stunning stencil cut illuminated letters.
Laser Cut Letters
The lettering for the signage on the front of the building were laser cut on 6mm toned bronze.
Aged Copper
This incredibly beautiful signage involved engraving into aged copper giving an indulgent texture and ambiance.
Consultation
Upon reviewing F.r.a.’s spec, we identified that many aspects of their design proposal raised significant build challenges.
For their floor identification signage, F.r.a. had specified it to be built from 10mm brass. As a brass signage specialist, we recognised that not only would this be very expensive, when laser cut its near impossible to get a smooth finish, posing a health risk for residents.
In light of this, we advised to create this signage from 6mm brass with hand-polished edges.
In turn, for their reverse-etched signage, F.r.a want a unique asphalt-styled textured finish. As a leader in chemically etched signage, we advised that there was no standard manufacturing process for this finish.
To deliver this unique asphalt-styled textured finish for F.k.a., we created it with our supplier. We then mechanised the process to be able to roll it out on a large scale.
Quality Assurance
To ensure that our signage principles met F.r.a.’s comprehensive requirements, we followed a rigorous quality assurance process.
Before constructing any signage:
- we used a professional art worker to visualise F.r.a.’s creative vision
- we prototyped a range of F.r.a.’s more challenging sign finish requests
- we welcomed F.r.a.’s to visit the workshop to review the signs
When installing the signage:
- we used software called Siteworx to send F.r.a.’s monthly progress reports
- conducted an on-site review
Procurement
F.r.a.’s brief and design proposal clearly required a vast quantity of brass. Due to global trade shortages caused by both Brexit and Covid-19, brass is currently very difficult to procure. However, our solid network of suppliers we were able to source brass from a mill based in Germany.