Start Smart Quote
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 remains Apollo’s material and project-planning hub for weathering steel. SVALDR is the separate customer-facing elemental outdoor architecture brand, 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.
Explore pathway
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.
Explore pathway
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.
Explore pathway
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. The surface is intentionally variable: colour and texture evolve 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, salt-laden, persistently damp and unusual exposure conditions need project-specific material 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 site allows the surface to cycle between wet and dry conditions.
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.
Plan how Corten meets timber, stone, coated metals, glazing, membranes, soil and planting. Interfaces, fasteners and drainage details should be selected for the actual assembly rather than assumed from the appearance alone.
Persistent dampness, marine salt, enclosed locations and unusual industrial exposure can affect whether a weathering-steel pathway is appropriate. Apollo confirms the product or fabrication route against the destination and intended use.
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, plus coastal, poolside, rooftop or other exposure information.
A short description of the problem, 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 & specifiersHave 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 Smart QuoteProduct status
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.
Status signals describe Apollo's current product record and project pathway. They do not replace project-specific engineering, testing, local approvals or destination compliance review.
Connected project pathway
Project-led pergolas, pavilions, planters, edging, screens, landscape features, custom fabrication and selected fire pathways.
Open pathway Knowledge ownerWeathered Steel Outdoor Project PlanningCoordinate material verification, patina, runoff, drainage, structures, planters, screens, fire interfaces, drawings and local responsibilities before fabrication.
Open pathway Project filesProject Upload ToolSend plans, photographs, dimensioned sketches and site information for custom weathered-steel review.
Open pathway TechnicalTechnical & Specifier CentreUse current product evidence, controlled technical information and professional project resources.
Open pathway Project pathwayUpload Weathered-Steel Project BriefSend application, dimensions, drawings, site conditions, finish intent and delivery constraints for Apollo review.
Open pathwayComplete the project
Define privacy, boundaries and service areas with architectural screens.
Carry the landscape into evening use with integrated architectural lighting.
Add coordinated seating to complete gathering and circulation areas.
Related discovery is a catalogue recommendation, not a statement of technical compatibility. Final interfaces and project requirements are reviewed separately.