We’ve delivered many projects at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity over the years. It provides a splendid creative playground. And so it was a pleasure to work with a new agency for the first time this year.
Located on L’Ondine Beach, Microsoft Gardens was a calm space where nature met with technology, encouraging visitors to pause and reflect, to connect and collaborate.
We were approached by Wonderland Agency for the bespoke fabrication of an archway that would serve as the entrance to the Microsoft Gardens beach activation. The concept design presented a flowing shape adorned with foliage and floral elements that embellished the metal structure, with an integrated misting system that would create a cooling and immersive experience for visitors.
We were provided with a model; we first carried out a site survey to determine the intricacies of the intended location, which highlighted discrepancies in the levels of the stairs. We took this survey data from site and fed it back into the design team in order to accommodate the intricacies of the venue geometry.
Prior to manufacture, it was important to identify how the structure would be transported and installed to provide the client with sufficient access to the framework to add the foliage. First built as a single unit and then split into sections, lap joints with countersunk fixings and bolts were used to re-join the sections when installed on site.
A complex fabrication, the archway was made using mild steel, featuring many rolled steel sections to bring flow to the sculpture. Once fabricated, the archway was painted, and the misting system installed.
On installation, the sections of the archway were assembled on the promenade and the structure then lifted into place by crane. After the event, the archway was transferred into storage for potential re-use at future festivals.
‘Working with Stage One for the first time was a dream. We brought them a brief for a bespoke metalwork entrance installation for Cannes Lions, and they nailed it, right down to the very last detail.
Not only did the finished piece look completely outstanding from the Croisette, but the whole team were a genuine pleasure to deal with from start to finish. Professional, easy to work with, and top-tier craftsmanship. We couldn’t have asked for better partners and can’t wait to work with them again!’
Senior Producer, Wonderland Agency
