Transforming Exterior Spaces with Custom Perspex® Architectural Features

Quick summary: a Midrand case study in large-format Perspex® fabrication — the same acrylic fabrication skills Moriah Plastics applies to custom display stands, display risers and item display stands.

A building's exterior shapes the first impression of the business inside. When a mobile technology company in Midrand wanted to soften the strong lines of its corporate building and create a more visually engaging outdoor area, an off-the-shelf decorative product would not have suited the scale or architecture.

Moriah Plastics designed and manufactured a series of large-format custom Perspex® architectural features in the client's corporate colour. Each structure measured approximately 3 × 3 metres and was developed specifically for the site, visual brief and installation requirements.

The completed installation demonstrates how custom acrylic fabrication can extend beyond conventional retail displays, signage and cabinets into distinctive architectural elements for corporate buildings, landscaped areas and public-facing spaces.

A Bespoke Colour for a Branded Environment

One of the most distinctive aspects of the project was the material colour.

Rather than applying printed graphics, vinyl lettering or surface coatings, the Perspex® was manufactured in a special colour batch specifically for the project. This created a consistent colour throughout the material and allowed the structures themselves to reinforce the client's corporate identity.

The result was bold but uncluttered: the architectural forms introduced colour and visual interest without relying on prominent logos or advertising messages.

Custom-coloured acrylic can be particularly effective for:

• Corporate entrances and reception exteriors
• Branded outdoor areas
• Architectural screens and decorative structures
• Large planters and landscape features
• Retail and hospitality environments
• Exhibition and activation installations

This approach can also help businesses maintain a consistent material and colour language between exterior architectural features, reception areas, signage and interior displays.

Designing Large Acrylic Features for Outdoor Use

Outdoor acrylic fabrication requires different considerations from a conventional countertop display.

At approximately three metres wide and three metres high, each feature had to be designed around its scale, support requirements and installation environment. The construction needed to maintain the intended shape while accommodating outdoor exposure and secure fixing on site.

Important factors in this type of project include:

• The acrylic grade and colour stability
• UV and weather exposure
• Wind loading and structural support
• Thermal expansion and contraction
• Reinforcement and internal framing
• Fixing and anchoring positions
• Water drainage and moisture traps
• Access for installation and maintenance
• Transporting large fabricated components to site

These requirements should be assessed for each installation. Acrylic thickness alone does not determine whether a large exterior structure will perform correctly; its shape, reinforcement, mounting method and exposure all contribute to the final specification.

Where necessary, the acrylic components can be combined with concealed structural supports or other materials to achieve the required appearance and strength.

Manufactured in Johannesburg for a Midrand Installation

Producing the features locally allowed the project to be developed around the actual South African site conditions and installation requirements.

Moriah Plastics manufactured the custom components in Johannesburg before they were transported and installed at the client's Midrand premises. Local fabrication also made it easier to coordinate material selection, production and site installation for these unusually large structures.

The project reflects Moriah Plastics' broader capability in custom acrylic architectural features and planters, including one-off structures that cannot be sourced as standard products.

Where Custom Perspex® Architectural Features Can Be Used

Large-format acrylic and plastic fabrication can provide practical and decorative solutions for:

• Corporate offices and business parks
• Shopping centres and retail developments
• Hotels, restaurants and hospitality venues
• Landscaped courtyards and entrance areas
• Branded event spaces
• Showrooms and reception areas
• Architectural screens and partitions
• Custom planters and sculptural features

Depending on the application, the design can incorporate clear, frosted, tinted or solid-colour acrylic together with lighting, printed elements, metal supports or other fabricated components.

Planning a Custom Architectural Acrylic Project

A useful initial brief should include:

• Photographs and measurements of the installation area
• The required overall dimensions
• Drawings or architectural plans, if available
• Preferred colours and finishes
• Indoor or outdoor placement
• Expected sun, wind and weather exposure
• Fixing or foundation information
• Required quantity
• Installation location
• Target completion date

For large outdoor features, final dimensions, support details and fixing requirements should be confirmed before manufacturing begins.

Custom Architectural Acrylic Fabrication in South Africa

Moriah Plastics has manufactured bespoke acrylic and plastic products in Johannesburg since 1998. Our work includes custom retail displays, cabinets, covers, signage components, planters and specialised architectural features developed for particular spaces and applications.

If you are planning a custom Perspex® architectural feature, send us photographs of the site, approximate dimensions, your preferred colour and a description of what the installation must achieve. We can then assess the fabrication requirements and recommend a practical route from concept to manufacture.