Classical and contemporary sculpture
Original concepts, public-domain references, resized replicas and material reinterpretations.
Designed and made in Canada
Custom Sculpture Design & Fabrication in Canada
Bring us any idea, at any level of readiness. Renovation1 manages design, material selection, 3D modelling, fabrication, delivery and support as one accountable project.
- Any idea or reference
- Material-agnostic production
- Approval before fabrication
Here, any idea can become a finished object.
Renovation1 designs and produces custom sculpture for homes, gardens, private commercial spaces and design professionals. We can begin with a sentence, photograph, sketch, physical object, architectural drawing or production-ready 3D file, then develop and manage the project through an approved physical result.
One workshop, many outcomes
Any idea can become an object
Classical or contemporary, decorative or practical: the form follows your brief, not a fixed catalogue.
Portrait, pet and memorial work
Developed from photographs, scans, sittings or a combination of available references.
Garden and outdoor sculpture
Designed for real exposure, drainage, anchoring, maintenance and Canadian climate.
Functional art
Benches, lighting, furniture and usable objects where structure and sculpture work together.
Architectural elements
Panels, reliefs, tiles, cornices, ornaments, screens and details integrated into a larger design.
Private commercial installations
Distinctive objects for hotels, restaurants, retail, developments and branded environments.
No perfect brief required
Start with anything
You do not need to prepare a technical package before contacting us. We accept projects at every level of readiness.
- 01A verbal idea
- 02One or more photographs
- 03A visual reference
- 04A rough sketch
- 05An existing object to scan
- 06Architectural drawings
- 07A CAD or 3D model
- 08A complete production specification
Material Lab
One sculpture. Eight material strategies.
The same classical control object shows how surface, detail, weight, longevity, maintenance and cost change with the production system.
You do not need to choose the material. Tell us what the object should do, where it will live, and how it should feel. We will engineer the right solution.
Relative cost: $$Cast stone, architectural concrete and GFRC
Mineral surfaces with convincing mass, architectural presence and excellent value at larger scale.
- Best uses
- Garden sculpture, entrance pieces, architectural ornaments, planters, reliefs and repeat castings.
- Environment
- Indoor and outdoor when the mix, reinforcement, drainage, sealer and installation are designed for the site.
- Detail
- Good to very high. GFRC supports thinner sections; fine undercuts still depend on mould and mix design.
- Weight and logistics
- Medium to very heavy. Hollow GFRC can reduce mass and shipping cost substantially.
- Durability
- Strong outdoor option when engineered for moisture, freeze-thaw cycles and stable support.
- Maintenance
- Periodic cleaning and project-specific resealing; chips and surface weathering can usually be repaired.
- Finishes
- Natural mineral, limestone, granite, terrazzo, pigment, stain, exposed aggregate and patina effects.
Advantages
Architectural character, durable outdoor performance, scalable casting and convincing stone-like weight.
Limitations
Heavy solid sections, mould cost, cure time and careful reinforcement or anchoring for large work.
Our recommendation
A strong default for substantial outdoor forms and architectural details where mineral character matters.
Complete material comparison
| Complete material comparison | Best uses | Environment | Durability | Maintenance | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cast stone, architectural concrete and GFRC | Garden sculpture, entrance pieces, architectural ornaments, planters, reliefs and repeat castings. | Indoor and outdoor when the mix, reinforcement, drainage, sealer and installation are designed for the site. | Strong outdoor option when engineered for moisture, freeze-thaw cycles and stable support. | Periodic cleaning and project-specific resealing; chips and surface weathering can usually be repaired. | $$ |
| Fiberglass and composite resin | Large lightweight sculpture, suspended work, props, branded environments, replicas and production series. | Indoor or outdoor with the correct resin, UV-stable coating, internal structure and attachment plan. | Good when the laminate and coating are selected for UV, temperature change, moisture and impact risk. | Cleaning, finish inspection and occasional coating repair; damaged shells are often locally repairable. | $$ |
| 3D-printed polymers and printed resin | Complex custom forms, prototypes, portrait studies, masters for moulding, small series and internal structures. | Primarily indoor unless the polymer, wall design, coating and assembly are engineered for outdoor exposure. | Process-dependent. Heat, UV, creep, layer orientation and water entry must be controlled. | Finish-specific cleaning and inspection of seams or coatings; modules can often be replaced or repaired. | $$ |
| Plaster and gypsum | Interior sculpture, busts, prototypes, mould masters, cornices, reliefs and decorative architectural elements. | Indoor and protected dry environments. Standard gypsum is not an outdoor weather material. | Stable indoors when dry and protected from impact; vulnerable to moisture and edge damage. | Gentle dry cleaning and careful handling; local repair is usually possible by a skilled finisher. | $ |
| Acrylic and translucent polymers | Illuminated sculpture, transparent layers, retail and hospitality features, inserts and contemporary accents. | Indoor or selective outdoor use with the correct grade, thickness, joint design and UV expectations. | Good optical stability in suitable grades, but surfaces can scratch and joints respond to heat and movement. | Non-abrasive cleaning with approved products; polish or replace damaged modules where the design permits. | $$$ |
| Bronze, aluminum, stainless steel and other metals | Legacy sculpture, public-facing private sites, water features, fine art, large structures and premium editions. | Indoor and outdoor with alloy, drainage, isolation, finish and anchoring selected for the environment. | Potentially exceptional. Corrosion behaviour, dissimilar metals, salt exposure and finish evolution must be planned. | Wash schedules and wax, patina or coating care depend on alloy and intended surface evolution. | $$$$ |
| Natural and engineered stone | Heirloom sculpture, monuments on private property, fountains, architectural details and permanent landscape work. | Indoor and outdoor when stone type, grain, porosity, geometry, drainage and support suit the climate. | Excellent with the right stone and detailing; freeze-thaw, salts, staining and water paths still matter. | Low to moderate, with cleaning and occasional specialist repair or sealing depending on stone and finish. | $$$$ |
| Wood and mixed-media construction | Interior statement pieces, functional art, furniture, wall sculpture, experiential objects and controlled exterior work. | Best indoors; outdoor systems require species, lamination, drainage, finish and movement detailing for exposure. | Excellent indoors. Outdoors, moisture cycling, UV, checking, fasteners and finish maintenance control service life. | Periodic inspection and renewable finish; mixed systems need access to lights, hardware or replaceable components. | $$$ |
Selection guidance
Not sure about the material? That is our job.
We choose the material and fabrication route against the whole brief, not a sample chip. A visually similar result can require a completely different internal structure, finish or production method depending on where and how it will be used.
- Form and detail
- Scale and weight
- Indoor or outdoor exposure
- UV, moisture and freeze-thaw
- Touch and impact risk
- Required lifespan
- Maintenance expectations
- Budget and quantity
- Packaging, delivery and installation
Technology without guesswork
Modern tools make custom work faster, clearer and more precise
Technology reduces avoidable modelling time and lets us test more directions before material is committed. Human specialists remain responsible for artistic judgement and production readiness.
AI-assisted exploration
Rapidly compare shapes, proportions, settings and finishes before committing to a concept direction.
3D scanning and photogrammetry
Capture an object on site around Ottawa or reconstruct usable geometry remotely from suitable photographs.
Digital sculpting and CAD
Develop organic form, dimensional interfaces, sections, assembly logic and production tolerances.
Photorealistic visualization
Approve form, scale, material, colour and finish, including a view inside a photograph of the real space.
Prototyping and 3D printing
Test scale, fit, assembly and surface before a full-size or premium production process.
Production-specific files
Adapt geometry and documentation to the selected fabricator, machine, mould or assembly method.
See it before it is made
You approve the sculpture—not a surprise
Before fabrication, we create a photorealistic visualization of the approved model. When site fit matters, we can place it into your photograph to check scale, sight lines, colour and relationship to the surroundings. Production-driven changes are explained and approved before they proceed.
- Form and proportion
- Scale in the real setting
- Material and colour
- Surface and finish
- Base, attachment and orientation
From idea to finished object
A controlled process with approval at every important decision
The first response, feasibility questions and preliminary range arrive within 24 hours. Exact production timing depends on the chosen process.
01
Describe the idea
Send any references, approximate size, location and intended use.
02
Initial review
Receive questions, feasibility feedback and a preliminary range within 24 hours.
03
Approve design phase
Confirm the design scope and fund the separate concept and modelling phase.
04
Review concepts
Compare focused directions and select the one to develop.
05
Approve model and render
Review the 3D form and photorealistic visualization before production planning is locked.
06
Confirm production plan
Approve material, finish, logistics, final scope and final estimate.
07
Start production
Fund the fabrication milestone and begin the chosen manufacturing process.
08
Follow progress
Receive updates and approve any necessary, clearly explained changes.
09
Final approval
Review final photos or video before dispatch, delivery or installation.
10
Receive and support
Receive the object, care guidance, written warranty and ongoing support.
What we create
From a single collectible to repeatable architectural production
Every project begins as a custom brief. When repeat production is needed, the master, mould, segmentation and quality-control method are designed for the required volume.
01Figurative
Custom statues and figurative sculpture
Create an original figure or reinterpret a public-domain classical reference around your space and preferred scale. We develop the pose, silhouette, material and base as one composition.
02Portrait
Portrait busts from photos or scans
Turn suitable photographs, a 3D scan or a guided capture session into a dimensional portrait. Likeness, expression and finish are reviewed before the object enters production.
03Animal
Pet and animal sculpture
Capture the proportions, character and familiar posture of an animal from the references you have. The result can be intimate and realistic or simplified into a more architectural form.
04Commemorative
Memorial and commemorative objects
Develop a discreet object that holds personal meaning without relying on a catalogue memorial shape. Names, dates, symbols and integrated landscape details are handled with restraint.
05Outdoor
Outdoor and garden sculpture
Design a focal point for a garden, entrance, terrace or pool environment. Drainage, anchoring, winter exposure, sight lines and maintenance are considered from the first model.
06Replica
Replica, resized and re-materialized objects
Scan or remodel an existing object when the rights allow it, then change its scale, surface or production system. Missing digital geometry can be reconstructed before fabrication.
07Contemporary
Abstract and contemporary art objects
Translate a mood, movement or spatial idea into a form designed specifically for its setting. We can explore colour, reflection, translucency and mixed construction before committing to production.
08Functional
Sculptural benches and seating
Combine an expressive form with real comfort, structure and weather performance. The seating height, edges, drainage, fixing and human contact points are engineered with the sculpture.
09Light
Illuminated sculpture and light objects
Use light as a material through translucent bodies, concealed sources or reflected surfaces. Components remain accessible for service and are specified for the intended environment.
10Relief
Decorative panels and reliefs
Create dimensional wall surfaces, narrative reliefs or repeatable decorative panels. Masters, seams and module sizes are planned around installation access and the required pattern continuity.
11Ornament
Tiles, cornices and architectural ornaments
Develop a completely custom profile, corner, tile or ornament for an interior or façade. Complex repeats and transitions are resolved digitally before moulding, machining or printing.
12Furniture
Furniture and mixed-media functional art
Build tables, consoles, screens and usable objects where sculpture carries a practical function. Wood, metal, resin, stone, light and upholstery can be coordinated in one production package.
13Commercial
Hospitality and retail installations
Create a memorable object for a lobby, restaurant, boutique or private commercial environment. The design accounts for traffic, cleaning, fire requirements, installation windows and brand context.
14Edition
Small editions and repeat production
Plan a one-off concept so it can become a controlled small series without losing its finish. The master, mould, segmentation, numbering and quality checks are matched to the volume.
Examples and directions
Twenty ways an idea can take physical form
Classical or contemporary, decorative or functional, indoors or outside: each image is a starting direction that can be adapted to your setting, use and material.
Figurative
Custom statues and figurative sculpture
Portrait
Portrait busts from photos or scans
Animal
Pet and animal sculpture
Commemorative
Memorial and commemorative objects
Outdoor
Outdoor and garden sculpture
Replica
Replica, resized and re-materialized objects
Contemporary
Abstract and contemporary art objects
Functional
Sculptural benches and seating
Light
Illuminated sculpture and light objects
Relief
Decorative panels and reliefs
Ornament
Tiles, cornices and architectural ornaments
Furniture
Furniture and mixed-media functional art
Commercial
Hospitality and retail installations
Edition
Small editions and repeat production
Water
Classical fountain for a summer courtyard
Translucent
Translucent poolside form
Metal
Reflective metal in a winter landscape
Surface
Custom ornamental tile wall
Mixed media
Mixed-media wall composition
Water + light
Private courtyard after dark
For design professionals
A discreet fabrication partner behind your client relationship
Architects, interior designers, landscape designers and professional sculptors can involve Renovation1 at concept, modelling or production stage. Communication stays as simple as possible through one project manager, with specialists joining only when their input improves the result.
Your client relationship stays yours. We can work visibly as Renovation1 or quietly behind your studio.
Discuss a trade project01
White-label collaboration
02
NDA and privacy by default
03
Trade and repeat-project terms
04
Collaboration with your project team
05
Lightweight drawings, CAD and 3D files accepted
06
Direct specialist communication when useful
Design-only worldwide
We can develop the object for a manufacturer near you
If physical fabrication in Canada is not practical, commission the concept, approved model and production package only. The package is adapted to the selected manufacturing partner rather than delivered as a generic decorative model.
Who it is for
For clients, architects and fabricators outside our practical Canadian delivery range—or whenever a trusted local manufacturer is already selected.
- 01
Define and visualize
We turn the brief into focused concepts and photorealistic views for approval.
- 02
Build the production model
We resolve dimensions, surfaces, interfaces, segmentation and assembly around the intended process.
- 03
Transfer and support
Your selected fabricator receives an adapted package, with specialist communication available during production.
The package can include
- Concept directions and photorealistic renders
- Production-ready 3D model
- Dimensions, sections and interfaces
- Part segmentation and assembly logic
- Material and finish recommendations
- Production drawings and specifications
- Fabricator communication during production
Made for the actual environment
The site is part of the sculpture
A durable object is not just a surface. We account for its geographic location, exposure, support, access and maintenance so that the production method fits the real conditions.
- Canadian freeze-thaw cycles
- UV, moisture, salts and temperature range
- Foundation, base and attachment
- Wind, touch and impact exposure
- Access, lifting and installation sequence
- Drainage and water paths
- Packaging and transport loads
- Care and inspection access
Cost and timeline
Clear drivers instead of a misleading fixed price
Custom sculpture can range from a compact printed object to a large engineered installation. We provide a preliminary range after reviewing the idea and confirm the production estimate after the approved model, material and logistics are defined.
What changes cost
- Size and detail
- Master model and moulds
- Material and internal structure
- Engineering and attachment
- Finish and patina
- Quantity and repeatability
- Packaging and shipping
- Delivery and installation
What changes duration
- Concept complexity
- Number and speed of approvals
- Scanning and modelling scope
- Chosen production technology
- Material and specialist availability
- Curing, casting or machining time
- Finishing and quality control
- Freight and installation planning
Clear terms and care
Private by default. Approved before production. Supported after delivery.
Confidentiality
Your address, private-space photography, likeness, source files, design, visualization and finished object remain private. Publication requires separate written permission; NDA and white-label work are available.
Milestone approvals
Design and production are separate paid phases. The model, render, material, finish, scope and logistics are approved before fabrication; later scope changes require a written change order.
Design rights
The physical object transfers after full payment. Copyright, source files and reproduction rights follow the written commission terms. A unique commissioned design is not reproduced for another client.
Warranty and care
Every production project receives a written, material-specific workmanship warranty, normally within a one-to-five-year range depending on the system and responsibility. Care instructions and paid post-warranty support are available.
Custom sculpture questions, answered
How much does a custom sculpture cost?
There is no useful universal price. Size, detail, modelling, material, engineering, finish, quantity, packaging, shipping and installation all matter. After reviewing your references, location and approximate dimensions, we reply with questions and a preliminary range within 24 hours.
How long does a custom sculpture take?
Timing depends on concept complexity, approvals, scanning or modelling, production technology, material availability, finishing and logistics. We define a project schedule after the design scope is clear and confirm it before production begins.
Can you work from a photo or rough idea?
Yes. A sentence, photograph, reference image or rough sketch is enough to begin. Better references improve the first review, but technical drawings are not required before contacting us.
Can an existing object be copied or resized?
Yes, when you have the required rights or the source is in the public domain. We can scan or remodel an object, repair missing digital geometry, change its scale and adapt it to a different material. We are not offering restoration of the original object in this service.
Which sculpture materials work outdoors in Canada?
Several systems can work: appropriately designed concrete or GFRC, composites, selected metals, suitable stone and engineered hybrid assemblies. The correct answer depends on geometry, moisture paths, UV, freeze-thaw exposure, location, anchoring and maintenance—not the material name alone.
How do you choose the right material?
We compare form, detail, size, weight, exposure, expected lifespan, maintenance, budget, quantity, packaging and installation. We then recommend the material and internal construction that best serve the complete brief.
Can I see the sculpture before it is made?
Yes. You approve a 3D model and photorealistic visualization before production. When useful, we also place it into a photograph of the intended space to check scale, orientation, colour and context.
Can you make a portrait or pet sculpture?
Yes. We can develop portraits, busts and animal sculpture from suitable photographs, scans or a live capture session. The quantity and quality of references determine how accurately a likeness can be developed.
Can my architect or designer provide the files?
Yes. We work with architects, interior and landscape designers, sculptors and modellers. We can begin from drawings, CAD, a 3D model or a complete production specification and adapt the package to the selected manufacturing process.
Can I buy only the design and production files?
Yes. Design-only service is available worldwide. Depending on the scope, the package can include concepts, renders, an approved model, dimensions, sections, segmentation, assembly logic, material guidance and communication with your chosen fabricator.
Where do you ship and install?
Physical projects are designed, made and shipped across Canada. Renovation1 delivery and installation are available within 100 km of Ottawa. Design-only work is available worldwide. Freight, packaging and installation are quoted for each object.
Who owns the design and 3D model?
The physical object becomes yours after full payment. Copyright, source files, reproduction rights and commercial licensing depend on the written commission agreement and the participating authors. Broader rights or source-file transfer can be priced separately.
What warranty is included?
Each production project receives a written warranty for workmanship and manufacturing defects, tailored to material, finish, exposure, supplier coverage and installation responsibility. The practical range is commonly one to five years, not a universal promise for every object.
Will my project remain private?
Yes. Client identity, address, private photographs, files, design and finished object are confidential by default. We publish only with separate written permission and can work under an NDA or white-label arrangement.
Can you produce more than one copy?
Yes. A project can be designed as a unique one-off or as a controlled small series. When repeats are required, we select the master, mould, segmentation and quality-control method around the quantity, finish consistency and target cost.
Project brief
Describe the idea. We will define the way to make it.
Share what you know now: intended use, approximate size, location, style, timing and any lightweight references. If a file is too large, add a private share link instead.
First response, feasibility questions and a preliminary range within 24 hours.