Curved installation: following organic property lines in Melbourne

Not every property boundary can be described by a straight line. In residential projects with high architectural expectations, the layout of fencing often follows the geometry of the street, the arrangement of vegetation, view corridors, and the relationship between the building and the surrounding landscape. This was the case with a FANCY FENCE installation in Melbourne, where the property frontage required a gate that followed a curved line.

This project gave rise to what is now informally known as the Banana Gate concept – a curved version of the vertical gate. The starting point was a very specific site condition: a property located at the rounded end of a cul-de-sac where a conventional sliding or swing gate could not follow the curvature of the frontage without compromising both spatial layout and visual composition.

Unlike traditional gate solutions, FANCY FENCE as a vertical retractable gate system does not require side clearance for sliding or swing movement. The panel lowers vertically into a reinforced concrete vault, allowing the system to adapt to more complex site geometries. In practice, this means that fencing and entrances no longer impose a rigid straight line on the architecture. Instead, architecture and landscape design can determine the form of the gate.

This realization shows that retractable gate systems can function as a design tool rather than merely a technical component. In Melbourne the gate was not inserted into the project as a standard product – it was adapted to the site in order to preserve the organic property line and maintain the coherence of the landscape concept.

Technical challenges of curved installation (panel angles, synchronization)

The main challenge of the curved installation was translating a smooth property line into a precisely functioning mechanical structure. In the straight version of the system, the panels move vertically along a single axis. In the curved configuration, a structure had to be developed in which each element follows the defined arc while still operating as a coherent retractable gate.

This required several stages of design development:

• determining the exact curvature of the property frontage

• designing a curved reinforced concrete vault

• adapting the foundation layout to the arc-shaped structure

• rolling the steel profiles that connect the vertical palisades

• shaping the cover plates to match the curvature of the gate

In the standard system, vertical palisades are connected underground using long steel profiles fixed on both sides of the elements. In the curved version, these profiles had to be rolled into a precise arc, ensuring both structural integrity and visual rhythm.

Another critical aspect was synchronization. Although the operating principle remains identical to the straight-line system, the movement of all elements had to be coordinated to maintain consistent operation and smooth performance. In projects of this type there is no room for improvisation during installation. Everything must be calculated and prepared during the design and production stages.

Minimum achievable radius specifications

One of the key questions in curved installations is how tight the curve can be while still maintaining proper functionality and visual coherence.

There is no single universal value for the minimum radius because it depends on several factors:

• the width and proportions of individual panels

• the way panels are connected underground

• the geometry of the reinforced concrete vault

• the visual rhythm of the vertical elements

• the architectural concept of the project
  

In practice, this means that curvature is not a predefined catalogue option but the result of individual engineering calculations and design coordination. In the Melbourne project the goal was not to achieve the smallest possible radius but to create a curvature that naturally follows the property line while maintaining a balanced architectural composition.

From an architectural perspective, the curved version of FANCY FENCE is not simply about proving that a curved gate can be built. The curvature must correspond with the logic of the site, the proportions of the architecture, and the surrounding landscape. This ensures the gate remains an integrated element rather than an isolated design gesture.

Collaboration between manufacturer, architect, and contractor

A curved installation requires significantly closer cooperation between all project participants than a standard straight layout. The success of the Melbourne project resulted from the coordinated work of the architect, the manufacturer, and the contractor.

The architect defined the spatial concept and the geometry of the boundary line. The manufacturer translated this vision into a technically feasible solution based on a vertical retractable gate system. The contractor then implemented the design on site, particularly in preparing the reinforced concrete vault and installing the structure with the required precision.

Key elements of this process included:

• detailed construction drawings

• precise definition of the geometry before production

• coordination of structural details with the driveway surface

• adaptation of covers and drainage to the curved configuration

• verification of installation accuracy according to the design documentation

For the Fancy Fence team, the curved gate project in Australia was the first installation of this type. According to the project description, the greatest challenge was that everything had to be correct the first time. Any miscalculation discovered during installation would have required manufacturing new components and shipping them across the world. This highlights how crucial the design stage is in projects involving complex geometry.

How curvature affects costs and installation time

It would be misleading to assume that a curved gate is simply a straight gate bent into an arc. The curvature influences both the complexity of the design process and the time required for engineering and production.

Factors affecting cost and schedule include:

• individual geometric calculations

• preparation of custom technical drawings

• rolling structural steel profiles

• construction of a curved reinforced concrete vault

• adaptation of cover plates and finishing elements

However, in projects where architecture and landscape design are key priorities, this additional effort is not a luxury but rather the cost of preserving the integrity of the design.

Integration with existing vegetation and landscape elements

One of the most significant advantages of this project was that the gate did not force the landscape to adapt to its geometry. Instead, the design allowed the gate to follow the natural logic of the site.

When opened, the entire structure disappears below ground level, leaving the entrance and driveway visually unobstructed. This allows the landscape and architectural composition to remain dominant.

Such an approach is particularly important in projects where fencing forms part of a broader modern fence design concept, integrating architecture, landscape, and boundary elements into a coherent whole.

Comparison: why sliding/swing gates cannot achieve this

A sliding gate requires a straight track and sufficient space along the fence line for the gate leaf to move. A swing gate requires free space to allow the leaves to open.

Both systems impose a linear layout on the entrance area.

In contrast, a gate that retracts vertically into the ground operates within an underground vault and does not require additional space around the entrance. Because of this, the boundary line can follow almost any geometry.

The Melbourne installation demonstrates that in projects with organic site layouts and curved property lines, a gate that retracts vertically is not only possible but often the most logical solution.