Industrial mesh fabrication by Saintleo shapes music event environment
Saintleo developed the AMG x Salomon Grammys Party installation for Atlantic Records as a material-driven spatial intervention connecting music culture, fabrication, and scenographic presence. Produced for a live event environment in Los Angeles and fabricated in New York, the project centered on translating industrial material language into a performative architectural system. Through disciplined detailing and controlled material treatment, the installation articulated a relationship between sound, structure, and surface that aligned with the spatial energy of a music-focused gathering.
Design and fabrication began through close examination of silver-toned metals and transparency within a live performance context. Stainless steel formed the primary material foundation, selected for its reflectivity, durability, and capacity to register manual processing. Saintleo reinterpreted the iconic JBL 4345 speakers by encasing them in stainless steel, finished in a semi-polished state while preserving the raw character of the material. This approach maintained surface irregularities and manufacturing traces, reinforcing the physical presence of fabrication while extending the speakers’ visual identity beyond conventional audio equipment.
Each speaker assembly was integrated into individually fabricated stainless steel mesh stands that expanded the installation’s material vocabulary across multiple components. The same mesh language informed the DJ booth, completed with a polished stainless steel working surface that introduced contrast between refined and untreated finishes. Material continuity enabled spatial cohesion across the installation while supporting functional requirements for performance equipment and operator interaction.
The mesh elements originated as continuous metal rolls, undergoing a precise fabrication workflow. Sheets were measured, flat-patterned, and cut into modular sections before assembly began. Individual wires were manually stitched together, transforming a flexible industrial product into rigid structural components. Through repetition and labor-intensive joining techniques, the material transitioned from pliable stock into architectural form. This transformation underscored the role of process as a design driver, where construction methods contributed directly to spatial definition and perceived scale.
Operating between object design and environmental installation, the project emphasized disciplined restraint across detailing, composition, and finish selection. Stainless steel surfaces retained their tactile qualities, allowing imperfections and reflections to activate under event lighting conditions while maintaining technical robustness. The resulting environment established a dialogue between craftsmanship, industrial fabrication, and sound-based culture, positioning material assembly as both functional infrastructure and visual framework.
Saintleo’s broader practice contextualizes this installation within a multidisciplinary trajectory rooted in engineering, architecture, and music culture. Founded by Leon McKay following engineering studies in Melbourne and early development in Auckland as an architectural project workshop, the studio has since established its base in Brooklyn, New York. Its output spans collaborative installations, limited-edition objects, and spatial interventions, consistently emphasizing material experimentation and construction-led design thinking.
All images courtesy of Saintleo
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