All posts by Christopher Tipping

I am an experienced Artist working in Public Realm, Urban Regeneration and Healthcare environments for Local Authorities, NHS Trusts and the Private Sector. I am a graduate of the Royal College of Art - I work within diverse, multi-disciplinary project teams delivering major Capital Projects as well as smaller schemes funded entirely from charitable donations. I have delivered projects in sensitive Healthcare environments such as Mental Health, Chemotherapy and Cancer working and liaising directly with all service users and clinical staff. I offer clients multi-disciplinary skills ranging from contextual research to working with a diverse materials palette and have a broad knowledge of current practice in the built environment. I propose to influence design processes and outcomes from the outset via contextual, site-specific research and collaborative consultation. My work focuses on place & identity, with particular emphasis on local vernacular and how this is preserved, exposed & expressed as a visual narrative, telling stories about context and place. I am fascinated by the natural and man-made world. Geology, botany, species diversity, archaeology and astronomy: a continual enlightenment and am equally inspired by our collective human achievement in language, music, architecture - including our communities and the way we navigate & use our man-made space. I would hope to contribute positively to your projects by bringing the minutiae of nature and human existence into focus and to reinterpret this on a larger, more visible scale, affirming the natural and human in what can sometimes be unnatural, de-humanised public spaces. Christopher Tipping

‘Murmuration’, Jubilee Building, Musgrove Park Hospital

I have been associated with Musgrove Park Hospital since 2005, when I was appointed as Lead Artist for External Spaces, a role specifically commissioned to  influence the design process of the Hospital Trust’s 10 year development plan, particularly in regard to external landscape. It resulted in a Design Vision document issued in 2006. This project was managed on behalf of the Trust, by the Art for Life Co-ordinator, Bronwen Gwillim, with whom I collaborated  until 2012, when she left the post.

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The ‘Murmuration’ project, which has just been manufactured & installed by Taunton Fabrications is one element of a wider interpretive art project I made in response to the development & construction of the new Jubilee Building Surgical Unit for Taunton & Somerset NHS Foundation Trust at Musgrove Park Hospital.

 

This new build project was managed by Steven Power, Senior Project Manager, Capital Projects Office on behalf of Taunton & Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The building was delivered by BAM Construction and designed by BDP Architects. It opened in April 2014.

I was commissioned for this particular project back in January 2010. The proposals for ‘Murmuration’, stood alongside other work I was asked to undertake on the project during this period which included:

 

The patterning, colour and proportion of the zinc panelled external elevations of the new building.

The 70th Anniversary Central Concourse Screen artwork, which certainly needs a better title than this ! See: http://christophertipping.co.uk/category/central-concourse-musgrove-park-hospital/

Hoardings artwork for the new building during its 2 years on site. Some images posted below.

Creative collaboration &  input into the E Tree Panel Project, which used the timber from the iconic Eisenhour Tree planted during WWII (which had to be removed to enable the new build) to create a wall based artwork for the interior of the building.

 

 

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The North West patterned zinc elevation with laser cut steel panels. Image: Taunton Fabrications
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The north west elevation and main entrance as seen from the adjacent graveyard. Image: Taunton Fabrications

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Bicester Community Hospital – draft artworks –

Bicester Community Hospital

We now have a schedule agreed and are working to issue draft artwork for comment and hopefully, approval by this time next week.

Detail: draft artwork -
Detail: draft artwork –

It was agreed that the principle we should follow is to develop a highly visual & primarily figurative narrative, which also provides a privacy screen between the users of the ward rooms and the external courtyards. The courtyard landscapes are brand new, with ground level put to grass and no planting at height to provide cover or privacy screening. This has however provided the opportunity to create a new and imaginary landscape, which bridges the gap between figurative and recognisable details and structures from the external landscape, alongside abstract and original forms and patterns found within the artwork.

The works are to be digitally printed onto optically clear vinyl in layers of opaque and transparent white, with some added colour. The attention to detail will be focussed on a horizontal band across the mid section of the glazing screen to provide privacy. The top section will be left clear, so that uninterrupted views of the sky can be had. We are working closely with Guardian Window Film to manufacture & install the work.

Detail: draft artwork development -
Detail: draft artwork development –

These images are simply the first steps in creating a visual language and narrative for the project. The artwork is being developed as a long rectangular landscape – as a view through a window – . Each of the 10 ward rooms – each with a window, will be detailed with a section of this work, to give the appearance that each room has a unique identity and view of its own.

Detail from sketchbooks
Detail from sketchbooks
Detail form sketchbooks
Detail form sketchbooks
Detail: draft artwork in black & white
Detail: draft artwork in black & white

The artwork draft above shows the printed artwork as shades and layers of opaque white. The black areas will show as clear glass in the final works.

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Detail: draft artwork – Mock up of vinyl application on the glazing screen in one of the ward rooms.

There are 10 small one & two bed ward rooms arranged in two ward blocks within the new hospital by Nightingale Architects. The rooms are full of natural light and the interior colour schemes are muted and calm, with the odd spot of brighter colour, such as the chair. The artwork manifestation will respond to this scheme. The views through the windows are now partially obscured, providing a degree of privacy for the user, whilst also maintaining sufficient clear glass to allow natural light and changing weather conditions to be seen.

Detail: Draft Artwork
Detail: Draft Artwork
Detail: Iconography has been developed for the project using drawings of leaves and branching structures to create original & imagined plants. These are not botanical illustrations, rather, an impression of a landscape imagined.
Detail: Iconography has been developed for the project using drawings of leaves and branching structures to create original & imagined plants. These are not botanical illustrations, rather, an impression of a landscape imagined.
Detail: Iconography
Detail: Iconography
Detail: Iconography
Detail: Iconography
Detail: Draft artwork for 3 x Chrysanthemums - various textures and transparencies
Detail: Draft artwork for 3 x Chrysanthemums – various textures and transparencies
Detail: draft artwork
Detail: draft artwork

 

 

Central Chelmsford – York Stone steps in progress

Works are well underway by the Ashfield Group to manufacture and supply the artwork step details to the project. The double height steps in York Stone are being inset with a darker granite text detail set into the face of the riser, which is part of the art interpretation on site. These double height steps will also have a slatted timber top, which creates ad hoc seating within the main sequence of steps at the southern end of the site. The timber will also carry cnc routed text.

Individual water jet cut granite letters are inset into York Stone, which has had the word already cut by water jet as a negative space. Image by Ashfield Group
Individual water jet cut granite letters are inset into York Stone, which has had the word already cut by water jet as a negative space. Image by Ashfield Group
The letters are cut from granite tiles. Image by Ashfield Group
The letters are cut from granite tiles. Image by Ashfield Group
Waterjet Cutting the stone (4)
Image by Ashfield Group
Image by Ashfield Group
Image by Ashfield Group
Image by Ashfield Group
Image by Ashfield Group
Image by Ashfield Group
Image by Ashfield Group
Image by Ashfield Group
The finished step block with negative text space awaiting granite letters to be inset. Image by Ashfield Group
Finished ! Image by Ashfield Group
Finished ! Image by Ashfield Group

 

Central Chelmsford – artworks in progress

The timber seating units for The Gate – a set of 6 radius benches with cnc routed text – are currently being installed at the Central Chelmsford site. The benches are being manufactured by City Squared in Leeds & installed by Ground Control. The designs were developed in collaboration with City Squared.  The cnc routed text refers to the history, location and memory of the space & is defined by the adjacency of the Anne Knight Building, which has been refurbished & is considered the anchor building of the development site.

Plan drawing showing the arrangement of radius timber benches within the area known as The Gate.
Plan drawing showing the arrangement of radius timber benches within the area known as The Gate.
One of the benches in the factory during manufacture by City Squared.
One of the benches in the factory during manufacture by City Squared. Image by City Squared.
Detail: Timber sections set out in the factory. Note the cnc routed text.
Detail: Timber sections set out in the factory. Note the cnc routed text. Image by City Squared.
For engineering & structural reasons, the long arcs of the benches had to be constructed in two sections.
For engineering & structural reasons, the long arcs of the benches had to be constructed in two sections. Image by City Squared
Each of the benches has a timber upstand end against which one can rest or lean. The timber detail is reinforced with a stainless steel internal frame and horizontal steel pins.
Each of the benches has a timber upstand end against which one can rest or lean. The timber detail is reinforced with a stainless steel internal frame and horizontal steel pins. Image by City Squared
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The detailing is very well engineered and finished. Image by City Squared
The timber benches sit atop a brick built plinth, which mirrors the semi circular setting out of the site. The benches here have not be fully installed and fastened.
The timber benches sit atop a brick built plinth, which mirrors the semi circular setting out of the site. The benches here have not be fully installed and fastened. Image by Ground Control

 

 

Detail of cnc routed text
Detail of cnc routed text. The benches are constructed in two sections. The sections have yet to be aligned during installation. Image by Ground Control
Image by City Squared.
Image by City Squared.

 

Bicester Community Hospital

Wednesday 1st October 2014

I have just been commissioned by Tom Cox, Artscape Project Manager for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust to create artwork for the new Bicester Community Hospital.  The new hospital is being delivered by Kajima & Nightingale Architects alongside Mansell Construction – now part of Balfour Beatty Construction UK.

Bicester Community Hospital - Image by Kajima.co.uk
Bicester Community Hospital – Image by Kajima.co.uk

The new works will be digitally printed onto optically clear vinyl and applied to the glazed window & door screens of 10 ward rooms throughout the building.

Typical glazed integrated door & window screen for digitally printed artwork.
Typical glazed integrated door & window screen for digitally printed artwork.

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External view of ground floor elevation with glazed screens
External view of ground floor elevation with glazed screens

 

The work is being manufactured and installed to my designs by Guardian Window Film.

 

‘Heart of the Campus’, Sheffield Hallam University – Phase 2 Manifestations

Wednesday 1st October 2014

Yesterday the university client approved the Phase 2 artworks for the glazing artwork manifestations at the new ‘Heart of the Campus’ building for Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Campus.

The project was delivered by Graham Construction and HLM Architects.

The digitally printed glazing manifestation artworks will be manufactured and installed by VGL.

 

VGL's production artwork with annotations by the artist in red & blue -
VGL’s production artwork with annotations by the artist in red & blue –

 

Phase 2 draft artwork with production notes -
Phase 2 draft artwork with production notes –

 

Phase 2 artwork draft with production notes - detail
Phase 2 artwork draft with production notes – detail
Phase 2 artwork drafts with artist production notes - detail
Phase 2 artwork drafts with artist production notes – detail
Phase 2 artwork drafts with artist production notes - detail
Phase 2 artwork drafts with artist production notes – detail
Print
Phase 2 artwork draft in full –
Phase 2 - Detail of artist draft -
Phase 2 – Detail of artist draft –

 

Phase 2 - detail of artist draft -
Phase 2 – detail of artist draft –

 

Phase 2 - detail, artist draft -
Phase 2 – detail, artist draft –

Central Chelmsford – glazing artworks approved

Thursday 18th September 2014

The draft designs for the digitally printed vinyl manifestations to the glazed curtain wall at CentralChelmsford was approved some time ago, but I have omitted to post any images for some obscure reason !
Here they are !  –

14-07-15 glazing screen v1

 

Draft artwork for digitally printed vinyl to main entrance screen and lobby
Draft artwork for digitally printed vinyl to main entrance screen and lobby

In a similar approach as that adopted for my recent manifestation project at Sheffield Hallam University, which is a print-white only process, layering transparent & opaque detail onto optically clear vinyl. This project is being delivered in collaboration with VGL Ltd

Detail: Digitally printed vinyl manifestation to the glazed entrance lobby screen
Detail: Digitally printed vinyl manifestation to the glazed entrance lobby screen

 

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Detail: Digitally printed vinyl manifestation to the glazed entrance lobby screen

 

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Detail: Digitally printed vinyl manifestation to the glazed entrance lobby screen

Central Chelmsford

Central Chelmsford Site Visit – Monday 2nd September 2014

Anne Knight of Chelmsford
Anne Knight of Chelmsford – Detail: ‘Anne’, sandblasted text motif in Royal Green granite by Hardscape

Client: Genesis Housing Association – Main Contractor: Denne – Project Managers: Bidwells – Architects: PTE architects – Landscape Architects: Area Landscape Architects – Arts Consultant: Frances Lord

507 new homes as well as retail and offices will make up the new development. The project is delivering a blueprint for a new community in Chelmsford.

The site has a number of key buildings once part of Anglia Ruskin University, which are being partly or wholly retained and refurbished. These are the Frederick Chancellor Building of 1905 and the Law Building of 1931.

One of the most historic & resonant as well as the earliest buildings on the site is the Grade II listed Anne Knight building, a former Friends Meeting House from 1824. Named after one of Chelmsford’s most distinguished women, Anne Knight 1786 – 1862.

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Anne Knight was a Quaker and a stalwart Anti Abolitionist, one of very few women to attend the World Anti Slavery Convention meeting held in London in 1840. She would have attended this Quaker Meeting House, now named after her. This is the key anchor building on site.
Anne Knight Building
The refurbished Anne Knight Building with new public realm

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The view of The Gate with its blue black brick curved elevation. This area is intended as a public open space, extending the forecourt and public realm of Chelmsford Station. The ground floor elevations are glazed and the interiors will be used as retail and food outlets.

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Looking South, through the aperture into The Place. The elevation of The Gate is dynamic & brooding. The crisp detailing is pared down. A facade of cantilevered black balconies appear to jut out from deep into the interior of the building from recessed windows.

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Looking south towards Central Park through The Place. The main pedestrian route will be on the left of this image, with the remaining site will be landscaped as a formal courtyard garden for residents and visitors alike

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The view north, towards  the Station from within The Place

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These are both samples of text to be used in the interpretive artwork which is embedded throughout the site. The sample on the left is York Stone with inset water jet cut grey granite, by Ashfield Ltd. Inset text such as this is used for step risers at the south of the site. The sandblasted sample on the right is part of a Royal Green granite paving supplied by Hardscape , called The Stream which runs continuously through the site north to south. Both interventions are based on contextual and site specific research I undertook.

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Day Treatment Unit, Cancer Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford

Tuesday 16th September 2014, Oxford Churchill Hospital, DTU, Cancer Centre I came up to Oxford today to review the installation of the wall-covering artwork along with VGL and the Trust Arts Coordinator, Ruth Charity. The DTU is an oncology & haematology day unit delivering chemotherapy & other cancer related treatments. The staff delivering this service are the most dedicated and hardworking group of people. How they have made time to collaborate and input into this project has been truly brilliant and a pertinent and sharp reminder that projects such as this succeed because of a positive buy in & contribution by staff and stakeholders alike. The work is created around a central core ‘island’ of offices and consulting rooms about which day treatment chemotherapy services are delivered. Most of the chairs and beds face onto this central island, meaning that most patients spend hours at a time over many weeks or even years staring at dull, blank walls, during treatment, rather than out of the windows behind them, which incidentally are too high to see through. A concept approach was developed to change this dull & monotonous view into a contemplative and softly illuminated abstract vista, interrupted by the suggested shadows of overhanging branches and foliage with dappled light breaking through.

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Corridor linking Chemotherapy Waiting Room to Oncology day treatment room
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Haematology treatment space
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Nurse Station

 

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Detail: Digitally printed vinyl wall covering
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Detail: Digitally printed vinyl wall covering

 

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Nurse Station

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Patient and visitor drinks station
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Corridor linking Oncology day treatment space with the Chemotherapy waiting room
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Haematology treatment space nurse station
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Detail: Patient & visitor drinks station
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Haematology treatment space nurse station
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Detail
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Detail
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Detail
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Detail with penguins
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Detail
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Oncology treatment space main nurse station
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Hand wash station
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Oncology nurse station – Detail of wall covering
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Haematology treatment space – Detail of wall covering