Category Archives: Blog

Central Chelmsford – Large Platform Seat

25th November 2014

More images in today from  Hardscape detailing the manufacture of the large platform seat for Central Chelmsford.

Sandblasted granite seat by Christopher Tipping & Hardscape for Central Chelmsford. Image: Hardscape

Sandblasted granite seat by Christopher Tipping & Hardscape for Central Chelmsford. Image: Hardscape

Vinyl plotted with the design is applied to the granite slab before sandblasting.
Vinyl plotted with the design is applied to the granite slab before sandblasting.
AS the process continues, the vinyl is stripped away to reveal areas to be sandblasted.
AS the process continues, the vinyl is stripped away to reveal areas to be sandblasted.
The process is a skilled & precise one for Vlad to undertake. The slabs cannot be moved easily, so he has to move around the work.
The process is a skilled & precise one for Vlad to undertake. The slabs cannot be moved easily, so he has to move around the work.

Sandblasted granite seat by Christopher Tipping & Hardscape for Central Chelmsford. Image: Hardscape

The sandblast is no more than 2mm deep across the slab. The fine honed finish on the surface will be retained under the vinyl which still covers the letters.
The sandblast is no more than 2mm deep across the slab. The fine honed finish on the surface will be retained under the vinyl which still covers the letters.

Sandblasted granite seat by Christopher Tipping & Hardscape for Central Chelmsford. Image: Hardscape

Sandblasted granite seat by Christopher Tipping & Hardscape for Central Chelmsford. Image: Hardscape
The fine work is excellent. All the vinyl stencil which has been plotted and cut has to be weeded out by hand for sandblasting.
The four granite slabs which make up the large platform seat awaiting more sandblasting outside.
The four granite slabs which make up the large platform seat awaiting more sandblasting outside.

Sandblasted granite seat by Christopher Tipping & Hardscape for Central Chelmsford. Image: Hardscape

Sandblasted granite seat by Christopher Tipping & Hardscape for Central Chelmsford. Image: Hardscape

Sandblasted granite seat by Christopher Tipping & Hardscape for Central Chelmsford. Image: Hardscape

Granite slabs completed. When wet the granite will become almost uniformly dark. As the surface dries, the images and text will begin to reveal themselves. The areas with no sandblasting or shallow detail will dry out first.
Granite slabs completed. When wet the granite will become almost uniformly dark. As the surface dries, the images and text will begin to reveal themselves. The areas with no sandblasting or shallow detail will dry out first.

Sandblasted granite seat by Christopher Tipping & Hardscape for Central Chelmsford. Image: Hardscape

 

Central Chelmsford

Friday 21st November 

Hardscape have just completed sandblasting the large granite platform seat for my project at Burgess Springs, Central Chelmsford. They sent over a couple of images yesterday. Looking pretty good from here – really want to see more images !

Hard to convey to convey the size of this piece of work – each slab is approx. 1200mm x 1200mm.

I think they have done a great job – cant wait to see it installed on site.

Image: Hardscape - Large Granite Platform Seat in 4 sections, each 1200mm x 1200mm
Image: Hardscape – Large Granite Platform Seat in 4 sections, each 1200mm x 1200mm
Image: Hardscape - Large Platform Seat in 4 sections, each 1200mm x 1200mm
Image: Hardscape – Large Platform Seat in 4 sections, each 1200mm x 1200mm

 

The Whiteleaf Centre – A1 Prints

20th November 2014 

We have now agreed on which artworks will be delivered as A1 framed prints for the Trust Offices –

Draft Print 1 - The design was used for the Entrance Corridor glazed screen. It will be paired with Draft Print 2
Draft Print 1 – The design was used for the Entrance Corridor glazed screen. It will be paired with Draft Print 2

 

Draft Print 2 - The design was used for Ward A . It will be paired with Draft Print 1
Draft Print 2 – The design was used for Ward A . It will be paired with Draft Print 1

 

Draft Print 3 - Each tree design was used for the Large Meeting Room. It will be paired with Draft Print 4
Draft Print 3 – Each tree design was used for the Large Meeting Room. It will be paired with Draft Print 4
Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury. Wall covering artwork drafts. Artist Christopher Tipping
Draft Print 4 – Each tree design was used in Ward Hubs B & C. Both trees will be paired with Draft Print 3

 

The Whiteleaf Centre

I have been asked by Tom Cox, Artscape Project Manager for Oxford Heath NHS Foundation Trust, to prepare some draft artwork, based upon the designs for the Whiteleaf Hospital, which can be printed and framed for display at the Trust’s offices.

These are some of the draft images –

Draft - Street Trees 1. Image Christopher Tipping
Draft – Street Trees 1. Image Christopher Tipping
Draft artwork for Whiteleaf Centre Glazed Screens. Christopher Tipping
Draft artwork for Whiteleaf Centre Glazed Screens. Christopher Tipping
Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury. Draft artwork for glazed screens. Christopher Tipping
Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury. Draft artwork for glazed screens. Christopher Tipping
Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury. Draft artwork for glazed screens Christopher Tipping
Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury. Draft artwork for glazed screens Christopher Tipping
Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury. Draft artwork for glazed screens Christopher Tipping
Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury. Draft artwork for glazed screens Christopher Tipping

 

 

 

Central Chelmsford – Large Granite Platform Seat

One of the most striking & singular elements of the interpretation project at Burgess Springs,  Central Chelmsford is the large granite platform seat.

This feature is some 2.4m square & manufactured in 4 large units. The surface is being sandblasted with images and text, both inspired by the writing of Anne Knight of Chelmsford. 

The granite artwork is being project managed by Nigel Hudson, Masonry Product Manager  for  Hardscape at their premises at Long Marston, Stratford Upon Avon.  The sandblasting is being carried out by Masonry Manager, Vladimir Zonozicka. We have met several times to discuss and sample the process & the collaboration has in turn, resulted in a much more interesting peice of work.

The image shows the light coloured vinyl stencil applied to the granite surface. Some layers of sandblasting have already been achieved & these have the vinyl stripped away to reveal the sandblasted surface. The deepest blasting is no more than 2mm, but the effects can be striking, particularly when wet or in direct sunlight. Image: Hardscape
The image shows the light coloured vinyl stencil applied to the granite surface. Some layers of sandblasting have already been achieved & these have the vinyl stripped away to reveal the sandblasted surface. The deepest blasting is no more than 2mm, but the effects can be striking, particularly when wet or in direct sunlight. Image: Hardscape
The work is manufactured from a grey granite with a honed finish. The early artworks suggest a green colour - which was influenced by the Royal Green granite used for some paving detailing - this is not the case. Christopher Tipping for Central Chelmsford
The work is manufactured from a grey granite with a honed finish. The early artworks suggest a green colour – which was influenced by the Royal Green granite used for some paving detailing – this is not the case. Christopher Tipping for Central Chelmsford
Draft artwork in black & white with some text highlighted in red for the attention of the manufacturer, Hardscape. Christopher Tipping for Central Chelmsford
Draft artwork in black & white with some text highlighted in red for the attention of the manufacturer, Hardscape. Christopher Tipping for Central Chelmsford

 

 

 

Draft artwork in black & white with some text highlighted in red for the attention of the manufacturer, Hardscape. Christopher Tipping for Central Chelmsford
Draft artwork in black & white with some text highlighted in red for the attention of the manufacturer, Hardscape. Christopher Tipping for Central Chelmsford

 

Granite slab awaiting sandblasting by Hardscape. Christopher Tipping for Central Chelmsford
Granite slab awaiting sandblasting by Hardscape. Christopher Tipping for Central Chelmsford

 

The development scheme is being delivered on behalf of Genesis Housing by Denne & project managed by Bidwells.

Bicester Community Hospital

The art project is now completed on site with all the digitally printed panels installed.

I visited on Friday 14th November to review progress & the following images are taken from that visit.

External Landscape of the hospital - in progress
External Landscape of the hospital – in progress
Each of the 10 ward rooms has a variation upon a single design. This was achieved for both economy & to meet a very tight deadline.
Each of the 10 ward rooms has a variation upon a single design. This was achieved for both economy & to meet a very tight deadline.

The brief was built around the need for privacy in the rooms. Large glazed screens open up onto  a landscaped courtyard. Although these spaces are being planted with trees and some small shrubs, most of the space would be turfed. Patients, staff & visitors can still see out from the windows in the knowledge that their privacy was being maintained. Opaque and transparent layers with drawn & cut out detailing were created to provide some variation & changeability in the surface.

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

When the sun comes out, the shadows follow.
When the sun comes out, the shadows follow.

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

BIcester Community Hospital - artwork for glazed screens by Christopher Tipping

Detail: Section of digitally printed glazing vinyl installed.
Detail: Section of digitally printed glazing vinyl installed.

 

 

 

 

Southampton Station Quarter North

Thursday 13th November 2014 saw the last black basalt slab installed on Blechynden Terrace to complete the ‘Canal Shore’ artwork installation.

Left to right – Martin Miller and Jay Geary of Balfour Beatty, who have together installed all the 205 linear metres of the kerb edge artwork – which was manufactured and inlaid with text by Hardscape – along Blechynden Terrace and the forecourt of Central Station.

These were the brilliant guys on the ground who installed the Canal Shore works - Martin Miller & Jay Geary of Balfour Beatty. Image: Wilson Massie
These were the brilliant guys on the ground who installed the Canal Shore works – Martin Miller & Jay Geary of Balfour Beatty. Image: Wilson Massie

This almost – but not quite – completes the Phase 1 works for the Southampton Station Quarter North project being delivered by Balfour Beatty Living Places for Southampton City Council. This project is one of seven ‘Very Important Projects’ (VIP’S) & part of its City Centre Master Plan which will see one of Southampton’s most important gateways transformed into ‘an exciting arrival experience fit for a major city.’ 

Some more images of works in progress:

Image: Wilson Massie for Southampton Station Quarter North
Image: Wilson Massie for Southampton Station Quarter North
Image: Wilson Massie for Southampton Station Quarter North
Image: Wilson Massie for Southampton Station Quarter North
Christopher Tipping, project artist on site -
Christopher Tipping, project artist on site –

Christopher Tipping for Southampton Station Quarter North

The text just visible along the kerb edge reads: 'this route was known as THE STRAND, 'strata super Strondham', ...the street by the shore...' Christopher Tipping
The text just visible along the kerb edge reads: ‘this route was known as THE STRAND, ‘strata super Strondham’, …the street by the shore…’ Christopher Tipping

The site, adjacent to the shoreline of the Test Estuary has always been a point of confluence. The main route West in & out of the city ran along the shoreline and was known as The Strand. At a point marked by Achards Bridge, which replaced an ancient ford across the Rollesbrook Stream which enters the River Test at this point, the city boundary with Millbrook was established.

Today this site is near to the entrance to Southampton Central Station. You may cross the Rollesbrook Stream yourself each time you visit the station. The station is the gateway to the city & a critical hub & interchange.

The individual lines of texts are to be set out adjacent to the carriageway on the south side of Blechynden Terrace at site specific points along the ‘Canal Shore’ feature kerb line, & reveal in their expression something of the history and use of the local area. It is not a linear ‘narrative’ and has no specific start or finish. It will engage with people as and when they encounter the words. Some words and phrases have their origin in fact and are ‘on the record’, whilst some is anecdotal and ‘remembered’.

Christopher Tipping for Southampton Station Quarter North

The black basalt has inset light grey granite. When wet - as today was - the contracts is at it's greatest.
The black basalt has inset light grey granite. When wet – as today was – the contracts is at it’s greatest.

The text on these slabs is part of the following line – ‘The historic shoreline was here in 1846…the north shore of the River Test Estuary’

The 1846 Large Folio Royal Engineers Map held in the Southampton City Council Archive, is wonderfully accurate & detailed. It shows the planned route out over the mudflats of the unfinished ‘Dorchester Railway’. The shoreline was at this time still north of this point, with the high water mark reaching to what is now, the southern footpath of Blechynden Terrace & Southbrook Road. The historic curve of the Bay here is thought to be a meander of the ancient Solent River system.  SCC Libraries & Archive

 

‘Lost: August Kenzler, Age 43, Storekeeper on the RMS Titanic lived at 21 Blechynden Terrace’
‘Lost: August Kenzler, Age 43, Storekeeper on the RMS Titanic lived at 21 Blechynden Terrace’

August Kenzler was lost when the Titanic struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage. He was one of seven crewmen (from more than 720 from Southampton) who lived in the area bounded by our project.

John Henry Stagg – Steward – 1st Class – Lost – 66 Commercial Road

August Kenzler – Storekeeper – Age 43 – Lost – 21 (12) Blechynden Terrace

 Michael Stafford – Greaser – Age 37 – No 4 Southbrook Road

 Walter Edward Saunders – Trimmer – Age 25 – No1 Suffolk Sq (off Southbrook Road)

 Long – Trimmer – Age 28 – No 19 Sidford Street –

 William Logan Gwinn – Age 37 – No 4 Commercial Road

Bicester Community Hospital

13th November 2014 

The project was approved last week and the files went to print earlier this week. The last two days have seen most of the digitally printed vinyl installed.

Guardian Window Films have manufactured and installed the work at the new Bicester Community Hospital. This new hospital, which has yet to open has been commissioned by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust & was delivered by Kajima with construction partner Mansell with IBI Nightingale Architects. The artwork project was commissioned by Artscape 
for Oxford Health.

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14-11-07 MASTER ARTWORK
Final Artwork – all black areas will print as clear
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Final Artwork – draft with production marks –
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Drawing / Model – Draft room plan and applied manifestations
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Detail: single panel installed – Image: Tom Cox, Artscape

 

BICESTER HOSPITAL ROOM PLAN

 

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Image: Tom Cox, Artscape

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Image: Tom Cox, Artscape
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Image: Tom Cox, Artscape
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Image: Tom Cox, Artscape

Central Concourse – Musgrove Park Hospital

13th November 2014, Ramsgate

’70 years on…’ CENTRAL CONCOURSE SCREEN FOR THE JUBILEE BUILDING, MUSGROVE PARK HOSPITAL

I recently came across the work of the photographer, John Seaman, who had been commissioned by the main contractor for the Jubilee Building BAM to make a photographic record. Very lucky for me, that he has a great eye for catching the spirit & intent of the tensile artwork and its relationship to the building and interior space. ’70 years on…’ was a collaboration with Architen Landrell & VGL Vinyl Graphics  & was commissioned by Musgrove Park Hospital Capital Projects Office & Art for Life

 

'70 years on...' Tensile Artwork, Central Concourse, Jubilee Building.  Image: John Seaman Photography
’70 years on…’ Tensile Artwork, Central Concourse, Jubilee Building.  Image: John Seaman Photograph
Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman Photography
Detail of transparent layering of the tensile screen. Image: John Seaman Photography
Detail of transparent layering of the tensile screen. Image: John Seaman Photograph

The Central Concourse Screen ’70 years on…’ was created to celebrate the delivery of the Jubilee Surgical Building & the 70th Anniversary of Musgrove Park Hospital. The project was Heritage Lottery funded.

The work is presented as a digitally printed tensile fabric screen made of 26 individually printed panels. It is supported by a bespoke lightweight aluminium & stainless steel double-sided ladder frame 21m x 1.8m, which is itself hung from 3 steel supporting columns of the Central Concourse building. The design & manufacture of the tensile screen and its method of digital printing balance well with the content of the work & its evocation of the past to present a contemporary artwork in a 21st Century Hospital.

The artwork is presented as a landscape, which, other than at each end, where curved steel panels protect the structure, the artwork can be viewed as a continual narrative sequence. However, this is not a timeline or a linear narrative, which has to be viewed in a particular way or from a particular viewpoint. The observer can simply roll up at any point along its 42m length and begin a journey or their own.

Text was employed in the design as both an aid to the visual narrative & to emphasize the importance of the hospital’s archive collection in this 70th Anniversary year. It also recalls individual and collective voices from the last 70 years. The work done by Louise Donovan, an archivist working with staff and patients past and present to recall their experiences working here has been included in “Sensing our Past”. 70 years of Musgrove Park Hospital’, published in 2012

Words have been used to draw with, or to conjure up the dynamic energy of the hospital. It is presented in a variety of ways, for example, following the line of the Galmington Stream, which runs along the boundary of the Hospital, or as a gestural expression, such as the whirlwind vortex drawing, or a simple circle of fine white text.

They are an eclectic and often mis-matched set of words, evocative of half remembered memories, anecdotes and stories, (as opposed to reproducing hard facts and figures within a fixed timeline). There are perhaps more ‘distant’ voices from early in the life of the hospital, particularly from it’s wartime experience, but I feel this is the way with memory – recall is distant and suggestive of the ‘good old days’.

Some elements within the artwork are obviously and easily recognizable, such as the iconic Eisenhower Tree & Galmington Stream, whilst others are abstract and elusive. A great number of the references are archival in origin, such as the colours, which were influenced by boxes of medical artifacts, some in the original packaging.

Bunches of flowers appear from between the seam joints, which evoke the Lily of the Valley presented to HM The Queen Mother or flowers given by visitors, which were held in vases attached to columns in the Nightingale wards.

The photographic archive too, which contains hundreds of images of staff at work and celebrating events such as Christmas & retirements, as well as visits by Royalty, or the American World Heavyweight Boxer, Joe Louis and the entertainer Bob Hope, who both visited the Hospital during World War II.

My own personal experience of being a part of this Hospital community since 2005, when I was appointed Lead Artist on the 10 year Hospital development programme is also evident in magery influenced by past projects undertaken here.

 

Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman Photograph
Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman Photograph
Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman Photograph
Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman Photograph
Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman Photograph
Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman Photography
Image: John Seaman
Image: John Seama

 

 

‘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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