Category Archives: Blog

Tensile Screen, Central Concourse, Jubilee Building, Musgrove Park Hospital

The Jubilee Building Central Concourse Project at Musgrove Park Hospital has now completed on site and the new surgical building was fully opened on 7th April 2014.

This art commission was led by Steven Power, Senior Project Manager for Capital Projects at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton along with Architects BDP and Contractor BAM. Specialist contractors Architen Landrell, Metafab Solutions Ltd and Digital Printers VGL were all integral to the success of the design & production. Bronwen Gwillim, formally Art Co-ordinator of Art for Life at the Hospital initially led the commissioning and early stages of the art project in 2012, and handed over to Lisa Harty in her new role as Arts Co-ordinator to oversee its completion.

The tensile artwork, funded by the Heritage Lottery celebrates the completion of the Jubilee Building as well as commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Hospital originally founded as a US Field Hospital in World War Two.  I worked with the Hospital archive and the archivist Louise Donovan as well as bringing my own experience to bear, having been associated with the Hospital for the last 7 years and Lead Artist on a number of projects.

Final Artwork for the front elevation of the screen.
Final Artwork for the front elevation of the screen.
A library of images was built up with which to collage the artwork. These individual motifs all have a part of the visual narrative to present.
A library of images was built up with which to collage the artwork. These individual motifs all have a part of the visual narrative to present.

Detail: draft artwork

 

Installation in progress in Central Concourse
Installation in progress in Central Concourse
Detail: draft detail for tensile screen
Detail: draft detail for tensile screen
Tensile Screen as seen from from Level 1of Central Concourse
Tensile Screen as seen from from Level 1of Central Concourse
Tensile frame under construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd working for Architen Landrell
Tensile frame under construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd working for Architen Landrell
Tensile frame in construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd
Tensile frame in construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd

 

 

Tensile frame in production by Metafab Solutions Ltd
Tensile frame in production by Metafab Solutions Ltd
Tensile frame under construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd
Tensile frame under construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd
Digitally printed tensile fabric being processed for panel assmbly at Architen Landrell
Digitally printed tensile fabric being processed for panel assmbly at Architen Landrell
photo 3
Digitally printed tensile fabric produced by VGL in Reading, being prepared for panel assembly at Architen Landrell
Tensile screen installation in progress.
Tensile screen installation in progress.

 

 

 

Heart of the Campus – Design Approval

On Monday 23rd July, the draft designs for the Heart of the Campus project were approved by the board. I am now starting to work with the Cutting Room in Huntingdon to begin sampling the cnc routing process.

A few of the draft elements which  made up the scheme
A few of the draft elements which made up the scheme
Draft proposal for cnc routed 'drawing' on Rockpanel rainscreen
Draft proposal for cnc routed ‘drawing’ on Rockpanel rainscreen

West Elevation detail

‘Bransholme Seed Cloud’. Winifred Holtby & Tweendykes Schools

‘Bransholme Seed Cloud’

The area around Bransholme has been farmed, cultivated, reclaimed & regenerated slowly over a period of 1000 years. In 1966 the green landscape of ditches & fields was to change dramatically & radically with the building of the new satellite town of Bransholme, now home to over 30,000 people.

The area is still rich in its bio-diversity. The streams, ditches, drains & dykes which dissect Bransholme & its surrounding land provide habitat for a diverse flora & fauna.

At the very heart of Bransholme stands the new Winifred Holtby Secondary and Tweendykes Special School.

This project was inspired by the locality and its rich history and topography. It was equally driven by the relationship which developed within the project team, which included both Head Teachers.

The artwork was digitally printed onto optically clear vinyl & applied to the curtain wall glazing, which spanned both school environments at Winifred Holtby & Tweendykes Schools. It was manufactured & installed by Artworks Solutions Ltd. The new Schools are part of a ‘Building Schools for the Future’ initiative.

Client: Esteem Consortium, Morgan Sindall & JM Architects with Art Consultant Andrew Knight.
christopher-tipping-bransholme-seed-clou-147028

Draft for the Winifred Holtby School
Draft for the Winifred Holtby School
Tweendykes School artwork draft
Tweendykes School artwork draft
Draft detail of all  iconography set into the maelstrom cloud.
Draft detail of all
iconography set into the maelstrom cloud.
This is a sample of all the elements which were drawn up to provide the visual narrative for the project. The all have a specific meaning to the project.
This is a sample of all the elements which were drawn up to provide the visual narrative for the project. The all have a specific meaning to the project.

 

 

‘Margate Steps’. A Sea Defence Project

 

Throughout its history, the catalyst for change and development in Margate has been the destructive force of storms and storm surges.

I was commissioned as project artist on the scheme by Thanet District Council & the Environment Agency in December 2010. My role was to uncover and present  interpretive & contextual information & develop concepts with which to influence the design process & inform the structure & detailing of this major sea defence works. The work has now been completed.

 

Client: TDC & Margate Renewal Partnership. Engineers: East Kent Engineering Practice. Landscape Architects and Urban Designers: Jacobs. Contractor: Breheney. Specialist Concrete Pre Cast: CCP Cornish Concrete Products.

Being part of an integrated design team from an early point was critical in enabling the contextual work, via a contribution to the Design & Access Statement, to influence the physical form of the structure, within its constraints as a sea defence work.

The public realm and amenity space which the project afforded Margate’s sea front has been a tremendous addition to an enlivened and highly activated sea front promenade which has Turner Contemporary and the Harbour Arm at one end & Margate Station & Dreamland at the other.

Part of the extensive text research and narrative which was developed to animate the project.
Part of the extensive text research and narrative which was developed to animate the project.
Civic opening ceremony on 9th May 2013
Civic opening ceremony on 9th May 2013

Margate Steps

christopher-tipping-kings-stairs-turnsto-147043The new Kings Stairs, Margate Steps

Looking out at the Harbour Arm at Low Tide
Looking out at the Harbour Arm at Low Tide

Margate Steps

A 'clear water' day ! Looking out to Droit House and Turner Contemporary at high tide.
A ‘clear water’ day ! Looking out to Droit House and Turner Contemporary at high tide.