Central Chelmsford

Finally caught up with progress on the Central Chelmsford Project on Thursday 19th February.

I hadn’t been to site since October 2014 & things had really moved on, with one block of the development already open to residents. The public realm is still ongoing, which includes the embedded artwork and interpretive text.

Installation in progress - York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping
Installation in progress – York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping

 

Central Chelmsford - Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects for Genesis Housing Association.  Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects for Genesis Housing Association. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - Denne Construction, Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects, Area Landscape Architects for Genesis Housing Association.
Central Chelmsford – Denne Construction, Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects, Area Landscape Architects for Genesis Housing Association.
Central Chelmsford - Installation in progress - York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Installation in progress – York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - Installation in progress - York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Installation in progress – York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping

The York stone steps with inset granite text was manufactured & supplied by the Ashfield Group. The installation on site is a very time consuming and bespoke process. I am looking forward to seeing the works all cleaned up and finished.

The large sandblasted granite platform seat has been installed, but not completely finished as yet.  This element, along with the sandblasted paving text was manufactured  & supplied by Hardscape.

Central Chelmsford - Large Granite Platform Seat  with Sandblasted detail & text by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Large Granite Platform Seat with Sandblasted detail & text by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - Large Granite Platform Seat  with sandblasted detail & text by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Large Granite Platform Seat with sandblasted detail & text by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - Detail: Large Granite Platform Seat  with sandblasted detail & text by Christopher Tipping, manufactured by Hardscape.  Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Detail: Large Granite Platform Seat with sandblasted detail & text by Christopher Tipping, manufactured by Hardscape.
Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford  - Courtyard.  Detail: Large Granite Platform Seat  with sandblasted detail & text by Christopher Tipping - manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Courtyard. Detail: Large Granite Platform Seat with sandblasted detail & text by Christopher Tipping – manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping

The central courtyard is in progress, with brick built raised beds with trees, shrubs and grasses. All hard landscape concept design and planting for the scheme is by Area Landscape Architects.

The interpretation work I have done is mainly embedded within this scheme as seating, paving & steps. The text – as seen below – sandblasted into Royal Green Granite slabs & set into York Stone paving – has not yet been cleaned & is very dusty and dirty from continuing building works. The site is closed to the public. This will however, become a busy pedestrian thoroughfare when completed. .

Central Chelmsford. A 'stream' of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford. A ‘stream’ of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford. A 'stream' of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford. A ‘stream’ of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford. A 'stream' of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the York Stone paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford. A ‘stream’ of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the York Stone paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - Pedestrian routes through the central courtyard will open out on expansive views over a large landscaped public open  space &  Central Park beyond.  Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Pedestrian routes through the central courtyard will open out on expansive views over a large landscaped public open space & Central Park beyond. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - When completed, pedestrian routes through the central courtyard & heart of the site will open out via a dramatic black brick portal entrance onto a landscaped public realm with the Anne Knight Building and Chelmsford Railway Station.  Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – When completed, pedestrian routes through the central courtyard & heart of the site will open out via a dramatic black brick portal entrance onto a landscaped public realm with the Anne Knight Building and Chelmsford Railway Station. Image: Christopher Tipping

 

 

 

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