Tag Archives: Bespoke Cast Concrete

Margate Steps shortlisted for Award !

Thursday 9th July 2015

 

Civic Voice shortlists 12 schemes for new design awards !

The Margate Flood & Coastal Protection Project aka ‘Margate Steps’, has been shortlisted for this new design award.

“Civic Voice – the national charity for the civic movement – has today announced its national shortlist for the best designed new development nominated by communities in the country”.

Griff Rhys Jones, Civic Voice President said:

“What I really like about the Civic Voice Design Awards is that they are national awards which have been nominated by local community organisations like civic societies, residents groups, town and parish councils and other community based voluntary organisations, rather than the industry professionals. They show that people are willing to welcome the new developments we need when they have been properly consulted and involved and where the quality of design has been of the highest standard. I look forward to meeting the award winners”

Margate Coastal Flood & Protection Project aka Margate Steps. Margate, Kent. Image: Christopher Tipping
Margate Coastal Flood & Protection Project aka Margate Steps. Margate, Kent. Image: Christopher Tipping
Margate Coastal Flood & Protection Project aka Margate Steps. Margate, Kent. Image: Christopher Tipping
Margate Coastal Flood & Protection Project aka Margate Steps. Margate, Kent. Image: Christopher Tipping
Margate Coastal Flood & Protection Project aka Margate Steps. Margate, Kent. Image: Christopher Tipping
Margate Coastal Flood & Protection Project aka Margate Steps. Margate, Kent. Image: Christopher Tipping

Multi-rotor copter aerial images from Dean Barkley

29th June 2015  – 

Margate Flood & Coastal Protection Project 

These wonderful new images of ‘Margate Steps’ were taken this week by photographer  Dean Barkley, using a multi-rotor copter. Dean can be contacted on dean@barkleyimages.co.uk.  There is also a short film – once I have worked out how to post that online!!!

The images clearly show the scale and impact that the Coastal Protection Project has had on the local area. The additional public realm and and amenity space that the works have provided is shaping the way that the seafront engages with the Old Town and Harbour. Even at high tide, the Old Town is accessible from the beach, which had previously not been possible. The wonderful coastal setting which has become the backdrop for the regeneration of the Harbour Arm, Custom House, Turner Contemporary, Old Town, Margate Steps and now finally Dreamland coming on stream has really made Margate magnificent once again.

Margate Flood & Coast Protection Scheme. Aerial image obtained from a multi-rotor copter by photographer Dean Barkley. Image: Dean Barkley
Margate Flood & Coast Protection Scheme. Aerial image obtained from a multi-rotor copter by photographer Dean Barkley. Image: Dean Barkley
Margate Flood & Coast Protection Scheme. Aerial image obtained from a multi-rotor copter by photographer Dean Barkley. Image: Dean Barkley
Margate Flood & Coast Protection Scheme. Aerial image obtained from a multi-rotor copter by photographer Dean Barkley. Image: Dean Barkley

 

12th & 13th May 2015 – Capita and Council Meetings

Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th May 2015 -On Tuesday I travelled up to Cardiff from Ramsgate, Kent for a design meeting with Capita, the project architects.  I was accompanied by Simon Fenoulhet of  Celfwaith, who developed and is overseeing the Public Art Strategy for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council along with Mererid Velios.  Great to have someone with his experience with whom to navigate the project !

Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Artist sketchbook notes and contextual references. Image: Christopher Tipping
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Artist sketchbook notes and contextual references. Image: Christopher Tipping
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Artist sketchbook notes and contextual references. Image: Christopher Tipping
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Artist sketchbook notes and contextual references. Image: Christopher Tipping

We discussed the draft development of the building and landscape and how the creative contextual research and analysis of  the site, which I have been doing in order ‘to influence the design process’  is becoming a part of the interpretive strategy for the building. Once this process becomes more involved and collaborative then I hope we will see some really interesting narratives and themes emerging. We are continually having to address the function of this site as a Bus Station and interchange and the demands it brings to the project. That notwithstanding, the interpretation and contextual needs and aspirations for this site have to be seriously considered.

Wednesday was our final team meeting before the presentation to the Design Commission For Wales scheduled for Thursday 21st May.

Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Artist sketchbook notes and drafts. Image: Christopher Tipping
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Artist sketchbook notes and drafts. Image: Christopher Tipping

Station Quarter North, Southampton

Yesterday, Tuesday 17th March saw the first of the Type C cast benches arrive on site to be crane-lifted into place at Station Quarter North.

Balfour Beatty Living Places – Services Division are doing a great job in regard to the installation and delivery of the whole project on site.

‘Outside Wyndham Court a great deal of the footpath and landscaping is down and this gives a glimpse of how the scheme is going to look. Block paving of the public car park has started, trees are in and yesterday the first of the new bespoke stone benches was crane lifted into place.’  Taken from the Southampton Station Quarter update bulletin, 18th March 2015, Balfour Beatty Living Places.

Wyndham Place as seen from Wyndham Court showing Southampton Central Station Quarter Regeneration project. Image: Wilson Massie, Balfour Beatty Living Places.
Wyndham Place as seen from Wyndham Court showing Southampton Central Station Quarter Regeneration project. Image: Wilson Massie, Balfour Beatty Living Places.
Wyndham Place, Southampton seen from Commercial Road looking west showing Southampton Central Station Quarter Regeneration project. Bespoke Cast Concrete benches during installation. Image: Matt Dyer, Senior Project Engineer, Balfour Beatty Living Places - Services Division.
Wyndham Place, Southampton seen from Commercial Road looking west showing Southampton Central Station Quarter Regeneration project. Bespoke Cast Concrete benches during installation. Image: Matt Dyer, Senior Project Engineer, Balfour Beatty Living Places – Services Division.

Bespoke benches during installation. Unfortunately, one of the 6 units has a lighter finish than the others. This can be remedied post installation on site by the manufacturer CPP Ltd.

Station Quarter North, Southampton

On Thursday 12th March I flew down to Newquay to visit CCP Ltd – Cornish Concrete Products –  to review production on the first set of bespoke benches for Southampton Station Quarter.  I was meeting up with Simon Taylor, Urban Design Manager – Southampton Highways Partnership, Balfour Beatty Living Places, who is the Design Manager for the Station Quarter project. Simon met me at Newquay Airport & we drove down to Bissoe to CCP’s manufacturing plant.

Gatwick Airport to Newquay with Flybe - around 55mins - not bad !
Gatwick Airport to Newquay with Flybe – around 55mins – not bad !

I left Ramsgate on High Speed 1 for London, St Pancras, then by Tube to Victoria to pick up the Gatwick Express & Gatwick to Newquay by Twin Prop and from there by car to Bissoe – easy ! A great day – but one delay along the way could have been a disaster – fortunately it was brilliant.

Great views of Southampton and the Isle of Wight on the flight down.  Image: Christopher Tipping
Great views of Southampton and the Isle of Wight on the flight down.
Image: Christopher Tipping

The units below are the first to be manufactured and are, as such the sample test for the project. We will be looking to iron out any issues presenting at this stage and develop a methodology for ensuring quality control through the production period. The Type C unit – is only one of several bespoke profiles being developed – with each profile there are accompanying bespoke ends and specials to be made.

Southampton Station Quarter - Visit to Cornish Concrete Products Ltd to review manufacture of Type C bench Units.
Southampton Station Quarter – Visit to Cornish Concrete Products Ltd to review manufacture of Type C bench Units.

This is a single unit, part of a six unit seating set for the landscape works. The seating forms part of the interpretation and public art created for the project. The units as seen here have yet to have the etching treatment to expose the surface aggregates, so appear quite light in colour. The finished colour and aggregate mix reflect the multi blend granite paving used throughout the site and is informed by the geology of the site – alluvial gravels – which were at one time quarried nearby in the area now occupied by the Civic Centre. These gravels would have formed the beach of the River Test Estuary, which was – until 175 years ago – to be found where Blechynden Terrace now stands.

Southampton Station Quarter - concrete samples developed with Cornish Concrete Products Ltd for bespoke landscape works. Image: Matt Dyer, Balfour Beatty Services.
Southampton Station Quarter – concrete samples developed with Cornish Concrete Products Ltd for bespoke landscape works. Image: Matt Dyer, Balfour Beatty Services.

We have selected the Blackhill Aggregate – White Cement – Heavy Etch sample to work with –

Southampton Station Quarter - preferred sample developed with Cornish Concrete Products Ltd for bespoke landscape works. Image: Matt Dyer, Balfour Beatty Services
Southampton Station Quarter – preferred sample developed with Cornish Concrete Products Ltd for bespoke landscape works. Image: Matt Dyer, Balfour Beatty Services
Southampton Station Quarter - Visit to Cornish Concrete Products Ltd to review manufacture of Type C bench Units.
Southampton Station Quarter – Visit to Cornish Concrete Products Ltd to review manufacture of Type C bench Units.
Southampton Station Quarter - Visit to Cornish Concrete Products Ltd to review manufacture of Type C bench Units. Bespoke return end unit, showing inverted fibreglass mould.
Southampton Station Quarter – Visit to Cornish Concrete Products Ltd to review manufacture of Type C bench Units. Bespoke return end unit, showing inverted fibreglass mould.
Southampton Station Quarter - Visit to Cornish Concrete Products Ltd to review manufacture of Type C bench Units.
Southampton Station Quarter – Visit to Cornish Concrete Products Ltd to review manufacture of Type C bench Units.
Southampton Station Quarter - Visit to Cornish Concrete Products Ltd to review manufacture of Type C bench Units.
Southampton Station Quarter – Visit to Cornish Concrete Products Ltd to review manufacture of Type C bench Units.

The composite image below, illustrate the evolution of the Type C Bench. The basic section is added to with bespoke and varying ‘ends’, with some units being further cast with lighting recesses.

Type C Bespoke Cast Concrete Bench for Southampton Station Quarter. Drawings by CCP Ltd
Type C Bespoke Cast Concrete Bench for Southampton Station Quarter. Drawings by CCP Ltd
Southampton Station Quarter, Type C Cast Concrete Bench development. Image: Christopher Tipping
Southampton Station Quarter, Type C Cast Concrete Bench development. Image: Christopher Tipping
Bespoke timber mould for the Type C bench fabricated by CCP Ltd. Image: Christopher Tipping
Bespoke timber mould for the Type C bench fabricated by CCP Ltd. Image: Christopher Tipping
Bespoke timber mould for the Type C bench fabricated by CCP Ltd. Image: Christopher Tipping
Bespoke timber mould for the Type C bench fabricated by CCP Ltd. Image: Christopher Tipping

I particularly like to see the timber joinery and craftsmanship which goes into the moulds. No-one else really sees this – and the general public generally have no idea of the work that goes on behind the scenes to achieve the objects they see in the public realm.