Tag Archives: Christopher Tipping

Blog, Kingsbridge Lane, Public Art, Public Realm, Transport, Uncategorized

KIMBER’S CHIMNEY – Kingsbridge Lane, Southampton

June 21, 2018 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

‘The SOUTHAMPTON and SALISBURY CANAL passed through a tunnel just to the left of here…almost under your feet’

Kingsbridge Lane with Civic Centre and Clocktower. Image: Massie Wilson

‘Can you see Southampton’s 1930s CIVIC CENTRE? The Clock Tower, Kimber’s Chimney, reaches 156 feet in height…’

Text – white granite inset into contrasting black granite.

Kingsbridge Lane in Southampton is a historically important and longstanding pedestrian-only route with no vehicular access. This makes the site significant to Southampton. It is a long surviving link to the western route in and out of Southampton along the coastal strand, which formed the northern shore of the River Test Estuary until the early 20^thCentury. The footpath runs along a narrow strip of land between the existing railway tunnel and the historic and long abandoned tunnel of the Southampton to Salisbury Canal, which ran along what is now Blechynden Terrace, linking Central Station to the Guildhall Square &Cultural Quarter. My role within this project was to develop a contextual response to the site, which would, hopefully, influence the landscape design and regenerative design process in collaboration Simon Taylor of Balfour Beatty Living Places , Southampton City Council and Hardscape.

Kingsbridge Lane, Southampton. Image: Massie Wilson

Kingsbridge Lane, Southampton. 14 lines of text – Image: Balfour Beatty

‘SOUTHAMPTON is a Sea City on the SOLENT …with and unusual Double High Tide’.

Text – white granite inset into contrasting black granite.

Aerial view of Kingsbridge Lane, Southampton. Image: Massie Wilson

‘Oh when the SAINTS go marching in …I want to be in that number… oh when the Saints go marching in…’

Nighttime aerial view of Kingsbridge Lane, Southampton. Image: Massie Wilson

‘In 2017 over 6 million passengers used Southampton CENTRAL STATION’

Kingsbridge Lane, Southampton. Nighttime view. Image: Massie Wilson

‘SOUTHAMPTON is a Sea City on the SOLENT …with and unusual Double High Tide’.

Basalt Slabs with inset text at Hardscape for Kingsbridge Lane, Southampton. Image: Christopher Tipping

‘Jane Austen lived in Southampton from 1806 to 1809 … her house on Castle Square had a wonderful garden that hugged the old city walls’

The granite seating and retaining walls by Hardscape are undercut along the front edge suggesting the movement of water throughout the site.

‘The MAYFLOWER set sail from SOUTHAMPTON across the Atlantic to America in 1620′

Aerial view of Kingsbridge Lane at the junction with Blechynden Terrace and West Park Rd, Southampton. Image: Massie Wilson

Blog, Landscape, Public Art, Public Realm, The Flower Bowl

The Flower Bowl – getting there…

March 21, 2018 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

I have been incredibly lucky to collaborate once again with Mark Durey at The Cutting Room in Huntingdon. I worked with Mark on the cnc cut facade for the new Heart of the Campus Building at Sheffield Hallam University Collegiate Campus. I am indebted to him for bringing these projects to life in way I could not deliver on my own. My colleague Sarah Alldritt also deserves a big thanks for her work translating my original artwork into ai vectors. Mark imports these digital files and re-builds the artwork through an Alphacam CAD CAM software programme to create the work. That may seem a straightforward digital process created by clever software …let me tell you that it is not. The translation from my artwork to end product is anything but straightforward in this instance. Mark is the key here. He has a clear understanding of how the programmes work – but – more importantly he is prepared to go ‘off-road’ and put his experience to task, problem solving and bringing an entirely bespoke service into play to produce the outcomes you see. I am lucky to have him as a collaborator.

Mark has an individual methodology at play whilst creating the cutting files. He adds colour to enable him to plan the work and – indirectly, I find these images inspiring and creative in themselves. Probably annoyingly I am always asking for screenshots of particular details.

Manufacturing drawings for The Flower Bowl cnc routed elevations. Image: Mark Durey

The latest image by the client Guy Topping – the left hand elevation for The Flower Bowl Main Entrance – but how did we get to this point?

Main Entrance Elevation in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Guy Topping

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Education, Public Art, Public Realm

CHATHAM UP – Ideas for Magazine layout –

May 6, 2016 Christopher Tipping 2 Comments

Chatham Placemaking Project - Draft artwork for Chatham Up Magazine. Image & Artwork: Christopher Tipping — Chatham Placemaking Project – Draft artwork for Chatham Up Magazine. Image & Artwork: Christopher Tipping

Chatham Placemaking Project - Still image from an episodic film series by Simon Williams & Rob Young with additional graphics by Xtina Lamb. — Chatham Placemaking Project – Still image from an episodic film series by Simon Williams & Rob Young with additional graphics by Xtina Lamb.

The Fish Finger - by Rob Young. Chatham Placemaking Project. — The Fish Finger – by Rob Young. Chatham Placemaking Project.

Draft page for print proposal. Text by Rob Young - Still Images from documentary film by Simon Williams. Chatham Placemaking Project. — Draft page for print proposal. Text by Rob Young – Still Images from documentary film by Simon Williams. Chatham Placemaking Project.

'Is This You', Draft Page layout - Chatham Placemaking Project. Artwork: Christopher Tipping - Text by Rob Young - Photograph by kind permission of Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre. — ‘Is This You’, Draft Page layout – Chatham Placemaking Project. Artwork: Christopher Tipping – Text by Rob Young – Photograph by kind permission of Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre.

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Education, Public Art, Public Realm

Guildhall Museum, Rochester & Rob Young, Writer

May 6, 2016 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

On Tuesday 3rd May, Rob Young & I had a meeting with Rachel Kerr, Project Coordinator (100 Objects That Made Kent) and the Education Officer, Jeremy Clarke at The Guildhall Museum, High Street, Rochester. We were looking to explore opportunities for us all to collaborate in some manner during the project, taking advantage of the Museum Collections cultural importance to Medway and its outreach work with the community – particularly in education and schools.

Rob is very keen to build this relationship into his commission and has already submitted a wonderful proposal for an engagement with St Michaels Roman Catholic Primary School, who are already working with the Museum on an arts award educational project, focussed on the Statue of Thomas Waghorn on Railway Street and a portrait of whom hangs in the Museum. The school is the most local to our project route. Rob is also keen to meet with The Friends of the Guildhall Museum to hear their thoughts about Chatham. Simon Lace, Medway’s Heritage Services Manager is also helping our cause by contributing a call out for stories by Friends of the Guildhall in their ‘about to be launched’ newsletter.

Thanks to all involved for your continuing help.

Interior stucco ceiling of the stairwell in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image by Christopher Tipping reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester — Interior stucco ceiling of the stairwell in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

A Portrait of Thomas Waghorn. Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image by Christopher Tipping reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester — A Portrait of Thomas Waghorn. Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image by Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Ornate ceiling & Electrolier in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping - reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester — Ornate ceiling & Electrolier in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Portrait of Sir Cloudesley Shovell, Admiral of the Fleet & MP for Rochester hanging in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping - by kind permission of Guildhall Museum. — Portrait of Sir Cloudesley Shovell, Admiral of the Fleet & MP for Rochester hanging in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Isn’t that the most amazing name – Sir Cloudesley Shovell –

Ornate ceiling, electrolier and wall decorations in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping - by kind permission of Guildhall Museum. — Ornate ceiling, electrolier and wall decorations in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Ornate ceiling & electrolier in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping - by kind permission of Guildhall Museum. — Ornate ceiling & electrolier in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Rob Young, Writer, looking at vintage photograph in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping - reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester — Rob Young, Writer, looking at vintage photograph in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Jeremy Clarke, the Museum’s Education Officer – found this image for us of a young boy taken at the Photographic Studio of W. Kent, Photographic Artist at No 19 Military Road, Chatham – a great find for us right on our project route. I’m sure Rob will make some resonant response to this.

Photographic portrait of a young boy taken by W Kent, Photographic Artist at No 19 Military Road, Chatham - in the collection of Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. — Photographic portrait of a young boy taken by W Kent, Photographic Artist at No 19 Military Road, Chatham – in the collection of Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester.

Figure in Diorama in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image by Christopher Tipping reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Beautiful and magical three mast rigged ship in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image by Christopher Tipping reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Blog, Healthcare Projects, Landscape, Public Art, Public Realm, Tameside Macmillan Unit

Stewart’s walk plan…

April 9, 2016 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

“Journeys through the Landscapes of Tameside” – this was the brief for the project and the theme for the 12 mile walk –

Stewart Ramsden, my walking partner compiled the walk – one he has done many times before.

A Stewart Ramsden 'Ramtrails' walking route - Wild Bank and Hollingworthall Moor from Godley, Tameside. Tameside Macmillan Unit Project. Map: Reproduced from OS Explorer Map OL 1 — A Stewart Ramsden ‘Ramtrails’ walking route – Wild Bank and Hollingworthall Moor from Godley, Tameside.
Tameside Macmillan Unit Project. Map: Reproduced from OS Explorer Map OL 1

Our route was eventually described by an eccentric figure of eight. Wild Bank and Hollingworthall Moor from Godley – a 12 mile walk through town, suburb, farmland and moorland.

This is a walk

A meander, a physical experience or just maybe a day-dream

A walk is more often along a path

The path or footpath changes in colour, texture and topography –

but there is always a remembered route to follow or a map to guide you

or maybe a venture to somewhere new

There is a constancy in moving forward

Things seen on a walk are half experienced and half remembered

A vivid green hedge

A tyre track

A discarded toy

A cloud which looks like a tree, a stream which looks like silver, a flash of colour

Horizon merges with sky

This is a landscape with no fixed perspective

Sky reflected in water

A small stone becomes a boulder

An object picked up and carried in the hand along the way

Track marks in fields are gestural and dynamic

Distant buildings become a child’s building blocks

Patterns in brickwork

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm, Transport

Some shops and businesses on Military Road

April 5, 2016 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

Some shops and businesses on Military Road, Chatham –

Shops and businesses on Military Road, Chatham. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Christopher Tipping

Blueberry Park Sandwich Bar has recently closed down after 25 years. This heartfelt goodbye to customers on the window is a poignant reminder of community and the fact that it is people and not buildings, which make places.

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm

Rex Cadman & the War and Peace Collection

March 9, 2016 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

Actually, the images I have recently received permission to use from the collection of Rex Cadman, also feature in the Kent Photo Archive and I am grateful to Roy Moore for putting me in contact with him via his colleague Roger Smoothy. The War & Peace Collection contains a number of relevant images of our route in Chatham.

Railway Street from New Cut Viaduct circa 1955. Collection of Rex Cadman. by Permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive.

Railway Street from New Cut Viaduct date unknown. Collection of Rex Cadman. by Permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive.

I love this image of Railway Street, with its celebratory flags, bunting and street decorations. I have no idea what the celebration is – but clearly a big event in the calendar for the town. Notice the fairground at the bottom of Military Street on The Paddock site. On the left can be seen the Invicta Furniture Depository and below it the clock and striped awning of the Opticians – I can make out the name Clements – will check this out via Kelly’s Street Directory.

Bus Stop on Military Road Chatham. Collection of Rex Cadman. By permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive.

All of the properties in the image above were demolished to build the Pentagon Shopping Centre and Mountbatten House.

Naval Ratings rehearsing for the King George VI's Funeral. HMS Pembroke, Chatham, Feb. 1952. Collection of Rex Cadman. By permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive. — Naval Ratings rehearsing for the King George VI’s Funeral. HMS Pembroke, Chatham, Feb. 1952. Collection of Rex Cadman. By permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive.

The underlying symmetry, formation, visual contrast and rhythm in this image has been an important influencing factor in the development of the ‘Chatham Patterns’ concept. Similar events and parades must have played out within the streets and public spaces of Chatham so many times, that the evidence is within the very fabric of place.

The Hatchelling House at the Ropery, Chatham Dockyards circa 1950's. Collection of Rex Cadman. By permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive. — The Hatchelling House at the Ropery, Chatham Dockyards circa 1950’s. Collection of Rex Cadman. By permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive.

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm, Sketchbook

Chatham Creative Scope – ongoing

November 18, 2015 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

It’s a while since I last posted on the project. My creative scope has now been submitted and contains a number of research-led works, including:

Site visits to Chatham, for the purposes of research and site analysis.

A review of local landmarks and key buildings, places and organisations –

Meetings with archivists –

A personal blog –

Pinterest Board of research images and aspirations –

A text based creative analysis made as a contribution to the Masterplan document being prepared by LDA

‘Another Chatham Line…’ – an illustrated creative scope pdf document –

Concept and diagrammatic drawings to accompany and illustrate the creative scope and concept approach –

The work submitted will be added into the supporting documents or as an appendix to the work. We will now be looking towards a public consultation exercise, which is scheduled for early December 2015.

The following images are from draft artworks I have produced, exploring the idea of a thematic pedestrian route from Chatham Station to the Waterfront and The Paddock.

Chatham Creative Scope - artist sketchbook drafts. Image: Christopher Tipping — Chatham Creative Scope – artist sketchbook drafts. Image: Christopher Tipping

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm, Transport

The Historic Dockyard, Chatham

September 23, 2015 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

Historic Dockyard, Chatham. Main Gates. Image:Christopher Tipping

Tuesday 25th August 2015 – Historic Dockyard Chatham

A long day of walking streets in Chatham, trying to understand how it all works – I finally made my way along Dock Rd, past Medway Council buildings at Gun Wharf and St Mary’s Church, where Pepys and Dickens both worshipped; past Fort Amherst – to The Historic Dockyard.

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - Georgian brickwork of the main gateway entrance. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – Georgian brickwork of the main gateway entrance. Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - The imposing and very long brick perimeter wall along Dock Road. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – The imposing and very long brick perimeter wall along Dock Road. Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - the massive extant granite coping stones along the edge of Mast Dock. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – the massive extant granite coping stones along the edge of Mast Dock. Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - The scale of the original Dockyard architecture is so impressive. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – The scale of the original Dockyard architecture is so impressive. Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - The geometry and pattern within the buildings are evident in structure and light. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – The geometry and pattern within the buildings are evident in structure and light. Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - The internal roof of the slipway buildings is really something to behold ! Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – The internal roof of the slipway buildings is really something to behold ! Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - The massive structural timbers of the No 2 Slipway building. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – The massive structural timbers of the No 2 Slipway building. Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - the roof apertures & timbers of the No 2 Slipway building create wonderful geometry and rhythms. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – the roof apertures & timbers of the No 2 Slipway building create wonderful geometry and rhythms. Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - the early oak timbers were part of what were revered as 'Chatham Timbers' - Impressive forms with considerable interpretive merit. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – the early oak timbers were part of what were revered as ‘Chatham Timbers’ – Impressive forms with considerable interpretive merit. Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - the massive bespoke granite forms which make up the dry docks are particularly impressive. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – the massive bespoke granite forms which make up the dry docks are particularly impressive. Image:Christopher Tipping

Material use within the Historic Dockyards is often massive in form, frugal in detail and places enormous emphasis on function and being ‘fit for purpose’. This robust, economic and honest use of material and form is influential and informative and should be used as a template and contextual influence within the regeneration of the Town Centre of Chatham.

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - the bespoke granite paving forms and trackways which criss cross the site conjure up the legacy of movement and industrious activity of the dockyard. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – the bespoke granite paving forms and trackways which criss cross the site conjure up the legacy of movement and industrious activity of the dockyard. Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - Dockyard Trains with great text - Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – Dockyard Trains with great text – Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - List of submarines built in Chatham Docks. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – List of submarines built in Chatham Docks. Image:Christopher Tipping

Historic Dockyards, Chatham - the interiors of some of the buildings on site are immensely evocative and full of abstract forms. Image:Christopher Tipping — Historic Dockyards, Chatham – the interiors of some of the buildings on site are immensely evocative and full of abstract forms. Image:Christopher Tipping