I recently posted a very long set of images which formed the basis for a research & contextual study I have produced for the Bus Station Project. I have now managed to sort out how to post a link here to the actual pdf document, which you can now view with much more clarity.
This pdf is only a part of the contextual research which has been done – but forms a good basis on which to reflect upon the influences and threads of research which have caught my attention. Much more work has been done since this was completed and I hope to post more images of draft and concept drawings and sketches very soon.
The first page of the pdf looks like this image below – so you will know you are on the right tracks! Click here:
Works are progressing well on site – in fact the scheme is very much in it’s final phase of works to complete the landscape around the site.
Most of the interpretive public art elements are now installed throughout the site.
The content of many of these images you may be familiar with – but the installation is much nearer to completion with the soft landscape details really making an impact on the interpretation and public art elements. Area Landscape Architectsare responsible for the external landscape concept, design and strategy and have created a sensitive and wonderful scheme, which I have been fortunate to work within.
Central Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Courtyard with slatted timber seating routed with text as part of the embedded public art interpretation. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Yorkstone steps with inset granite text – a part of the embedded public art interpretation – image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Yorkstone steps with inset granite text – a part of the embedded public art interpretation – image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Yorkstone steps with inset granite text & timber seating routed with more text as part of the embedded public art interpretation. The image was taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Yorkstone steps with inset granite text & timber seating routed with more text as part of the embedded public art interpretation. The image was taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Yorkstone steps with inset granite text & timber seating routed with more text as part of the embedded public art interpretation. The image was taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Courtyard with slatted timber seating routed with text as part of the embedded public art interpretation. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Courtyard with slatted timber seating routed with text as part of the embedded public art interpretation. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Courtyard with slatted timber seating routed with text as part of the embedded public art interpretation. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Courtyard with slatted timber seating routed with text as part of the embedded public art interpretation. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Courtyard with slatted timber seating routed with text as part of the embedded public art interpretation. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Digitally printed glazing manifestations form part of the embedded public art interpretation. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Shadows cast by the digitally printed glazing manifestations, which form part of the embedded public art interpretation, add to the experience of the internal lobby entrance. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Courtyard with slatted timber seating routed with text as part of the embedded public art interpretation. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Sandblasted stone with Anne Knight quotation as part of the embedded public art interpretation. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher Tipping
“Never will the nations of the earth be well governed until both sexes, as well as all parties, are fully represented and have an influence, a voice, and a hand in the enactment and administration of the law”.Anne Knight, 1847.
Central Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Sandblasted stone with references to Anne Knight of Chelmsford as part of the embedded public art interpretation. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Sandblasted granite with text as part of the embedded public art interpretation. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher TippingCentral Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Detail: Central Courtyard in progress, with embedded public art & interpretative detail. Image taken during installation on site. Image: Christopher Tipping
Monday 18th May 2015 – today I have to revise and update the contextual research document I made earlier in the schedule –
I want to submit this as supplementary research and development to illustrate how the artist (me) has worked with the project team in order to influence the design process. Not easy to reduce and re-define what has gone before, but so much more has happened over the last few weeks, that I have to bring this up to date. Am in my studio here in Ramsgate trying to figure out the best approach. I think it’s going to be a late night !
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 TippingMerthyr 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 Walesscheduled for Thursday 21st May.
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Artist sketchbook notes and drafts. Image: Christopher Tipping
I met with Jason Williams, Lecturer in Art & Design at The College Merthyr Tydfil, and co-ordinator of Level 3 Art. This is just one of a much wider portfolio of courses offered within the division of Creative Industries at the College, which is headed up by Chris Ford.
The Art & Design studios are on the top floor of the building affording the most amazing and creatively aspirational views in the region. Creativity is really significant here. I like to think of this place as a powerhouse of ideas and inspiration – innovation and energy – building a new legacy for Merthyr Tydfil via Education and the Arts.
We discussed the potential for some engagement by students – in this case within Art and Design, but could perhaps encompass the wider Creative Industries Division – to work within and or alongside the Bus Station and Link Bridge developments to take advantage of a live project against which to set and test skills and creativity.
The potential to build this engagement into the Academic year is a tangible one, but something that would have to be developed quickly during this month in order to build it into the next Academic Year.
The College Merthyr Tydfil also shares space at Redhouse, the former Town Hall on the High Street, where all Music, Media, Film, Dance, Technical Theatre and Drama students study in bespoke professional standard facilities.
Thursday 30th April 2015 – This has been a crowded by very productive visit. Yesterday in the National Museum Cardiff and this morning meeting with the Principal of The College Merthyr Tydfil. What perhaps I didn’t mention in the last post, is that the aim of these meetings is to propose some form of engagement with educational establishments and local schools here in Merthyr, during the construction period of the new Bus Station.
This afternoon I had two very informative visits to local schools in Caedraw. St Mary’s Catholic School. Headteacher, Mrs K Wathan, unfortunately had to go to another meeting, I met with her deputy, assistant headteacher Mrs C Cope. St Mary’s school fields and perimeter fence run partly along Swan Street, juts opposite the site of the new Bus Station. This obviously raises questions about security, noise, transparency and the increased pedestrian activity on the site. As the schools are actually side by side and share a perimeter fence, very much the same issues arose when talking to Mrs J Watkins, Headteacher of Caedraw Primary Schooland her Deputy Head, Miss D Williams.
These issues notwithstanding, the purpose of my visit was to discuss the opportunity for engagement with the schools and pupils. This could be by way of a drawing or writing project about Bus Stations, or transport – or even to explore the impact of the new Bus Station on their school day. Quite often on project such as this the main contractor, once appointed, would engage with the local community. Often this translates as artwork on the site hoardings – which can be very visual and effective – to learning visits by children to the project site throughout the build programme to see exactly how this building is constructed.
I would like to see the contractors and other site specialists visit the schools to talk to the children about their work. I will develop this proposal in more detail over the coming weeks. WATCH THIS SPACE!
On a project at Combe Down, Nr Bath, I worked with a local school to commemorate the miners who had helped to save their village from subsidence caused by extensive historic stone mining under the village, which was causing problems. You can read about the project here. My involvement is also outlined here.
Combe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities. Ceramic Miners. Image: Christopher TippingCombe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities. Ceramic Miners. Image: Christopher TippingCombe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities. Ceramic Miners. Image: Christopher TippingCombe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities & Celebration event. Image: Christopher TippingCombe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities with Combe Down Primary School. Image: Christopher Tipping
One of the hundreds of miners who worked on the project volunteered to come to the local primary school to be the model for our Combe Down Miners Ceramic Project. Most of the miners came from South Wales.
Combe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities. Ceramic Miners made by pupils at Combe Down Primary on display, along with the actual Miner at the project Celebration Event. Image: Christopher Tipping
Thursday 30th April 2015 – I met with John O ‘Shea, Principal of The College Merthyr Tydfil . We talked about the history of the Old FE College and the state of the art new building the college now occupies. I wanted to know more about the aspirations for students coming to this site and how they travelled to get here. The Bus Station project is part of a wider transportation and communication network in the town and region. Many students walk from the train station, so pedestrian routes through the town are of great importance.
The new building by RMJM Architects (who acquired YRM, the Architects of the original 1960’s college building) sits within an extended and spacious public realm with clear desire lines to the pedestrian link bridge. The feasibility study which is considering replacing the current structure with another design which also links to the new Bus Station, is a critical part of the transport strategy for the project. The building also sits upon the site of the former Ynsyfach Ironworks, which was extensively excavated and documented by the Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trustbefore the new building was erected.
Top Centre – The College at Merthyr Tydfil, the heart of the new Learning Quarter. Image: MLA Photography
Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College has also been a great help and has a wonderful and detailed photographic record of the earlier archaeological works undertaken on the site by GGAT. He has allowed me to reproduce some of the images here.
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Aerial Image of Merthyr Tydfil College of Further Education circa 1960 by permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Estates Manager, The College, Merthyr Tydfil.
The original College of Further Education by Yorke, Rosenberg & Mardell Architects (becoming YRM) is seen here circa 1960 – bottom centre of image. Just above this can be seen the original Iron Bridge at Ynysgau by Watkin George.To the right of the image can be seen the double weir on the River Taff. There is now only one weir which sits just up river from the St Tydfils Shopping Centre footbridge.
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Detail: The old College of Further Education from an image by permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Detail: The old College of Further Education from an image by permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Detail: A description of the College of Further Education when newly built taken from an image by permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.
Very interesting to see the list of project contractors – especially Merthyr Ceramics Ltd who supplied ceramic floor tiles.
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Detail: The old College of Further Education washrooms, from an image by permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Archaeological Excavations of the Ynysfach Ironworks on the site of The College Merthyr Tydfil. Image: By kind permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.
The brick arched furnace on the far right can still be seen today behind the main college buildings.
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Archaeological Excavations of the Ynysfach Ironworks on the site of The College Merthyr Tydfil. Image: By kind permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Archaeological Excavations of the Ynysfach Ironworks on the site of The College Merthyr Tydfil. Image: By kind permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.
The image above shows the excavated Refinery Building. This description is provided by Richard Lewis, Head of Projects for GGAT, who managed the excavation programme.
“The casting bed in the refinery are run out bays and water troughs. The iron ore (and limestone and coke) was fired in the blast furnace and cast into pigs in the casting house which was located in between the furnaces and refinery. The pigs were then taken to the refinery and subjected to further firing in an oxidising furnace and then the molten metal run out on a tray that sat on top of the long rectangular metal cistern (as seen in your photo) filled with continuously flowing water. The molten metal quickly cooled on this plate to form tea-tray sized refined ‘finers’ wrought iron plates. The removal of further impurities was aided by water being thrown over the molten metal which caused the slag to mobilse (exploding off in tiny slag balls).”
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Archaeological Excavations of the Ynysfach Ironworks on the site of The College Merthyr Tydfil. Image: By kind permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.
It has been an amazing project to work on and I thank the project team for giving me the opportunity to make a contribution.
The interpretive cnc routed drawing artwork to the Elevation was delivered in collaboration with Rockpaneland The Cutting Room.
The digitally printed glazing manifestations were delivered in collaboration with VGL Ltd.
Heart of the Campus, Sheffield Hallam University Rockpanel facade artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image: Jason Newsome PhotographerHeart of the Campus, Sheffield Hallam University Rockpanel facade artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image: Jason Newsome PhotographerHeart of the Campus, Sheffield Hallam University. Image: GRAHAM, Project Artist: Christopher TippingThis image shows the manifestation artwork applied to the interior glazed lobby, with the central atrium space just visible on the left. Sheffield Hallam University, Heart of the Campus. Image: Christopher TippingThis image shows the shadows cast by the glazing manifestation artwork applied to the interior glazed lobby. Sheffield Hallam University, Heart of the Campus. Image: Christopher Tipping
Vinyl Graphics Ltd– VGL Ltd – completed the installation of the digitally printed vinyl manifestations to the M1 / M2 Entrance Lobby at Central Chelmsford this week.
These images have just been forwarded to me. VGL are always a real pleasure to work with.
Digitally printed vinyl manifestations manufactured and installed by Vgl Ltd to M1 / M2 Entrance Lobby, Central Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Image: Vinyl Graphics LtdDigitally printed vinyl manifestations manufactured and installed by Vgl Ltd to M1 / M2 Entrance Lobby, Central Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Image: Vinyl Graphics LtdDigitally printed vinyl manifestations manufactured and installed by Vgl Ltd to M1 / M2 Entrance Lobby, Central Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Image: Vinyl Graphics LtdDigitally printed vinyl manifestations manufactured and installed by Vgl Ltd to M1 / M2 Entrance Lobby, Central Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Image: Vinyl Graphics LtdDigitally printed vinyl manifestations manufactured and installed by Vgl Ltd to M1 / M2 Entrance Lobby, Central Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Image: Vinyl Graphics LtdDigitally printed vinyl manifestations manufactured and installed by Vgl Ltd to M1 / M2 Entrance Lobby, Central Chelmsford for Genesis Housing Association. Image: Vinyl Graphics Ltd
On 5th March 2015, I made a presentation to the Bus Station Stakeholders Meeting of current contextual research in relation to the Bus Station project and the Link Bridge Study.
I thought it may be of interest to post all these images here. There are a fair few – so bear with it ! – it is useful to know how the research is being delivered and what is shaping my approach. The screenshot image below gives a clear idea of the number of images I am posting – stick with it as there are some great images and quotations…
I have credited all sources of information and am grateful to all organisations and individuals who have assisted me thus far. Where permissions to use images have not been possible, these images have been withdrawn from posting online.
Where Ordnance Survey Maps have been used, they are all out of copyright, however, I have added a credit – ‘Reproduced from the …date… Ordnance Survey Map’, which the Ordnance Survey suggest on their website.
At the scale above – the individual images are not so clear – so I have added all the images individually. It makes for a long post – but hopefully you will find something of interest here ! Here goes – Image No.1 …
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. 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This ends the presentation images –
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project – Ynysfach Iron Works was on the site now occupied by The College, Merthyr Tydfil. The remains of the original Blast Furnaces are visible as is the restored Engine House at the north of the site. Image: Christopher Tipping
