I haven’t updated this post for some time – actually since April 2017! Head down and just getting on with it …time flies. OK – I’ll now try to sum up what’s happened in the interim.
Following on from the initial research period, consultation & creative engagement phases of the project, a series of Creative Public Realm proposals were submitted for review. This work originated and was inspired by the positive & creative collaboration with our supporting artists in residence, Rob Young – Writer, Simon Williams – Filmmakerand Xtina Lamb – Printmaker. These collaborations proved to be highly creative as well as bringing a refreshing camaraderie and friendship to the work.
The proposals are presented here in the order in which the various sites are encountered along the route from Chatham Station down Railway Street to Military Road and the Waterfront. This is a visual account of how ideas developed and adopted into the scheme.
Chatham Station, although at the head of our scheme, will be the last Phase to be delivered on the ground & I will report on this work later in a separate post.
The sites where our work and interventions has been focussed are:
NEW CUT & NEW ROAD VIADUCT
ST JOHN’S SQUARE
LOWER RAILWAY STREET
MILITARY SQUARE
MILITARY ROAD
Chatham Placemaking Project. Route & Plan of Creative Public Realm. Image: Christopher Tipping
The Red Line indicates our project route & is titled the ‘Chatham Line’, after the Chatham Lines, the nearby defensive fortifications. The lines follow the historic granite kerb line & will be replaced in relevant sections by bespoke wide
granite kerbs and special transition granite units often with sandblasted or inset granite text. Text is based upon the surrounding local historic legacy & community engagement work & narrative developed by our writer in residence, Rob Young.
AREA 2 – NEW CUT
New Cut – Plan of Creative Public Realm. Image: Christopher TippingNew Cut – Sketches & Draft Plan of Creative Public Realm. Image: Christopher TippingNew Cut – Sketches & draft plan of bespoke granite kerb units. Creative Public Realm. Image: Christopher TippingNew Cut – Sketches & draft plan of bespoke granite kerb units. Creative Public Realm. Image: Christopher TippingNew Cut – Sketches & draft plan of bespoke granite & timber seating. Creative Public Realm. Image: Christopher TippingNew Cut – Sketches & draft plan of bespoke granite kerb units. Creative Public Realm. Image: Christopher TippingNew Cut – New Road Viaduct – Draft proposals for bespoke enamel panels below the balustrade, welcoming you to Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping
As with most projects, not all ideas and proposals succeed.Budget limitations, critical rigour and often the subjective nature of the collaborative creative process all bring issues to bear in deciding what is destined to be built on site and what is left in the studio !
New Cut – New Road Viaduct – Draft proposals for bespoke enamel panels below the balustrade, welcoming you to Chatham. Image: Christopher TippingNew Cut & New Road Viaduct – Draft proposals for bespoke lighting scheme welcoming you to Chatham. Image: Christopher TippingNew Cut & New Road Viaduct – Draft proposals for bespoke enamel panels under the bridge, welcoming you to Chatham. Image: Christopher TippingSt John’s Square – Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingSt John’s Square – Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingSt John’s Square – Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher Tipping
The approach to the materiality and scale of St John’s Square & elsewhere along our route, was influenced by the architectural & industrial heritage of the Historic Chatham Dockyard.
St John’s Square – Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingSt John’s Square – Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingSt John’s Square – Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher Tipping
This monolithic detail seen above was titled ‘The Submarine’, inspired by HMS OCELOT on display at Chatham Historic Dockyard . This sculptural form was to act as a dividing feature separating two flights of steps at different levels.
I didn’t make it through the final evaluation process…
HMS OCELOT, Chatham Historic Dockyard. Image: Christopher TippingHMS OCELOT, Chatham Historic Dockyard. Image: Christopher TippingSt John’s Square – Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher Tipping & HardscapeSt John’s Square – Draft proposals for bespoke yellow enamel cast iron bollards & landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingSt John’s Square – Research Image of Ropery Artefacts. Draft proposals for bespoke yellow enamel cast iron bollards & landscape interventions. Image: Christopher Tipping
LOWER RAILWAY STREET & MILITARY SQUARE
Lower Railway Street & Military Square. Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingLower Railway Street & Military Square. Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingLower Railway Street & Military Square. Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingLower Railway Street & Military Square. Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingLower Railway Street & Military Square. Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher Tipping
Military Square is a major pedestrian intersection in Chatham, at the crossroads between Railway Street, Military Road and the High Street.
Lower Railway Street & Military Square. Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingLower Railway Street & Military Square. Draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingMilitary Square draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingMilitary Square draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingMilitary Square draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher TippingMilitary Square draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher Tipping
THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE
Military Square draft proposals for bespoke landscape interventions. Image: Christopher Tipping
Christopher Hazeldine, Production Manager at 3Fox International Ltd has kindly allowed us to publish the following images:
‘These are our Streets’
Front Cover: Medway 1 Magazine Issue 10 2017 3Fox International Ltd. Chatham Placemaking Project. Lead Artist Christopher Tipping‘Future Routes’ Page 17: Medway 1 Magazine Issue 10 2017 3Fox International Ltd. Chatham Placemaking Project. Lead Artist Christopher Tipping‘Future Routes’ Page 18: Medway 1 Magazine Issue 10 2017 3Fox International Ltd. Chatham Placemaking Project. Lead Artist Christopher Tipping‘Future Routes’ Page 19: Medway 1 Magazine Issue 10 2017 3Fox International Ltd. Chatham Placemaking Project. Lead Artist Christopher Tipping‘Future Routes’ Pages 20-21: Medway 1 Magazine Issue 10 2017 3Fox International Ltd. Chatham Placemaking Project. Lead Artist Christopher Tipping‘Future Routes’ Page 22: Medway 1 Magazine Issue 10 2017 3Fox International Ltd. Chatham Placemaking Project. Lead Artist Christopher Tipping
The guiding principles for the Chatham Placemaking Project, as outlined in the proposals developed by LDA Design, Francis Knight and myself as Lead Artist can be summed up in the following brief statements –
Getting Around – To create an easier journey for commuters and visitors from the Station to the Town Centre and Waterfront, with more shared space for pedestrians and cyclists.
Identity – Chatham is a great destination. Use the collective experience of the local community to tell this story. Use the Maritime and Military History of Chatham to tell this story. Chatham’s Historic Dockyard starts as you step off the train! How is this made obvious?
Destination – What is the experience of visitors to Chatham who arrive by train? This visitor experience is critical, so too is the daily experience of commuters and residents. We hope to deliver bold, attractive and contemporary changes which welcomes and enhances this journey.
Chatham Railway Station 2015 – Image: Christopher TippingWalking to Chatham Station – a pedestrian experience. Image: Christopher Tipping
At peak times – and throughout the day, pedestrians have to navigate a series of crossing points and narrow pavements with poor way finding to reach the Station. This is also the same experience coming from the Station. An adjacent bus hub stop and heavy traffic flow, make this a demanding environment for pedestrians and cyclists alike. A much more sympathetic environment is being proposed within this regeneration programme.
The Public Consultation events in regard to the Chatham Placemaking Project were held in Chatham from 15th January to the 5th February 2016.
If you click on this link – Chatham Placemaking Project– you can see the information boards which were presented for comment. Additionally, there was a form to complete, which asked some pertinent questions about the project. An online option provided opportunity to complete the survey at home in your own time. All the information collected is now subject to review by the Council’s Regeneration Team.
At these events the general public were invited to comment on the plans developed by the wider project team, including LDA Design, Medway Council, Arts Consultants Francis Knight and me ! I attended one of these days at the Pentagon Shopping Centre. What was so interesting about this process, was that people would stop and look at the information boards. Some would comment favourably, others would raise questions about wider issues in the town. Once engaged however, many people – particularly elderly residents – would tell stories.
These are a few images taken from the Creative Scope work I am doing. These are my artworks / draft plans, created to promote the creative concept.
Chatham Creative Scope – draft artwork and concept development by project artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Christopher Tipping
Concept
The Lead Artist proposes that these historic, physical and social influences will be experienced in the pedestrian journey from the Railway Station, via Railway Street and Military Road to Riverside. It is proposed that this concept approach may manifest itself as an evolving linear narrative, drawn out from within the pavements and pedestrian areas associated with the route. Referencing the nearby Chatham Lines, this new Town Line could demonstrate a series of distinct, yet inter-related events, thresholds and experiences along its course. As interpretive interventions, they will evoke a narrative of resonant references to Chatham itself, becoming a part of the fabric of the street. Where the Chatham Lines were built as defensive structures, this new line will be resolutely ‘enabling’.
The Historic Dockyard is inextricably tied to the social and industrial history of Chatham. It is a rich source of inspiration. Architectural forms, both robust and functional continue to influence the creative approach; some structures, such as the Slipway Sheds presenting striking abstract patterns and geometries. Vertical forests of timbers supporting vast and expansive roofs with rectangular glazing apertures, twisted askew by perspective. The Dry Docks are faced in massive blocks of close fitting granite. These materials are shaped by function, yet are hand crafted and bespoke features, imbued with a legacy of local and honed skills, surely a fitting inspiration for a contemporary streetscape here in Chatham.
Dickens writes about an enduring military presence on the streets of Chatham.
“They walked about the streets in rows or bodies, carrying their heads in exactly the same way, and doing exactly the same thing with their limbs”. “Men were only noticeable by scores, by hundreds, by thousands, rank and file, companies and regiments, detachments, vessels full for exportation”.
These closely observed characteristics, played out on the streets of Chatham until very recently, suggest that an echo of these patterns of movement and symmetric formations, displays and manoeuvres are still extant in the pavements, streets and roads of the town. Perhaps this evocative memory could be recalled in new paving finishes and interventions in the streetscene.
This creative interpretation not only brings a site-responsive and contemporary narrative to the project, but also dovetails with and adds to a strategic and deliberate approach to inherent wayfinding and placemaking, assisting and strengthening the pedestrian route and the local and visitor experience.
This concept applies to the entire Placemaking Masterplan, setting a blueprint for a programme of temporary and permanent commissions to roll out in a phased approach over the development period.
Chatham Creative Scope – draft artwork and concept development by project artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Artist’s own
Chatham Creative Scope – draft artwork and concept development by project artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Artist’s own
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 TippingChatham Creative Scope – artist sketchbook drafts. Image: Christopher TippingChatham Creative Scope – artist sketchbook drafts. Image: Christopher TippingChatham Creative Scope – artist sketchbook drafts. Image: Christopher TippingChatham Creative Scope – artist sketchbook drafts. Image: Christopher Tipping
I am waiting for approval to use some of the images in my documentation here, as both collections have some brilliant photographs, maps and diagrams, with which to ‘animate’ research for the project.
This is my 5th visit to Chatham – and the first blue sky day ! – so I had to put this image in…
This is the junction of the High Street, Chatham, with Railway Street and Military Road. The Halifax is on the left and the red brick gable end of Mountbatten House looms large in the centre. Image:Christopher TippingThe Halifax building at the junction of High Street, Chatham and Military Road has elephants carved on its facade. Have you seen them? Image:Christopher Tipping
At the Dockyards I was drawn to the activity at Turks Shipyard, which is a fully working yard. The light coming through the roof and riverside doors was beautiful.
Turks Shipyard within the Historic Dockyard site at Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingTurks Shipyard within the Historic Dockyard site at Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingTurks Shipyard within the Historic Dockyard site at Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingTurks Shipyard within the Historic Dockyard site at Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingTurks Shipyard within the Historic Dockyard site at Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingDry Dock, Historic Dockyard, Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingDry Dock, Historic Dockyard, Chatham. Constructed of massive bespoke granite blocks. Image:Christopher Tipping
I walked up to the site from Chatham Station, which is only 5mins walk away, passing by Dickens’ House on Ordnance Terrace on the way. I was allowed up onto the upper floors and the terrace, which offers spectacular views across Chatham and Rochester, the Medway and The Historic Dockyards beyond. This vantage point makes clear why Chatham developed as it did as a strategically important defensive site on the River.
Chatham Lines – comprising a number of impressive defensive structures, earthworks and Forts, developed since Napoleonic times to protect the Docks from a landward attack, are clearly visible in the landscape and although now long past any active role in the defence of the country, have served to shape the town and its inhabitants in both its topography, physical landscape and social history.
Chatham and the Historic Dockyard as seen from the upper floors of the University for the Creative Arts, Rochester Campus at Fort Pitt. Image:Christopher Tipping
Chatham and the Historic Dockyard as seen from the upper floors of the University for the Creative Arts, Rochester Campus at Fort Pitt. Image:Christopher Tipping
The copper green copula of the Brook Theatre, Chatham can be seen in the above image at the top right section of the image to the left of the red brick office clock Mountbatten House, the dominant landmark in the Town.
Chatham and the Historic Dockyard as seen from the upper floors of the University for the Creative Arts, Rochester Campus at Fort Pitt. Image:Christopher TippingChatham Waterfront and Gun Wharf as seen from Sun Pier. Image:Christopher Tipping
Chatham Waterfront and Gun Wharf as seen from Sun Pier. Image:Christopher Tipping
The Waterfront Pumping Station and Brook Theatre as seen from Sun Pier, Chatham. If ever something cried out for some form of intervention – then the Pumping Station takes poll position on the list. An eyesore on the waterfront, it could become an icon and focal point.
Sun Pier, Chatham with warning sign. Image:Christopher TippingThe empty timber deck of Sun Pier, Chatham. Image:Christopher Tipping
Although historically, the waterfront and area around Sun Pier would have been dominated by warehouses and river bases businesses. The industrial shed which houses Staples, does the site and its potential no favours here. Some softening landscape works and green screening may help.
Walking back from Sun Pier to the Waterfront and Bus Station, these historic granite kerbs and cobbles jump out for their simplicity, texture and purpose.
I wanted to see the town from the opposite vantage point of Fort Amherst adjacent to Great Lines Park, formerly known as the Field of Fire , so walked across to the Brook Theatre and beyond to the Town Hall Gardens, the former Town Burial Ground. Prior to 1828, the site was a former Rope Works.
The Brook Theatre, Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingDecorative wrought ironwork gates inside the Brook Theatre, Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingDecorative wrought ironwork gates inside the Brook Theatre, Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingThe gates to the Town Hall Gardens, Chatham. Image:Christopher Tipping
Just a short walk further up the hill is the path and steps leading up to the Great Lines Park and Fort Amherst.
Several steep fights of steps meet the visitor to the Great Lines Heritage Park and Fort Amherst, Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingThe Napoleonic brick faced defensive structures of Fort Amherst, Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingFort Amherst Signage, Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingA detail of the Fort Amherst Signage found at Great Lines Park, Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingA view of the University for the Creative Arts at Fort Pitt, Rochester, taken from Belvedere Battery, Fort Amherst, Chatham. Image:Christopher Tipping
UCA at Fort Pitt is at top centre of this image. The copper green copula of the Brook Theatre is at the centre bottom.
The pedestrian route from Chatham Railway Station to The Paddock and Bus Station can be made out in this image taken from Belvedere Battery, Fort Amherst, Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingThe pedestrian route from Chatham Railway Station to The Paddock and Bus Station can be made out in this image taken from Belvedere Battery, Fort Amherst, Chatham. Image:Christopher TippingThe pedestrian route from Chatham Railway Station to The Paddock and Bus Station can be made out in this annotated image taken from Belvedere Battery, Fort Amherst, Chatham. Image:Christopher Tipping
They have a brilliant book on Chatham and it’s history – “The Story of a Dockyard Town”by James Presnail, published by the Corporation of Chatham in 1952 MCMLII. Ref:942.23 CHA. I was much taken by it’s last paragraph on social responsibility.
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 Councilbuildings at Gun Wharfand 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 TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – The imposing and very long brick perimeter wall along Dock Road. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – The imposing and very long brick perimeter wall along Dock Road. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – the massive extant granite coping stones along the edge of Mast Dock. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – The scale of the original Dockyard architecture is so impressive. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – The geometry and pattern within the buildings are evident in structure and light. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – The internal roof of the slipway buildings is really something to behold ! Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – The massive structural timbers of the No 2 Slipway building. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – the roof apertures & timbers of the No 2 Slipway building create wonderful geometry and rhythms. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – the roof apertures & timbers of the No 2 Slipway building create wonderful geometry and rhythms. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – the early oak timbers were part of what were revered as ‘Chatham Timbers’ – Impressive forms with considerable interpretive merit. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric 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 – Dockyard Trains with great text – Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – List of submarines built in Chatham Docks. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – the interiors of some of the buildings on site are immensely evocative and full of abstract forms. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – the interiors of some of the buildings on site are immensely evocative and full of abstract forms. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – the interiors of some of the buildings on site are immensely evocative and full of abstract forms. Image:Christopher TippingHistoric Dockyards, Chatham – the interiors of some of the buildings on site are immensely evocative and full of abstract forms. Image:Christopher Tipping
