Tag Archives: Margate

Animal Thanet, Blog, Education, Natural World

Herne Bay to Birchington – Animal Thanet 2019

February 20, 2019 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

A walk from Herne Bay to Birchington at Low Tide with two Arabian Oryx and an African Elephant – February 2019

These images are part of the ongoing Animal Thanet project and installation / performance, which considers & reflects wider concerns I have for the natural world, particularly focussed on the lives of its wild animals, conservation, loss of habitat, diminishing numbers, poaching, trophy hunting, extinction and callous exploitation, which holds a mirror to our humanity. We may soon only have plastic versions of our wild neighbours to play with. The last decade has witnessed the slow & horrible realisation that our negative impact on the planet and particularly our plastic pollution of almost every environment, is a real-time catastrophe for the world around us.

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Oryx and an Elephant at low tide. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Above: Arabian Oryx – Oryx leucoryx at Herne Bay

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Arabian Oryx and an African Elephant at low tide. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Above: African Elephant – L. africana at Herne Bay

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Oryx and an Elephant. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Above: Views towards Reculver.

Above & Below: Oryx at Minnis Bay

Above & Below: Small tidal sea bathing pool at Minnis Bay

Blog, Margate Steps, Public Art, Public Realm

‘Margate Steps’ wins the Civic Voice Public Realm Award

July 20, 2015 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

At the inaugural Civic Voice Design Awards 2015 held at Central Hall, Westminster on Friday 17th July – ‘Margate Steps’ won the Public Realm Award.

The project was nominated by the Margate Civic Society. In 2014, the project had been awarded a Civic Award by the local group and it was on the back of this that the nomination for the Civic Voice Award was made. I attended the event with Geoff Orton of the Margate Civic Society.

Margate Steps wins the 2015 Civic Voice Design Award for Public Realm. Image: Christopher Tipping

This project was delivered by a large and diverse integrated design team. I think part of it’s success as a project is certainly down to the collaborative nature of the scheme and that this process was something which contributed from the outset of the works, influencing and challenging the design process at each stage.

Thanet District Council, East Kent Engineering Partnership, Jacobs Urban Design Team, Herrington Consulting, MACH – Margate Arts Creativity Heritage.

Margate Steps wins the 2015 Civic Voice Design Award for Public Realm. Geoff Orton of Margate Civic Society holding the Award. Image: Christopher Tipping

Margate Steps wins the 2015 Civic Voice Design Award for Public Realm. Image: Geoff Orton on the left, with Griff Rhys Jones, President of Civic Voice Photo: Christopher Tipping

Margate Steps wins the 2015 Civic Voice Design Award for Public Realm. Image: Chris Tipping, Project Artist on the left, with Griff Rhys Jones, President of Civic Voice Photo: Christopher Tipping

Blog, Margate Steps, Public Art, Public Realm

Margate Steps shortlisted for Award !

July 9, 2015 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

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 Steps, Public Art, Public Realm

Multi-rotor copter aerial images from Dean Barkley

June 29, 2015 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

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

Blog, Margate Steps

New images of the ‘Margate Steps’ by photographer Dean Barkley

February 24, 2015 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

Some great new images have come to light of the Margate Steps –

These were taken by photographer – Dean Barkley, using a multirotor copter. Dean can be contacted on dean@barkleyimages.co.uk

I have also just come across an amazing sound recording by analoghell of waves lapping along our very own Margate Steps ! Check it out !

Margate Steps - Image: Dean Barkley http://www.barkleyimages.co.uk/ — Margate Steps –
Image: Dean Barkley http://www.barkleyimages.co.uk/

Blog, Margate Steps, Public Art, Public Realm

The Margate Flood and Coast Protection Scheme, aka the ‘Margate Steps’

January 20, 2015 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

I recently saw some new aerial images of Margate Steps at low tide taken by the project contractors Breheny –

Breheny have very kindly allowed me to publish them on my blog. Notwithstanding its success as an example of coastal engineering within an urban setting, these images of the project really show to good effect the scale and impact of the project. As a public realm & additional amenity space which the step revetment provided for the town, the project was also successful as demonstrated by the awards it has won.

The project was awarded the ‘Community Award’ at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South East England Engineering Excellence Awards 2013. This award is for schemes, which deliver their engineering objectives whilst achieving secondary benefits for the surrounding community.

Town Pride Award 2014 as administered by the Margate Civic Society,

I was commissioned as the project Artist by MACH – Margate Art & Cultural Heritage, Thanet District Council & the Environment Agency. My role was to supply an interpretive & contextual backdrop developed with which to influence the design process & inform the structure, detailing & interpretation of this major sea defence works. The total budget for the project was £6m.

Client Team: TDC & Margate Renewal Partnership. MACH – Margate Art & Cultural Heritage, Engineers: East Kent Engineering Partnership.

Contractor: J Breheny Contractors Ltd. Specialist Concrete Pre Cast: CCP Cornish Concrete Products. Flood Risk Management Consultant: Herrington Consulting Ltd

The Margate Flood and Coast Protection Scheme. Aka the ‘Margate Steps’. Image: J Breheny Contractors Ltd

Blog

Turner Contemporary, Margate

May 11, 2014 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

We popped over to the Turner Contemporary in Margate yesterday to see the last weekend of the Making Painting: Helen Frankenthaler & JMW Turner

Thought that was a pretty wonderful dual presentation & really enjoyed the dynamic positioning of the Edmund de Waal vitrines.

Blog, Margate Steps, Public Realm

Margate Flood and Coast Protection Scheme, aka ‘Margate Steps’ wins Town Pride Award !

May 10, 2014 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

On Thursday 8th May 2014, at an event at the Walpole Bay Hotel in Cliftonville, the Margate Flood and Coast Protection Scheme, aka ‘Margate Steps’ was awarded a Town Pride Award 2014 by the Margate Civic Society.

Margate Civic Society, Town Pride Award 2014

This follows the 2013 award given to the project at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South East England Engineering Excellence Awards 2013. This award was particularly welcomed as it recognised the benefit of the project in enhancing the experience of its host community. The project team behind the scheme received the award from ICE Senior Vice President, Geoff French, at a ceremony which was held at Leeds Castle on Friday 7 June. The awards recognise the best civil engineering projects across South East England with the judges looking for projects that deliver a real benefit to society through the knowledge, skills and professional expertise of civil engineers.

The revetment steps are now almost a year old and appear to have been really taken to heart by both the community & visitors alike. As well as fulfilling a vital role as protection from the risk of flooding, the defences were designed as a stepped revetment which accommodates integrated seating and lighting to provide an incredible amenity and public realm from which to enjoy Margate’s famous coastal views and sunsets.

Blog, Margate Steps, Public Realm

A clear water day in Margate. Margate Steps revisited.

May 6, 2014 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

On 9th May 2014, the Margate Flood & Coast Protection Scheme, aka the Margate Steps will have been officially opened for a year. It is rewarding to see that:

1. The sea defence works are working !…the storms over winter clearly tested the engineering.

2. That the wonderful amenity space we envisaged (over and above its primary function as a sea defence works) would have become such an addition to the Margate sea front environment. I will be posting images and text from the project’s history over the coming weeks.

It was an amazing project to be involved with. I promised myself I would swim off the steps at high tide to celebrate the opening. I missed my opportunity, so am trying again ! Look out for the guy in a wet suit trying hard not to look cold !

A video of Margate Steps can be seen here on its official opening day on 9th May 2013.

Winner: The project was awarded the ‘Community Award’ at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South East England Engineering Excellence Awards 2013. This award is for schemes, which deliver their engineering objectives whilst achieving secondary benefits for the surrounding community.

I think we can safely say that Margate Steps has benefitted the community.

The blue text outlined below formed a much larger visual narrative prepared to support & inform the designs for the sea defence works. It is made up of historic, anecdotal and real time events which occurred along the length of the new sea defences.

Mr Brown led the donkeys on Margate Sands for years... — Mr Brown led the donkeys on Margate Sands for years..The blue text images

The scale of the new public realm and amenity space which the new steps provided can be seen in the aerial images. Image by Simon Moores — The scale of the new public realm and amenity space which the new steps provided can be seen in the aerial images.
Image by Simon Moores

The scale of the amenity space and public realm which the new sea defences have brought to Margate can be appreciated in this aerial image by kind permission of Simon Moores.

A clearwater day on 9th May 2013 when the project was officially opened.

A clearwater day for the official opening of the project on 9th May 2013