If you know Southampton well – you may never really notice the Station signage. Things may be a little tricky if you are a visitor. The arrival and departure from a great sea city like Southampton surely needs a bit of a signage upgrade. I am no typographer and this is a specialist area – but I can’t resist an opportunity –
Tuesday 15th March 2016
I have to admit that this is the first time I have been inside the multi storey car park at the junction of West Park Road and Kingsbridge Lane. The first time in over 12 years coming to Southampton. What a good view down Blechynden Terrace !
The main pedestrian routes on the north and south sides have been re-surfaced and the public artwork “Canal Shore’, a 205m long wide basalt kerb detail with inlaid granite text, forms a strong and robust visual desire line on the south side of Blechynden Terrace all the way to the Station Forecourt.
The footpath just visible at the bottom left corner of this image is the start of Kingsbridge Lane, which is the main pedestrian route from the Station to the City Centre and Cultural Quarter. This route is very well trafficked and very busy at peak times, with a flow of people at all times of day. The visual and physical connection to the Station Quarter Project is currently poor and we are now scoping this route to consider an approach to regenerating the site and improving connectivity and user experience.
Tuesday 9th February 2016
I was invited to attend what was possibly the final Champions Group meeting to review the regeneration work coming to a close at Southampton Station Quarter North. This group of people, representing every walk of life in the local area and community, have been responsible for championing, challenging and keeping the project on its toes since the dawn of the scheme way back in 2012. They have been an invaluable part of the project and I hope that they collectively approve of the work done thus far. Pete Boustred – Transport Policy and Sustainable Travel Team Leader at Southampton City Council, led the walk around site, assisted by Antony Cutajar, Site Manager for Balfour Beatty Services & Wilson Massie, Stakeholder Engagement for Balfour Beatty Living Places.
The last time I had been to site was 28-09-2016 – click this link or scroll down to see this post.
The landscape forms – bespoke cast concrete seating, amphitheatre steps, ramp and retaining walls are now all installed. Some snagging was still to be completed and soft landscaping was still in progress. As this was February, there was not much to see in terms of greenery ! Meadow seed planting has been carried out – & hopefully the impact of this will be seen later in the year.
This is a simple photo essay of the walk around the site looking at what has been completed.
Rockpanel Online Newsletter – February 2015
I have been really fortunate to have the Heart of the Campus artwork at Sheffield Hallam University featured by Rockpanel in their online newsletter this month.
http://www.rockpanel.co.uk/references/case+studies/sheffield+(uk)
The project has also been featured as a full page spread in Roofing, Cladding and Insulation magazine, January 2015 issue and will also appear in Public Sector Build Journal
Great news to end 2014 & a promising start to 2015 !
On 22nd December 2014 I was appointed as the artist to the team for the new bus station at Merthyr Tydfil.
“The appointed artist will work as part of a multi disciplinary design team to look for opportunities to contribute to the design of the bus station both in terms of function and aesthetics. The development of a new Central Bus Station for Merthyr Tydfil is one of the last major regeneration projects for the heart of the town centre.
Through extensive public consultation held in June 2014, the majority of the public recognised the need to relocate the bus station; however concerns were raised over anti-social behaviour, accessibility and close proximity to a residential area. It is critical that the design addresses these concerns whilst looking for a contemporary design that has a unique appearance which is respectful to the surrounding area.
This is an excellent opportunity for an artist to make a real contribution to the design of an important part of the town’s transport infrastructure and a critical building within the townscape. The appointed artist will be expected to bring a new perspective to the design team crossing traditional skills boundaries and linking different design disciplines.”
Helen Kell, Vibrant and Viable Places Project Manager, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. Helen will be liaising closely with me, alongside the Public Arts Officer for the project.
I will be collaborating and working alongside Capita Symonds, Mott MacDonald, Arts Council Wales & One Voice, a disability action group based in Merthyr Tydfil as well as local authority agencies and local planning officers.
The brief and scope is wide ranging at this stage, but is focussed on the use of research led contextual studies with which to influence the design process and eventual outcome of the project.
I will be starting work on the project in January 2015 & look forward to working & collaborating with the people of Merthyr Tydfil as soon as possible.
This blog will be made open to everyone involved in the project to review, comment upon & contribute to the programme and research.
One of the most striking & singular elements of the interpretation project at Burgess Springs, Central Chelmsford is the large granite platform seat.
This feature is some 2.4m square & manufactured in 4 large units. The surface is being sandblasted with images and text, both inspired by the writing of Anne Knight of Chelmsford.
The granite artwork is being project managed by Nigel Hudson, Masonry Product Manager for Hardscape at their premises at Long Marston, Stratford Upon Avon. The sandblasting is being carried out by Masonry Manager, Vladimir Zonozicka. We have met several times to discuss and sample the process & the collaboration has in turn, resulted in a much more interesting peice of work.
The development scheme is being delivered on behalf of Genesis Housing by Denne & project managed by Bidwells.