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
My colleague Jenni Muston at Rockpanel, has sent me some wonderful new images taken of the ‘Heart of the Campus’ facade artwork by the photographer Jason Newsome.
He has really managed to get some brilliant shots in varying light, which show off the variations in surface quality and light reflection. Thanks to both!
24th January 2015
Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England was supposed to be doing the honours today at the Official Opening of the Jubilee Building, but for unforeseen reasons he couldn’t come !
His place was taken by the local MP Jeremy Browne, who was able to stand in at very short notice. I am sure that everyone was disappointed not to have the head honcho in attendance. Everyone has worked incredibly hard on the project, from the Trusts’s Capital Projects team, BDP Architects and BAM to medical and ancillary staff. However, it was a lovely day all round and the weather was perfect for showing off the building.
This was the first time that I had seen both my projects – ‘70 years on…” & ‘Murmuration’ fully installed. I couldn’t have asked for a better day to see them. The Art for Life team, led by Lisa Harty have done an amazing job in co-ordinating and presenting the work. I am very grateful to them.
Jo Cubbon, Chief Executive Officer at Musgrove Park Hospital, with Jeremy Browne MP at the Official Opening Ceremony.
From left to right – Chris Cutting from the League of Friends, Colin Drummond, Chair of the Trust, Jo Cubbon, Chief Executive Officer & Jeremy Browne MP
’70 years on…’ was manufactured & installed by Architen Landrell with digital printing by VGL
Digital Printing onto vinyl mesh fabric applied to a stainless steel and aluminium ladder frame to create the tensile screen.
Station Quarter North, Southampton
If you would like some background information on the contextual research which was done to help shape the project, take a look at this short film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzwx8UP4tmk
The film was put together by Wilson Massie of Balfour Beatty Living Places for the project client, Southampton City Council. – I’m not much of a screen presence, but the information and visuals are interesting !
Film Credit: Wilson Massie for Balfour Beatty Living Places and Southampton City Council
Some new images have been issued by GRAHAM who delivered the Heart of the Campus project for Sheffield Hallam University Collegiate Campus.
The West Elevation artwork has a great impact on the building facade.
The rainscreen artwork was produced in collaboration with Rockpanel and The Cutting Room in Huntingdon. Project Contractors:GRAHAM – Project Architects: HLM Sheffield.
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
I have been invited to the official opening of the Jubilee Building at Musgrove Park Hospital on Friday 23rd January 2015 –
The building was delivered by Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s Capital Project Team in partnership with BAM and BDP Architects
I was commissioned on several projects in relation to the new building as well as being involved with the Trust as Lead Artist for almost 10 years, throughout their 10 year programme of regeneration and new build.
‘Murmuration’ and ’70 years on…’ are two of the projects now completed & installed in the building. These have both featured in detail in earlier posts here. Please scroll down to review –
The tensile screen artwork was manufactured and installed by Architen and digitally printed by VGL Vinyl Graphics Ltd
Yesterday, I travelled up to Aylesbury to discuss the possibility of being commissioned for more work for the Whiteleaf Centre, which is now open and fully operational. This is the first visit I have made since the Centre opened. Really interesting to see it animated & full of people. Tom Cox from Artcare at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust who commissioned all the artists for the project accompanied me around the wards and introduced my to staff who discussed with us the impact of the original artwork installations and the possibility of future collaborations with staff and service users to build upon this. Watch this space !
Within the ward hubs there are some high windows, which really demonstrated the effectiveness of the glazing manifestations in producing variation and change within the spaces depending on the weather.
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.
25th November 2014
More images in today from Hardscape detailing the manufacture of the large platform seat for Central Chelmsford.
