The gateway design and sculpture project was a commission by Peterborough City Council. The commission was for a new entrance feature for the River Embankment area near Peterborough City Centre to be designed and created in view of the intended expansion of the City. Funding came from the National lottery.
The project began in June 2004. Richard worked with three students from the sixth form at Kings School in Peterborough to create designs in response to the cities history, contemporary and future culture and development Through a series of workshops led by Richard Danial Lumb, Rachell Snart and James Wheeble created visual ideas that were put on public display at various sites around the city centre. These designs were scrutinised by the public and opinions recorded regarding preferences.
Shortly after this a series of models were constructed in the workshop at Kings School.(see images in the student design work folder RS, JW, DL)Using his experience Richard pulled together a design that incorporated elements of the students design work and presented a model to the Project manager Charles clay at the City Council offices.
After several meetings the go ahead was given and the students went to Midas technologies in Fengate to help begin construction.
On the 10th of July the sculpture was finally put in place. The Mayor Marion Todd formally opened the sculpture on Tuesday 17th July.
The sculpture design has come from the two loops of a self tightening Knot similar to a barrel hitch that would have been used to tie boats up with when visitors would have first arrived in the area. The area which was largely flooded at that time between the Welland and the Nene was only accessible by boat.
The two loops also symbolise the coming together of old and new, history and the future and of different cultures.
The steel tubular sculpture is 9 metres high and is sited just off Bishops Road adjacent to the crown courts, in front of the outdoor Lido swimming pool and within site of the Key theatre. It is hoped that this will attract residents and visitors to use all of these facilities but particularly the attractive river embankment itself.
[Read the Peterborough ET Story on the Gateway] |
