But let's face it, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is just about the last place in the UK (if not on Earth) where one would expect to find a major public arts project.
The A13 Artscape scheme, however, has high hopes that it will transform the industrial landscape along a three-mile stretch of East London's busiest arterial road – the A13.
In Milton's phrase, "it aims to illumine what is dark." And, until now, just about the grimmest and least inspiring stretch of road in the South of England.
Running until 2003, the project will encompass large scale artist-designed landscapes, parks, planting, footways, lightworks, artists' residencies and community projects.
An important feature is the "Holding Pattern" – a striking lightworks along the spine of the A13 at the Lodge Avenue roundabout.
It is a collaboration between lead artist Tom de Paor, Graham Ellard and Stephen Johnstone, which arranges a pattern of stainless steel columns, each topped with a blue airport taxiway light, in relation to the various approach roads.
Drivers passing over the roundabout can admire the "cloud" effect, as well as a forest of shiny needles, augmented by new tree planting and grasscrete surfacing on the roundabout below.
Thorn Lighting is supplying 75 of the special 5·5 m high poles and adapting the luminaire body and optic to integrate with its column and operate a 35 W ceramic metal halide lamp.
The £9 million project is funded by an Arts Council National Lottery Award (a £3 895 000 record for a public arts award), with partnership funding from the Single Regeneration Budget, local businesses and the Highways Agency A13 works – religning the road and upgrading a number of junctions.
Not everyone, of course, makes regular excursions to Dagenham. So, for a virtual drive through, visit WIRE Design's website on www.a13artscape.org.uk.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
