Steel posts highlight past and welcome future
16 July 2010
A pattern of futuristic-looking steel tubes now adorn Ivy House Road which is situated off Bucknall New Road, the eastern entrance into the City Waterside Development Area.
Designed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s landscape architects, the work was commissioned by RENEW to highlight the pioneering urban neighbourhood in the heart of the city.
Set on 120 acres (50 hectares) of land in a unique landscape City Waterside Development will become home to a thriving, sustainable and mixed community. A gateway entrance feature has already been completed by the same team at Joiner’s Square and RENEW wanted a sister scheme, developed in partnership with the local community
Several designs were drawn up and then put out to consultation in the community. It was the steel posts that won. The original design wasn’t intended to have lettering along it depicting the various potteries and other factories that used to be housed in the City Waterside area. But residents wanted this as a reminder of what the development is replacing while also welcoming what is to come.
The lead designer commented: “The brief was to create a noticeable feature. The posts are included into a spiral form which is derived from using the ‘Golden Ratio’ – a mathematical ratio worked out by an ancient Greek geometrist and later widely used in art, especially during the Renaissance. The ‘Golden Ratio’, considered the most perfect set of proportions, is also found in nature.
“The spiral shape of the posts goes into the centre and they increase in height as they go around the spiral to the centre point.
“We decided to use the Golden Ratio as this represents perfect proportion which is what the pottery industry produced – very fine work. So the perfect ratio is intended as a nod to that.”
The posts are striking, drawing attention to the area and giving the entrance a very fresh, modern, feel while also brightening it up.
“It was important the design was of quality as it’s representing the high standard of the redevelopment work. It also had to be hard wearing, attractive and without too much maintenance needed. This wasn’t easily achieved but stainless steel looks smart and is relatively low maintenance,” added the lead designer.
The colours of the City Waterside logo were used in the paving materials which is why some are blue and some green as the City Waterside logo is in blue and green.
The ‘design palette’ for the waterside area paving materials is utilized and adapted to provide a continuity throughout the development area.
