Horizon

Boston, 2021

Sat on the edge of the flood defence embankments of the river Haven outside Boston this competition winning installation was inspired by the significance of its site, explores themes of nautical navigation. The structure is designed to be constantly changing and incorporates several moving and rotating elements to reference navigational instruments and methods used by marine travellers for millennia.

Team: Architect: MSA/Gruff
Main contractor: Art Fabs
Specialist screw pile subcontractor: Ground sun Ltd.

Materials: Helical AB Chance screwpiles with gabion mattresses
Galvanised steel sub frame
Laser cut and curved steel plate elements
Fabricated rotating bearing supports

Photos: French & Tye

Design

The design was developed with the architect to provide a robust structure within a challenging marine environment projecting out from the edge of the flood defences alongside the River Haven. The structure is elevated above the flood plain on inclined stilts incorporating concealed counterweights to facilitate a series of rotating mechanisms within the superstructure.

Manufacture

The design of the cantilevering superstructure and the rotating elements was carefully developed in coordination with the specialist fabricator to ensure that the elements were buildable and maintainable whilst achieving the complex architectural geometry.

Finishing

Construction

The challenges of the site and the ground conditions required the use of specialist demountable screwpiles which were then surveyed post installation to allow the seamless installation of the fabricated superstructure.

Completed Project