The Commission
Ropetackle Development. Shoreham by Sea. West Sussex. UK.
2006
As one of a group of artists and designers, Steven was commissioned to produce and fabricate designs for the residential development on the Ropetackle site, near the river estuary at Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex.
He was asked to develop designs for a series of tree grilles and an entrance feature to identify the site and prevent vehicular access into a new pedestrian square.
Designs draw inspiration from the sites history as a centre for ropemaking, aswell as the project themes of erosion and the rhythms and patterns of the tides and the water.
The gabion seats are mirrored in gabion defences positioned further up the river estuary. They are topped with cedar and filled with cobbles. The materials and colours connect with those used in the buildings around the new development.
5 curved ‘Gabion’ style seats formed the barrier between the road and the new town square, preventing vehicles, but allowing views across the river to the rolling downland landscape or along the village high street. The tree grilles echo the rippling water and the twisted fibres of rope.
Tree grills (including sub frames): Galvanised steel, aggregate. W.100cm, D.100cm, H.10cm.
Gabion seats: Galvanised steel, Cedar, Cobbles. L. 200cm, H. 48cm, W.48cm.