Peninsula Spire

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Peninsula Spire by by Barr Gazetas Architects, 2006
Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula
London, May 2023

“Barr Gazetas Architects' spire - which the practice claims is the UK's highest stainless-steel sculpture - has been erected at Greenwich Peninsula, creating a new riverside landmark for the capital. The twisted and tapering stainless-steel structure, dubbed The Peninsula Spire, is 45m high - taller than the Royal Albert Hall - and was co-designed by structural engineer WhitbyBird. The spire will be a permanent centrepiece for Peninsula Square, a public space being developed for a new business district at the Greenwich Peninsula. The 34-tonne sculpture was made in three pieces, the largest weighing 25 tonnes, and was built by Swiss craftsmen Tuchschmid. Its construction required the help of a Dutch luxury yacht builder due to the complex form of the steel plates. Peninsula Square will include cafes, shops and restaurants and a regular venue for special events and performances for visitors and office workers. Barr Gazetas' Alistair Barr said: 'Greenwich has led the world with innovative ideas in astronomy, navigation and precision engineering. This is a fantastic example of truly creative collaboration between architects, engineers and craftspeople to create an inspiring and unique work of art.'” (‘UK’s tallest steel sculpture’ erected in Greenwich, Architects’ Journal)

Tramvia di Firenze

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Tramvia di Firenze (Florence tramway network)
Piazza Unità Italiana
Florence, December 2022

“During the early 2000s, the Florence administration decided to restore the tram service. Works on the first line started in December 2005. Construction works were expected to last for 1,000 days, but eventually it took more than 1,800 days to complete the line. Line 1 started operation on 14 February 2010. The first part of Line 1, at Scandicci, was the first rail public transport service in the area. During the first 10 months of service, the total passenger served were 7 million, a result considered a success. On 16 July 2018 the line was extended from Florence Santa Maria Novella railway station to the current northern terminus, Careggi.” (Trams in Florence, Wikipedia)

Don Juan Tenorio

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Monument to Don Juan Tenorio by Nicomedes Díaz Piquero, 1974
Plaza de los Refinadores
Sevilla, September 2023

“It gets its name from the leather refiners that were in the area centuries ago, but now it is popular because it depicts one of the most famous characters in Spanish literature. It is situated between the Murillo Gardens, Santa Cruz neighbourhood and Puerta de la Carne. Don Juan Tenorio stands in the centre of Plaza de los Refinadores. The bronze life-size statue was made by Nicomedes Díaz Piquero (1974). Don Juan is wearing typical 17th century clothing.” (Monument to Don Juan Tenorio, Andalucía)

The O2

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The O2 entrance hall
Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula
London, May 2023

“Various buildings are housed within the dome structure including an arena, known as The O2 Arena, smaller venue Indigo at The O2, Hollywood Bowl, Cineworld, Sky Studios and an Entertainment Avenue consisting of various restaurants and bars. A new shopping outlet opened in 2018. Backstage there is also a VIP club lounge, operations rooms, a media centre with high definition facilities and a number of dressing rooms, as well as a VIP entrance/exit for performers. All the venues in the complex use the latest lighting, sound and security technology, including RFID smart card tagging of staff and VIP guests, and digitally managed sound. There are four computer server rooms to provide this technology. The complex is also covered by CCTV and security personnel. Arena visitors and their bags are screened with X-ray machines and metal detectors at the main entrance.” (The O2, Wikipedia)

Marble and mischio

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Marble and mischio horses
Fountain of Neptune by Bartolomeo Ammannati
Piazza della Signoria
Florence, December 2022

“Ammannati's Neptune was unique because of its incredibly large scale and even though there were several Neptune fountains around Italy at the time, none of them had Neptune atop a horse-drawn chariot. The fountain was being built to celebrate the marriage of Francesco and Joanna, and the association of chariots with festivals and pageants could be the reason for Bandinelli's unusual incorporation of a horse-chariot. Because the fountain's scale was so large, it forced Ammannati to make some innovative choices when constructing his giant Neptune. Two of the horses were white marble, but the other two were made of mischio, a marble discovered near the Duke's excavation site in Seravezza. This new marble was a type of breccia and had a variety of colors including red, yellow and purple. Because this was a new medium, its qualities were unknown to sculptors at the time and the hard, brittle quality of the mischio made Ammannati's task even more difficult. Due to the brittle quality of mischio the columns of stone broke in transit, creating delays in the fountain's completion. Ammannati was finally able to carve the remainder of the horse and complete the fountain in 1574. The project was intended to be completed by 1565 for the celebration of Francesco de' Medici I and Joanna of Austria's wedding, but due to a myriad of delays in sourcing supplies for the fountain's completion, Ammannati was forced to come up with a temporary solution for the arrival of Johanna of Austria. Through the use of stucco and paint, Ammannati was able to create the illusion of a finished product. The combination of the Neptune as the subject matter and Ammannati's use of the duke's newly found stone (mischio) made the fountain symbolic of the duke's reign over the Mediterranean and the mountains.” (Fountain of Neptune, Wikipedia)

Centre Pompidou Málaga

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Centre Pompidou Málaga
Pasaje Doctor Carrillo Casaux
Muelle Uno, Puerto de Málaga
Málaga, September 2023

“The city of Picasso's birth now plays host to the first branch of the Parisian institution outside France. Its permanent collection includes over 80 works by major artists such as Picasso, Miró, Bacon, Magritte, Frida Khalo and Giacometti. An outstanding invitation to explore the art of the 20th and 21st centuries. This branch of the Pompidou Centre will remain in Malaga for several years in the original El Cubo building, located in the heart of the city's port area overlooking the bay.Visitors will find a selection of works from the Pompidou Centre's collection, displayed in an area of 2,000 square metres. Five themes are covered in the tour: metamorphosis, the body in pieces, the political body, self portraits and the man without a face.” (Centre Pompidou Malaga, Spain.info)

The Optic Cloak

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The Optic Cloak by Conrad Shawcross, 2016
Blackwall Tunnel Approach, Greenwich Peninsula
London, May 2023

“A fusion of art, architecture and technology. There’s art everywhere on Greenwich Peninsula, and as we emerge as a new swathe of London, we’re collaborating with pioneering artists, designers and architects to embed visionary work into the fabric of this neighbourhood. The latest piece we have commissioned is The Optic Cloak by Conrad Shawcross. Overlooking the Blackwall Tunnel Approach and marking the gateway to the Peninsula, it envelopes the future low carbon energy centre that will power the 15,000 new homes on the Peninsula. At 49 meters tall, 20 metres wide and 3 meters deep, the flue is a landmark to people of the Peninsula and beyond, delighting newcomers and surprising regular commuters as its surface shifts and changes appearance depending on the light and time of day.” (Optic Cloak by Conrad Shawcross, The Peninsulist)