|
Latest diary update March 2007
The feasibility study for Walton has had a very positive outcome. The sculpture has been found to be technically feasible and has attracted the support of the local authorities as well as the majority of the residents. A review of the ecological context has not revealed any issues that would definitely prohibit the development although a number of environmental surveys are required. Public transport is well developed and it is felt that car parks have sufficient capacity during most of the year however we plan to work with local stakeholders to encourage the use of different modes of transport making use of the train lines, cycle routes etc.
Because of the current steel price, the project costs for the initially favoured whole steel method are relatively high. We have therefore explored alternative construction methods using less stainless steel. With the support of a specialist engineering firm, we are currently assessing the best construction method.
We are very happy to have chosen Walton-on-the-Naze as the project location – everything seems to fit! We are currently planning our next trip to Walton to present the outcomes of the feasibility study.
Latest diary update September 2006
At the End of August we spent an exciting and productive week in the East of England.
Jörg, the director of the LOST TOWN documentary and his two colleagues travelled with us to film the last sequences of the first part of the documentary. As he wasn’t able to film the very beginning of the project, he needed some of the early events to tell the story. This brought us back to Dunwich/Suffolk where we met again with some key people. We also had the pleasure of a helicopter flight over Dunwich which really was a splendid experience.
We also proceeded with the actual LOST TOWN project and met with Douglas Carswell (the MP for Harwich and Clacton) in the Walton Forum. We explained the project to him, visited the site and discussed possible ways forward and how he can support the project.
We also continued our research on coastal erosion and visited Covehithe and Happisburgh, two places that have a dramatic erosion rate.
Latest diary update August 2006
Our next visit to the UK will take place at the end of August. During this trip we will be accompanied by Jörg from Caligari Films who has been making a film about LOST TOWN for the past two years. We will be helping him film the last few sequences in order for him to complete the first part. His film tells the story of LOST TOWN from winning the landmark east competition to the abandonment of Dunwich as a project location. It will be broadcast in 2007 on the Bayerischer Rundfunk and the WDR channel in Germany.
We will hope to update again soon following our visit...
Latest diary update June 2006
After the positive introduction we had in Walton-on-the-Naze we are now reviewing the feasibility of LOST TOWN in this new location.
In the middle of May we made a trip to Walton to examine the site further, to extend our local network and to make some decisions on the project design. A quite important but also challenging question is how far from the coast should the sculpture be located. To get a feeling for sizes and distances in the sea we had prepared an exciting experiment: With the support of Walton Forum we had a yacht sailing into different positions off the coast to simulate the sculpture, simultaneously several photographers took pictures from different view points on the shore. After this day we had gained a deeper understanding for the distances in the sea and discussed the results in the local pub….
Latest Diary Update March 2006
After a series of consultations with residents, local groups and authorities we are now very happy to announce the new site for the LOST TOWN sculpture: Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex. This beautiful seaside town has suffered from severe landloss over the last milleniums; 200 years ago the church of All Saints was claimed by the sea. Even today the Naze (a lovely peninsula designated National Nature Reserve) is eroding heavily and will dissapear if it is not protected…Walton therefore offers a strong context for the LOST TOWN sculpture.
In January we presented the project to local residents in the town hall followed by a lively discussion. The majority of attendants expressed a positive feeling towards the project and the general reaction was that it was seen as a chance for the town - a worthy catalyst to help regenerate Walton-on-the-Naze and encourage year round visitors. Some concerns were raised about issues such as offshore navigation, access (roads) etc, all of which will be explored in more depth in due course. We are very happy to proceed with our work with this positive background and are really keen to get into detail soon.
From 6th to 18th February we had the pleasure to present the East of England, Landmark East and LOST TOWN to a wider public in Germany: In collaboration with EEDA we organized an exhibition in the "Architekturgalerie" in Munich, an internationally renowned showcase for design and architecture.
Diary update October 2005
The feasibility study concluded that it was technically possible to construct the sculptures at Dunwich, but there were a lot of issues to overcome to get consent for the project. Dunwich is located in a highly designated environment and the present infrastructure is insufficient to cope with high traffic volumes. Finally we had to say goodbye to our plans to rebuild the lost churches of Dunwich. In June we held a last meeting with the Dunwich residents to explain our decision.
Nevertheless we did not give up and have concentrated our studies on the search for alternative sites on the East coast. Dunwich was not the only town swallowed by the sea, there are many more towns that suffered and still suffer from coastal erosion. We changed the name of our project to “LOST TOWN” (have a look at www.losttown.net) and in July we began to examine possible alternative sites. We are now very close to a result and have first consultations with our preferred candidates….[top secret!]
Diary update May 2005
During the last few months, we spent more time in the East of England than in Germany. We explored the region in depth, studied the history, learned about rare species, analysed the traffic issues, and much more. We contacted a number of interesting people and institutions, like the Crown Estate, The Church of England, English Heritage and had interesting discussions about our project.
In April, we completed the feasibility study and delivered the report - 3kg of paper!
In June we are meeting with Wolfgang Volz, the assistant and photographer of the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Diary update Jan 2005
The engineering team (Ove Arup) have made a lot of progress in this first stage of the feasibility study. Technically the project is thought to be feasible but we are still looking into traffic issues and visitor numbers which are of particular concern to local residents. Due to this we are also researching the possibility of creating a temporary, floating or even water based sculpture. We are concentrating our effforts on a more detailed construction scheme and the effect that a change in scale and layout will have on the cost of the project.
We have met with organisations like English Nature to discuss environmental impact and as a part of our further consultation we are looking forward to meeting a marine architect who is a specialist in Suffolk underwater studies.
We have held a number of public consultation meetings throughout February to give people the opportunity to air their views and ask questions regarding the project. This feedback will be used to inform the rest of the study.
Diary update December 2004
We landed at Stansted on a foggy day in November. The prospects for our first team meeting at Dunwich didn't look too good.
With a large group of new sub-contractors all coming together for the first time on the proposed site, we had wanted to give everyone a feel for the magic of the place, as well as give everyone a chance to get to know each other. We'd brought a whole suitcase of German gingerbread and chocolate.
As it turned out, the day of the meetings brought blue skies and sunshine. We experienced what it was like to be tourists coming to Dunwich. We ate fish and chips at the Ship Inn. We walked on the beach, sat on the cliffs and explored the ruins.
Most importantly we also managed to make some useful progress. We presented the project and identified main issues with our engineering project managers, Ove Arup and Partners, quantity surveyor Davis Langdon, ABL Cultural Consulting and communications firm Shorthose Russell. In the afternoon we also met with representatives from Dunwich Parish Council, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council and Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB to talk through the project from their perspective, looking at which areas still need more work and exploration, and how the needs of the group can be met.
Diary update August 2004
Our first visit to Dunwich. We’d immersed ourselves in maps and photos to get good understanding of the area, but we were still taken aback when we arrived. It’s even more beautiful than we’d expected.
We met with engineers as well as attending a meeting with the parish council and villagers. Johannes and I learnt a huge amount. Particularly about the challenges ahead – but that’s always the way, you come up with a nice idea and then you have to face the problems involved. The first phase of an in-depth feasibility study is due to be underway soon, examining the technical issues and capital costs, financial viability, access/infrastructure and public consultation. There’s a long way to go.
It was such an open competition, open internationally and to all kinds of ideas, we were very happy to be picked out. I’m also working on a building project in Spain at the moment, and it’s a relief there’s such a good service from Stansted to Malaga. I have the feeling I’ll be making full use of it as planning activity starts to be cranked up.
Back to top
|