A13 Artscape

The Pump House

Standing at 6 metres high and over 4 metres square, The Pump House is not just a vehicle for lighting technology but a functional amenity.

It contains the electronic control system for drainage pumps that ensure the next underpass on the A13 is free from water.

Designed by Tom De Paor and lighting artist Clare Brew, with further technical expertise provided by Quo Vadis, the project marks one end of the A13 Artscape scheme.

It is constructed from high quality pre-cast concrete panels of pure white cement with a limestone aggregate, acid etched and polished before being coated with anti-graffiti varnish.

During the casting, 512 clear acrylic rods, of 40mm, were embedded in the panels to a predetermined pattern.

An LED unit is connected to each rod and sequenced via a computer programme.

The pump house is contained within a newly landscaped area of earthworks - X Joules.

Pump House concept|

A stainless steel sheet steel wrapped concrete box 8400mm wide and long by 6250mm high squats in a meadow in conversation with an adjoining Edwardian utility building, repairing the end of a demolished terrace and marking the course of the canalised Mayesbrook.

The steel wrapping is of varying width upwards to 1,500mm wide 3mm thick horizontal bands lapped with 10mm diameter stainless steel headed bolts fixed at 360 centres horizontally and 475 centres vertically.

Each face has 1, 2 or 3 flush doors detailed integral to the wrapping.

The letters P, U and M are pressed out of the sheet to Expamet pattern no. 0655 in 4,000mm high Univers Bold typeface and back lit from within the structure.

The 3 letters are equally spaced around the 4 sides of the structure to encourage circumambulation and the mantra Pump.

Status: complete - design amended for maintenance and vandalism prevention purposes.

Pump House artwork