A13 Artscape

Ripple Fence

This was the first aspect of Arterial to be proposed, as the seed of the project was an idea to improve the facades of the light industrial units alongside the south side of the A13, beginning at Lodge Avenue roundabout, creating a consistent and clean looking environment.

Tom de Paor designed the fence in collaboration with the project engineer using the theme of 'ripple' from the road name.

It formed the whole inspiration for Artscape as the ripple affected the design proposal for the rhythm of trees and the creation of 'moments' of intensity or collaboration, as found in an orchestrated musical work.

Ripple Fence concept|

A high security, low maintenance, low cost bespoke boundary system in serial private ownership.

The site is 300mm wide and 1.7km in length along the southern edge of the A13 as it moves through a light industrial zone.

Based on the moire visual effect, the fabric of the fence is a standard 3 dimensional expanded metal sheet (3 x 10mm thick, 2250 x 2250mm square) which is hot dipped galvanized.

It is therefore visually solid when perceived from one angle and progressively more transparent as the point of view alters.

This light manipulation is amplified by creasing the square of fabric at 23 degrees on 45 degrees along the meshes vertical axial.

The support posts consequently crank alternately at 5 degrees.

The resultant parallelogram rhythm (which varies with the viewer up to the 50mph speed limit) provides a visual datum against and through which this place is viewed.

The base detail is again of standard civil engineering components reconsidered - a half battered safety kerb placed back to back but coated in a glass bead reflective white paint to exploit alternative light rhythms reflected from the headlights of passing vehicles.

Status: ongoing - some in place, others adopted according to planning.

Ripple Fence