SDA 2022 Entries

• Temporary Structure - A Temporary Structure that is not intended to remain where it is erected for more than a short period of time. This award focuses on the increase of temporary and pop-up structures being more sophisticated and aesthetical in their design

Both public artwork and acoustic shield, this installation marks the first UK use of an innovative new type of acoustic panels in a construction aimed at reducing people’s experience of noise pollution
The striking sculptural design turns a civil engineering project into a memorable public artwork.
The project delivery was managed by housing association Poplar HARCA and funded by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and Transport for London.
Drawing inspiration from the nearby waterways, the artwork’s geometry is one of folded surfaces and flowing lines. The folds add stiffness, texture, and interest, and this is further enhanced by the reflective material, which picks up fluctuations in light over the course of the day and accentuates the relatively low relief of the sculpture. Surface anodising provides soft and subtle colour.

Each cassette in the assembly is linked together into larger groups, which in turn are mounted to a carefully articulated concrete footing. These footings require no permanent fix to the highway and can be removed through a simple crane lift.

DATA
Begun: Oct 2020
Completed: Nov 2020
Floor area: 30m2
Sector: Transport
Total cost: £156,000
Funding: LB Tower Hamlets, Transport for London and Poplar HARCA
Tender date: Feb 2018
Procurement: Manufacture & Supply Agreement

Professional Team
Architect: Beep Studio
Client: Poplar HARCA
Pre-tender Structural engineer: Expedition Engineering
Post-tender Structural engineer: Cake Industries
Fabrication: Cake Industries
Installation: Power & Line
Planning consultant: Leaside Planning
Project manager : Poplar HARCA
Post installation monitoring: University of East London: Sustainability Research Unit

Suppliers
Powder coating: Purpose Powder Coating
Barrier anodising: Colour Anodising Ltd
Geometry definition: Mule Studio
Precast concrete: ABM Precast Solutions Ltd
Aluminium cutting and folding: WEC Group
Silk Metal: Echo Barrier

The Barrier makes innovative use of 'Silk Metal' by Echo Barrier - its first public use in the UK.
Most acoustic treatments reduce noise by using soft or textured surfaces to absorb vibrations. The ‘Silk Metal’ system used here is intended to work differently: An aluminium sheet perforated with tiny holes less than a millimetre in diameter forms the front face of a closed box. As sound waves hit the sheet it starts to vibrate, forcing air trapped in the box through the perforations: the resulting friction slows the passage of air, which in turn reduces the vibration of the sheet, and echoing and reverberating sound.

The challenge of using a delicate material in a harsh public roadside environment led Beep Studio's design. Large sheets of Silk Metal are given strength through folding and splitting into small panes; colour and curved shape provides softness, whilst the faceted design catches light attractively.

The acoustic barrier is a test piece intended to improve the roadside environment for pedestrians. The barrier's beneficial impact is being tested by the University of East London, who are measuring qualitative perceptions alongside quantitative effects on noise and traffic pollution. Should the results of these tests prove positive the intent is for the design to be rolled out more widely, improving streets over the capital and beyond.
The barrier is designed to be demountable and redeployable, so should it prove successful it can either remain in place or be relocated to another site for many years to come.
Being made primarily of aluminium (plus standard components) the barrier is fully recyclable and reusable,

The surface material was selected by TFL as a prerequisite of the design:
Challenges included:
- Using a material that had previously been untested in the UK
- Using a relatively weak material in a way suitable to a robust roadside environment
- Choice of 'warm' colour to reduce the potentially harsh appearance of aluminium
- Creating softly curving shapes from faceted panels
- Creating a modular system that can be moulded to changing levels on site (and on future locations)
- Passing Transport For London roadside safety requirements

Please see attached video clip for a full description of the project

The structure will be in place for at least one year, starting in November 2020.
Should it prove successful in its current location it can remain in place:
Should it no longer be required the structure can be demounted and redeployed on another site.
As above, since the structure is a test piece the intent is for further testing to take place, allowing for wider rollout in a greater variety of locations and configurations.