Panopticons
The Panopticons scheme aims to build a series of six 21st century landmarks in the hills of East Lancashire by 2007 as symbols of the area's regeneration and pride. It is part of the wider Regional Park initiative led by the East Lancashire Partnership (ELP), and is funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and ELP.
Three new design proposals for Panopticons in Burnley, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley were announced in early February 2005. This follows wide-ranging public consultation on the short-listed design ideas and detailed consideration of those ideas, including interviews with all the design teams, by the Panopticons steering group in each district. The views of the public were an important factor in the final decisions.
The three selected design proposals are:
Winning Design: The Singing Ringing Tree
Designed by: Tonkin Liu Ltd, architects' practice
Site: Burnley
Winning Design: A new landscape on the hill
Designed by: Peter Beard, architect
Site: Hyndburn
Winning Design: neoSCOPE
Designed by: Nayan Kulkarni, artist
Site: Ribble Valley
Nick Hunt, Director of Mid Pennine Arts, which is co-ordinating the Panopticons scheme, said, "The steering groups have chosen three very talented design teams. Each will bring something special to East Lancashire, and a good deal of kudos. Now we want local people to help shape their ideas into final designs we can all be proud of."
ELP Chief Executive Dennis Taylor commented, "The winning designs are innovative and exciting and will become real attractions for East Lancashire and individually and collectively. The public have had an opportunity to comment on the competition design entries and the winners will now have to go through the planning permission process in their individual local authority areas and this will provide another opportunity for public consultation. The winning designs will be as sensitive as possible to the local environment in which they will be sited."
The three winning designers have been asked to develop their ideas into final designs for re-submission to the steering groups in April. A second phase of public consultation will take place before final designs are approved.
Designs for Panopticons to be sited in Blackburn, Pendle and Rossendale were selected during the first phase of the project and construction is due to begin in April 2005.
Winning Design: Colourfields
Designed by: Jo Rippon Architecture with artist Sophie Smallhorn, London
Site: The Cannon Battery, Corporation Park, Blackburn
This collaboration draws on a shared passion for the sculptural potential of pure colour in the landscape. The design is proposed for the Cannon Battery, Corporation Park, Blackburn, which during the late 19th century would have been Blackburn's most popular promenade. The proposal reveals the previously unrecognised beauty of the Battery itself, making it the work of art and not just the base for another folly.
Winning Design: The Atom
Designed by: Peter Meacock Central Workshop, Bristol
Site: Haworth Road car park, Wycoller Country Park, Pendle
The design of the Panopticon is based on the evolution of an atom to control the view and is proposed for Wycoller Country Park. This principle of evolution was applied to the following: Object and Form and Vision.
Winning Design: Halo
Designed by: John Kennedy, Landscape Architect, LandLab, Tockholes, Lancashire
Site: Rossendale
'Halo' is a 25m-diameter, circular steel structure, raised off the ground on a tripod, housing a solar array, self-powered cameras and lighting. The structure is clad in white photo-reflective material to ensure that it can be seen from miles around. Its simple, symmetrical shape ensures its legibility from long distances and from any viewpoint. Its reflective coating and lighting ensures that the structure is visible against any background, including surrounding hills, different weather conditions and at night. The structure has a hole in its centre to frame views of the sky.
Further details: Gayle Knight, Mid Pennine Arts, tel: 01282 421986 or 07767 383435. www.panopticons.uk.net
