Special projects: wall-mounted sculpture for Pocket Living
October 2019
In March 2019, UK developer Pocket Living ran a competition in conjunction with Chelsea College of Art to design a wall-mounted sculpture for their new residential project in Bollo Lane, Ealing, West London. Competition-winner artist Rob O’Leary proposed an interlocking series of reinforced Jesmonite elements, and we were asked by Pocket Living to advise on the structure and installation.
The whole sculpture measures 1.8m high by 4m wide and weighs almost a tonne. Safe and economic transportation and installation was the main challenge. Working with the contractor, we devised a four-panel solution, with each panel attached to a marine plywood backing. On site, they were slotted into place onto steel angle fixings attached to the blockwork wall of the building.
The choice of materials for the sculpture is interesting. Jesmonite was invented in the UK in 1984. It is a water-based tint-able composite of gypsum and acrylic resin, making it very adaptable and ideal for casting. Jesmonite was named Material of the Year at the 2017 London Design Fair.
photo : courtesy Pocket Living
