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Atkins delivers the development and design of two gigantic equine sculptures at the mouth of the Forth and Clyde canal. The complex structures will become the centrepiece for the £45million Helix Project, a joint venture between Falkirk Council, British Waterways and the Central Scotland Forest Trust.
Boats coming from the River Carron will be welcomed by the monumental Kelpie heads, which will form an impressive gateway to the canal system. Standing at around 30 metres high, the colossal Kelpie horses are sculpted as though captured in movement and originally were designed to form an integral part of the displacement lock mechanism, which would utilise the weight of the sculptures to displace the required amount of water to flood the central lock and lift boats from the River Carron into Scotland’s iconic lowland canal network.
During the design development of the new canal extension, the sculptures were repositioned, and the amount of water displaced by the Kelpie lock reduced. As the structures were developed with the artist, Andy Scott, a new aspiration emerged as the internal structure designed produced an attractive cathedral-like interior space. The combination of these factors led to a decision to keep the Kelpies as static sculptures and investigate the potential of internal access. Atkins design responsibilities include:
- the design of all engineering aspects of the structure
- the operational mechanism and services for the original Kelpie displacement lock
- advise on suitable and cost effective material that will realise the 100 year design life of the Kelpies, including the assessment of existing corrosion conditions
- technical supervision of the fabrication and erection of the sculptures
- the exemplar design for the Kelpie and Kelpie lock foundations
- the exemplar design for the break through detail of the canal extension into the existing Forth and Clyde canal marina
In order to translate the 3 metre high maquettes into 30 metre high iconic sculptures, an effective internal support structure was created, which provided the external skin with rigidity under wind loading. It is capable of withstanding the large forces generated due to the exposed nature of the location. Any internal structure introduced to the Kelpies had to be done sympathetically as it is visible through the skin of the sculpture. A close working relationship with Andy Scott was required to create an efficient and cost effective solution that fulfils both the engineering and artistic requirements.
The sculptures are based on the Kelpie legend and were chosen not only for the role of the mythical water horse in waterway folklore, but also to pay respect to the importance of the heavy horse throughout Scottish industrial history in the development of the canal network.
From the M9 motorway, the sculptures will appear as beautiful rearing forms rising from the landscape. Falkirk Council led the successful bid for the £25 million ‘Living Landmarks’ lottery grant in partnership with British Waterways and the Central Scotland Forest Trust. The Helix Project will transform under-used land between Falkirk and Grangemouth and also introduce a new section of canal, linking the Forth and Clyde Canal into the Forth Estuary.
More information:
Helix Project | Andy Scott Public Art | The Kelpies
For more information, contact us on 01709-373782
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