handspring


Structural Projects
Weston Park Bridge
May 2008
Weston Park Bridge
A traditional timber-framed bridge in oak, and seating installation commissioned by Sheffield City Council as part of the multi-million pound Heritage Lottery Funded restoration of a Victorian park in the city centre.
Willows School
February 2008
Willows School
Apple Shelter with integrated "leaf" design stage area and a 6m curling bench forming an external focal point for new build Special Education Needs school in Rotherham.
Hunters Bar Playground Phase 1
January 2008
Hunters Bar Playground Phase 1
Groundworks, landscaping and installation of raised areas, timber play ramps and Shipwreck Benches designed to encourage creative physical play activities. In partnership with Bureau of Design Research.
Parkwood Springs: Beacons Project Wingspan
October 2007
Parkwood Springs: Beacons Project Wingspan
Design and installation of a permanent feature to frame views from Parkwood Springs regeneration site. Massive vertical timbers and metalwork detail suggest extending wings and urge upward momentum. A series of flags has also been made which can be attached for community events.
Live project with Sheffield School of Architecture and Ruth Nutter
October 2007
Live project with Sheffield School of Architecture and Ruth Nutter
Design and construction of temporary installation to convey the experience of living in an eco-house. An open-air woodland home was created, complete with solar shower, chill-out pod, kitchen and living room, local people were invited to enjoy the experience.
Wyming Brook Bench
September 2007
Wyming Brook Bench
Design and installation of a multi-use timber picnic table/seating/play feature at a Sheffield Nature Reserve. Made from larch felled and milled at the site. Commissioned by Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
Apple core & counter
August 2007
Apple core & counter
Steam bent timber shop counter incorporating reclaimed apple barrel with inbuilt lighting, plus structural apple core feature / display stand, commissioned by The National Fruit Collection at Brogdale Horticultural Trust in Kent.
Royal Apple
May 2007
Royal Apple
An Apple Shelter with central solar lighting feature, installed as the courtyard centrepiece and outdoor seating space at The Media Centre in Huddersfield. Opened by the Queen to our great surprise!
River Sheaf Walk Display Boards and Sculpture
January 2007
River Sheaf Walk Display Boards and Sculpture
A series of 10 information panels for a developing route along the River Sheaf in Sheffield and a gateway sculpture at the town end of the route. Cast steel, stainless steel, glass, resin, stone and oak.
Wild flower bench
January 2007
Wild flower bench
A rustic oak bench featuring hand-carved wildflower details, commissioned by Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
Composting toilet and Roof Canopy Live Project 06
October 2006
Composting toilet and Roof Canopy Live Project 06
Working with 12 diploma architect students from Sheffield University School of Architecture to create sculptural composting toilet and separate roof canopy using innovate timber techniques. Local ash, London plane, and reclaimed Pitch Pine. Engineering by Arups.
Kew Apple
October 2006
Kew Apple
Design and installation of the Green Oak Apple Shelter at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in London as part of their Autumn harvest, with Brogdale, home of the National Fruit Collection. Made from glue laminated Oak developed with research grant from South Yorkshire Forest Partnership.
Tree 37
August 2006
Tree 37
Design and manufacture of two public seating installations at Winter Gardens, Sheffield City Centre, as part of Tree 37 project which involved wood workers from the whole of South Yorkshire. Using local beech.
Bell Tower and Benches
March 2006
Bell Tower and Benches
Outdoor bell tower and playground benches for new eco school in Heeley Sheffield. Reclaimed glue-laminated beams. Structural engineering by Arups.
Beauchief Gardens Shelter
March 2006
Beauchief Gardens Shelter
Re-roofing of park shelter with Cedar Shingles UK grown, FSC certified Western Red Cedar shingles from Duchy of Cornwall.
St Elizabeth's Close Totem
March 2006
St Elizabeth's Close Totem
A 4m totem pole designed in workshops with the residents & featuring a giant teapot. Sheffield Oak.
Norfolk Park Young Peoples Shelter
March 2006
Norfolk Park Young Peoples Shelter
A robust steel and wood, multi use space designed through workshops with young people and in consultation with the wider community. It is predominantly a space for young people to meet and hang out. Oak, painted mild steel and laser cut powder coated steel panels. Structural engineering by Arups.
Heeley Millennium Park Eye Bench
January 2006
Heeley Millennium Park Eye Bench
6m long seating installation in Heeley Millennium Park complete with solar powered LED lighting. Oak, stainless steel, photovoltaic kit.
St Thomas phase II, The water zone
January 2006
St Thomas phase II, The water zone
Blue Whale water play and experiment sculpture for Four Elements Garden at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic primary School Sheffield. Varnished & painted laminated wood, stainless steel.
Live project with Sheffield University School of Architecture
September 2005
Live project with Sheffield University School of Architecture
Working with Sheffield and Norwegian architecture students in two forest settings in Norway and Ecclesall woods Sheffield to create sculptural/structural interventions, as part of a larger, longer-term exchange project. Natural materials & bought timber.
Wakefield-Horbury Cycle Route Sculptures, Way Markers & Mural
August 2005
Wakefield-Horbury Cycle Route Sculptures, Way Markers & Mural
Creating an identity for the route via a series of themed art works. Cast way markers set in the ground along the route connected two sculptural elements and a mural. Included is a landmark 3.6m tall green oak sculpture on a major junction into Wakefield. Green oak, de-humidified oak, local stone, stainless steel mesh. Structural engineering by Arup's.
Sheffield Green Food Map
May 2005
Sheffield Green Food Map
Launch of an alternative city map, showing where to buy, eat, grow and learn about healthy, organic and local food. 5000 copies printed and distributed, and website resource. www.greenfoodmap.org
Common Ground
May 2005
Common Ground
Creating a community park on the site of a demolished church, with all elements of the design and implementation involving a diverse mix of the local community. Park includes boulder spiral with text on centre stone, set in bark play area, fruit trees, vegetable garden, seating, mound, wildflower planting, mural, carved oak posts and new entrance way and paths.
Wyming Brook Posts
April 2005
Wyming Brook Posts
Seven boundary posts for a Sheffield Nature Reserve. Each one carved with location specific designs drawn from the reserves flora & fauna and incorporating a metal cast depicting a species of bird found on the reserve. Designs informed by workshops with local community. Green Oak, Gun metal.
Dog Rose Flower Sculpture
February 2005
Dog Rose Flower Sculpture
Sculpture for a school science garden that can be disassembled to show all the different working parts of a flower head. The petals are made of stainless steel woven mesh with copper detail, the stigma and stemen from cast gunmetal, the ovary from seasoned oak, the seeds from ash and the stem from steel. Calling on the skills of a number of local craftsmen.
St Thomas Phase I, The Air Zone & The Earth Zone
November 2004
St Thomas Phase I, The Air Zone & The Earth Zone
Within school quadrangle creating a four elements themed outdoor classroom. The Air Zone is a cloud roof with weather features, storage benches and light table for drawing. The Earth Zone is a giant sand pit with planters incorporated. Local larch, reclaimed floor joists, Scandinavian birch ply, polycarbonate roofing, coloured Perspex, tanallisd decking.
Glen Howe Roof
August 2004
Glen Howe Roof
Replacing roof trusses and re-roofing a woodland shelter / Outdoor Classroom locally produced wainy edged larch boards and carved oak finial.
Recycling Matters
September 2003
Recycling Matters
Shop fit and exterior signage for a Recycling Information Centre in Sheffield. The priority was to provide a quality interior and signage while using as many reclaimed materials as possible. These were mixed with eco or locally sourced materials as required to present a modern contemporary building and so bring recycling into the 21st century. Reclaimed materials from washing machines, Cardboard tubes from carpet rolls, wood from old furniture, Scandinavian birch ply, Lights ducting & glass from demolition sites.