Designers Anna Liu and Robert Urbanek-Zeller from London-based architects Tonkin Liu were in Burnley at the weekend to talk about their plans for Burnley’s Panopticon, ‘Singing Ringing Tree’, to be sited at Crown Point.
On Friday, they spent time with children at Rosewood Primary School, conducting experiments with pipes and wind to demonstrate how the Panopticon will be built, and later made a presentation to local partners in the project. On Saturday, Anna and Robert spoke at a public meeting at Towneley Hall, explaining their plans for the 10ft tall ‘tree’, which will be made of 300 galvanised steel pipes and will make a subtle sound when the wind blows across it.
Anna Liu said, “What really attracted us to this site was that it is very windy. We started to think about something that captures wind and began to think about a series of pipes. The form of a leaning tree is a good way to portray the effects of the wind.” Her colleague Robert added that they hoped the tree would play different chords depending on the direction of the wind. He estimated that the sound would be audible from about 20-30 metres.
The design will go forward for planning permission in the next few weeks and construction work is expected to start in the summer.
For further information call Helen Knowles, Burnley Arts Development Officer,
on 01282 664430, or Gayle Knight at Mid Pennine Arts on 01282 421986.
