Overview

Coralie Turpin created a polished stainless steel, bronze and gold leaf sculpture measure 10 x 2m for the exterior of Hannah Court student accommodation in Sheffield.

Project detail

The torch or beam of sparks on the right of the design reflects the sparks theme which emerged from a thumbnail sketch discussion relating to Sheffield’s industrial heritage in the early stages of the design process.

The factory operating on the site would have been making sparks in its manufacture of steel items as would other small factories in the area, the flickering light from sparks and the sounds of machinery from this process will have dominated the atmosphere.

The triangular part of the design on the left of the image represents the craggy cliffs of Stanage Edge and Sheffield’s modern reputation as an outdoor city.

In developing the design the theme has incorporated a graphic style relating to scandinavian design with luxurious and indulgent real gold detail.

There are also Art Deco influences in this design in the shapes and gold detail and the original logo for Silverpride whose factory was on this site contains lines that fan out in a similar way to the main beam part of the design.

Cast bronze stars were fixed in place on top of the frame and have gold leaf applied to the surface.