Title: Weathering the Edge (Climate Station).

Year: 2010

Site: Structures on the Edge is a new concept to integrate permanent small structures designed by artists and architects for the enjoyment and understanding of the coastal environment, on the extreme edges of the Lincolnshire coast, UK.

Maquette: Various materials, 600mm high.

Description:
A proposal to build a fully working climate (weather) station that will engage visitors and the local community as a place to investigate, interact, rest and contemplate.

The natural erosion and corrosion of what we regard as seemingly robust materials is both remarkable and fascinating. The proposal is a stacked square tower made up of indigenous materials that themselves will record the effects of weathering. It will literally be “Weathering the Edge” of these raw materials some of which will decay at different rates, and others that over time will create protective surfaces and patinas.

The stacked tower is constructed from square material slices and the orientation of the faces will record the different conditions that they are subjected to. For example the south face may become sun bleached over time whereas the east face may be sand blasted and pitted from the beach.

The selection of the materials will have constraints, they should be materials we regard as having the properties to build with and should be derived from the wider local area.

It is envisaged that the Weather Station will also be used to view some of the traditional information required to document and predict weather; temperature, wind speed and wind direction. This information will be uploaded to a dedicated website by visitors through the use of QI (Quick Response) codes scanned by their mobile phones. These instruments will be bespoke and mechanical rather than electrical in order to operate in such a remote location.