PRESS RELEASE: August 2009
Public space close to the Gate Studios development in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, will long serve as a reminder to its film-making past, thanks to an architectural sculpture manufactured by bespoke metalwork company Alpha Rail.
The development was the original location for Gate Studios, one of the earliest British film studios founded in the 1920s. The location produced a number of famous feature films, the best known being Odette with Anna Neagle and Trevor Howard.
This area is still renowned as the ‘Hollywood of England’, with nearby Elstree Studios producing Eastenders and Holby City as well as feature films such as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
On the site of the old Gate Studios, Taylor Wimpey has built a mixed use development of 133 houses and apartments, with a nearby area of public open space that they wanted to reflect the development’s film past.
Landscape architectural and sculptural design company Land & Sculpture Design Partnership had the vision to create huge 18ft metal cameras that would tower over users of the park, on a landscaped area that reflected an old film strip negative.
The company chose Alpha Rail to realise its vision as it knew that no project was too large – literally. Vanessa Hill, a skilled sculptor of metal, stone and wood, provided the specification and Alpha Rail manufactured the three huge film cameras at its factory in Nottinghamshire to meet the design brief.
Vanessa Hill of Land and Sculpture Design Partnership, explains: “The idea was to create a reminder to the area’s film past and keep it alive for generations to come. In this context, art has served to reinforce an appreciation of this area’s history and will come to mean a lot to residents living here in the future. As we have worked with Alpha Rail before, we know they had the capabilities to design assist on this project and produce the desired result. We wanted the cameras to be pointed in specific directions, with two cameras focused on the smaller camera, a bit like in a warm, friendly family group.”
Alpha Rail supplied the bespoke metalwork, which was galvanised and powder coated in black, to enhance longevity.
Phil Ball, Sales Director of Alpha Rail, explains: “This was a totally unique project but one that we were delighted to be involved with. It is always exciting to work with an architect – or a sculptor in this case – to create a work of art. The importance of sculptures like this cannot be underestimated in providing a focal point for a public space and raising awareness of the unique heritage of the area for years to come. It also shows just what can be achieved with partnership working, where our technical and manufacturing skills means we can help bring a project like this to life.”
Alpha Rail has over 25 years’ experience in urban regeneration, green space and park restoration. The company provides a bespoke service for architectural metalwork and has supplied many prestigious projects, including school grounds, parks and housing estates with new gates and railings.
For more information on bespoke architectural railings, contact Alpha Rail on 01623 750214 or visit the website www.alpharail.co.uk.
Press enquiries: Marina Wood/Tom Underwood, Dragonfly PR, Tel: 01709 300130 / Mobile 07720 509 374 or email: marina@dragonflypr.co.uk.
Landscape architect – Vanessa Hill – 01449 740272 lsdp@btinternet.com
Client Ian Conlan at Taylor Wimpey – 01277 236813 ian.conlan@taylorwimpey.com
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