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WINTER WIND SCULPTURE - 1987

Not all structural engineering is about the built environment and infrastructure. Sometimes structural engineers get to (literally) support the aristic community. Circa 1987, I assisted steel fabricator John Roach to dvelop the structural framing for the foyer sculpture in the Riverside Centre Building, Brisbane which is called Winter Wind Structure. John Roach is one of the few remaining precision structural fabricators left in Sydney and Australia. The structural steelwork, made out of 16mm thick plates was moulded by John to creative shape envisioned by the sculptor, Norman Carlsberg. The creative shape is the structure. Carlsberg also asked for and received a paint finish which was the equivalent to the paint finish the Jaguar car. The sculpture is a testament to good design, steel fabricating and engineering. Before attemptimg the final sculpture, John fabricated a quarter-scale prototype sculpture in order to confirm its 'buildability' and finish. Attached are circa 1987 photographs of the process from prototype to completion. Fortunately there are no photographs of me doing the structural engineering thing. If you ever find yourself in Eagle Street within the Brisbane CBD, go have a look and marvel at a beautiful sculpture whose structural framing is fully expressed. Riverside Centre, Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD Architect: Harry Seidler Winter Wind Sculpture Sculptor: Norman Carlsberd (USA) Steel Fabricator: John Roach, formerly Penrith Engineer, and now Motive Power Engineering Sculptural Engineer: Gerard Barry of Gerard Barry Associates, Consulting Structural Engineers, on behalf of the Steel Fabricator