Singing Ringing Tree, Lancashire Sculpture, Northwest English Art Installation, Architecture Photos
Singing Ringing Tree in Burnley
5 Aug 2021
Design: Tonkin Liu
Location: Burnley, Lancashire, north west England, UK
Singing Ringing Tree
The Singing Ringing Tree is a wind powered sound sculpture resembling a tree set in the landscape of the Pennine hill range overlooking Burnley, in Lancashire, England. From far and wide, the tree’s profile is visible on the horizon, appearing and disappearing in the mist. The design is by London-based Tonkin Liu architects.
In 2007, the sculpture won (along with 13 other candidates) the National Award of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for architectural excellence. In March 2017, a second Singing Ringing Tree was set on the outskirts of Austin, Texas in the United States in the rural area of a small town called Manor.
What was the brief?
The architectural competition for “all-seeing” structures on a number of derelict, high-point sites, was organised by Mid-Pennine Arts, for the regeneration of the Lancashire Regional Park. These sites all command outstanding views of the countryside. The brief was for a landmark and a shelter, a place from which the public can enjoy the landscape with the aim to draw city residents into the beautiful landscape that surrounds them.
How is the project unique?
The tree is constructed of stacked pipes of varying lengths. From Burnley, the tree’s profile will be visible on the horizon. It will appear and disappear in the mist. Each layer differs from the next by 15 degrees to respond to the changing wind directions. As the wind passes different length pipes in different layers it will play different chords. Each time you sit under the tree you will hear a different song.
What building methods were used?
The Crown Point site above Burnley, with a brick shed and two radio masts, has long been an eye-sore visible from the surrounding towns. Our proposal replaced the shed and the masts.
To maximise visibility, the base was raised by building on the lower part of the brick shed. The top half of the shed was demolished, and the rubble formed the hard core onto which a concrete base was made. The mound was then covered with soil and turf and new fenced paths were created through the boggy landscape.
Mild steel comes in a variety of size with walls of variable thickness. This gave us the variability to develop the structure and sound. Being heavier, the fabrication process was more difficult but the weight helped with the mass required to resist overturning under wind load and live loads, due to the asymmetric form. Unlike stainless steel or aluminium, mild steel can be relatively cheaply welded. To prevent rusting the steel was galvanised which gave a shiny appearance when the construction was new. This has dulled slightly over time whilst still reflecting light in an interesting way.
The tubes were arranged in such a way that the weight of each layer is transferred by steel rings that are bolted together by horizontal bolts in shear to the layer below. The rings also act to tie the tubes in each plane to each other. As the layers are rotated slightly, one to the next, the twist provides horizontal in-plane bracing. The ends of the tubes simply cantilever past the lines of support provided by the rings and the tubes provide a load path for the weight down to the foundation.
Singing Ringing Tree in Burnley, Lancashire – Design Information
Design Team: Tonkin Liu
Project size: 6 sqm
Completion date: 2006
Fabrication: Mike Smith Studio
Structural Engineer: Jane Wernick Associates
Photos: Mike Tonkin – Tonkin Liu Architects, London, England.
Singing Ringing Tree, Burnley images / information received 050821
A winner of RIBA National Award 2007
Location: Burnley, Lancashire, Northwest England, UK
Lancashire Buildings
Major new Lancashire buildings on e-architect – selection:
Lancaster University Engineering Building
Design: John McAslan + Partners, Architects
photo courtesy of architects
Lancaster University Engineering Building
Number One Riverside Rochdale
Design: Faulknerbrowns
photo © Hufton+Crow
Number One Riverside Rochdale
Charles Carter Building
Charles Carter Building
Lancaster Institute of Contemporary Arts
Lancaster Institute of Contemporary Arts
New Architecture in Lancashire
Brockholes Wetland and Woodland Nature Reserve Visitor Facilities
Design: Adam Khan Architects
Lancashire Nature Reserve Building
Preston Office Building Competition
Design: Moxon Architects
Preston Office Building
Comments / photos for the Singing Ringing Tree, Burnley Lancashire design by Tonkin Liu Architects page welcome