Angel of the North
The Angel of the North is a modern public art sculpture located near Gateshead, England. It is an all-steel sculpture of an angel with outstretched wings, located on a hill overlooking the A1 and A167 roads into Tyneside. The artist Antony Gormley designed the sculpture which was majority funded by the National Lottery.
Gormley’s concept was to symbolise the past history of coal mining at the site, and the evolving hopes and fears as the industrial age evolved into the information age and beyond. He created the 3D design model of the sculpture by scanning his own body using innovative geomatics and plotting coordinates to create a virtual ‘angel’.
The structure is 20 m (66 ft) tall, with wings measuring 54 m (177 ft) across. The wings are angled forwards at 3.5-degrees, creating ‘a sense of embrace’.
Because it is located on an exposed hill, the sculpture was built to withstand wind speeds of over 100 mph (160 km/h). This was achieved by the inclusion of expressed steel ribs which help transmit wind loads to the foundations. The foundations themselves are formed by 600 tonnes of concrete, strengthened by 52 steel bolts 3 m long. Together with the concrete piles, these anchor the structure to rock 21 m (70 ft) below.
Work began on the project in 1994 at Hartlepool Steel Fabrications Ltd. using COR-TEN weather-resistant steel. The body, weighing 100 tonnes, and the two wings, each weighing 50 tonnes, were built separately and transported to the site for assembly.
The sculpture was unveiled in February 1998, having cost £800,000. Initially, the project provoked controversy in the media and with local councils, however, it has since come to be seen as a landmark and an iconic symbol of Tyneside. It is visited by more than 150,000 people a year, and is seen by up to 90,000 people a day as they pass by road or rail.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Investors in People: CIOB achieves gold
Reflecting a commitment to employees and members.
Scratching beneath the surface; a guide to selection.
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.
For the World Autism Awareness Month of April.
70+ experts appointed to public sector fire safety framework
The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework from LHC Procurement.
Project and programme management codes of practice
CIOB publications for built environment professionals.
The ECA Industry Awards 2024 now open !
Recognising the best in the electrotechnical industry.
Sustainable development concepts decade by decade.
The regenerative structural engineer
A call for design that will repair the natural world.
Buildings that mimic the restorative aspects found in nature.
CIAT publishes Principal Designer Competency Framework
For those considering applying for registration as a PD.
BSRIA Building Reg's guidance: The second staircase
An overview focusing on aspects which most affect the building services industry.
Design codes and pattern books
Harmonious proportions and golden sections.
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding..