Concept to completion 2007-10

Davidson won a commission through an open call for artists back in 2007 to join the design team responsible for revitalizing the Sunniside area of Sunderland.  Sunniside Partnership, the acting body in charge of the overall scheme, wanted to bring together the skills of various artists and designers to reshape Sunniside through the use of sculpture, sound, video and interactive lighting installations. The final group also included renowned sound artist Bill Fontana, video projection artists SDNA (London) and architects KAPOK (Berlin) who designed the lighting and fundamental architectural strategy.

Davidson, who was given the job of designing the seating, felt the project was about turning street furniture into an active element, empowering it with a look of freedom and motion as if it wasn't fixed down. The original concept for a series of walking benches were too big for the finalized street layout so the design was developed into a stool module. The stools would eventually run down St. Thomas street drawing the public along a route from the shopping centre to the recently built and as yet undiscovered Sunniside park.  

From the outset Davidson wanted to use the polymer based concrete called Jesmonite to create sculptural stone like forms with the advantage of it being warmer to the touch and also stronger than concrete. The final design was cast with coloured quartz and marble aggregates and also mica to add a reflective quality to the material. At night, interactive elements including KAPOK's light sculptures, SDNA's video projections and Bill Fontana's spookily invisible soundscapes bring an extra dimension to this urban project.

Original drawing, by charlie davidson

This was the first drawing done following an idea of 'taking a walk through the city'. The sketch includes a scribbled note; 'Dynamic shapes flying through the city following a flight plan'.

Concept Image, by charlie davidson

This concept sketch was used to sell the idea of the walking furniture to the Council. Davidson wanted to use the colour green in the final design to evoke a sense of  nature and felt the colour was less susceptible to 'style' aging over other choices. The actual colour Davidson wanted to use he described as LEGO green though this was eventually toned down through using coloured quartz aggregates, marble chips and mica in the mix to give the surface finish a richer and more decorative quality.

Alternative concept, by charlie davidson

After the decision was made to reduce the overall size of each furniture piece a number of alternative designs were drawn up including this simple wind swept form done in the early part of 2008.

Walking stool concept, by charlie davidson

The design was eventually honed down into a twisting form giving the impression the stools where dancing down the street. The stools would  eventually be lit using street level LED up lighters to help light their path.

Walking stool concept,  by charlie davidson

The computer model was tweaked a little and rendered out to give an impression of how the final design would look. 

Concept stage 

Prototyping and production

Prototype carving, by bamber hawes from BSP Ltd.

The first poly carved prototype done with a 6 axis CNC milling machine.

Remodeled prototype, by charlie davidson

The high density polystyrene was sprayed with several layers of Jesmonite to help smooth out the surface before clay was added and sculpted by Davidson to tweak the final form.

Underside 2nd prototype, by charlie davidson

Due to a redesign of the fixing system used to bolt the stools into the ground additional material had to be added to the legs. This ultimately changed the look of the stools but helped to significantly increase their strength.

Remodeled 2nd prototype, charlie davidson

The reworked stool almost ready for moulding.

Casting Mould, by bamber hawes of BSP Ltd.

The finished form or pattern, was sent off to a professional mould maker.

Suggested material samples, by charlie davidson

Davidson produced these material samples in Photoshop to assist the casting company in preparing a number of real samples.

Final samples, by charlie davidson

 Hundreds of samples were produced experimenting with various aggregates, sands and concrete stains. Approved samples where  compression tested in a lab to assure the compositions where sound. The sample in the top right of the image was finally chosen. You will also notice the LEGO green.

Cast stools, by bamber hawes 

The first castings pulled from the mould. Before the Jesmonite had completely cured the surface of each stool was acid etched and jet washed to reveal the texture and colours of the aggregates.