, scotland’s THETHE KELPIESKELPIES

42 43 Kelpies... Bow down relating to the fabled seahorses of One of the most challenging aspects love a challenge however inanimate to something whose your strong heads Scottish mythology known as the of the design process was to develop soon became something special breath could almost be seen in the “Echo the great beasts to taste the water Kelpies and it was decided to call on a solution to reproducing Scott’s for our staff. We have developed cold Scottish air. based sculptor Andy Scott own unique method of creating his a fantastic relationship with Scott, that work among us Stretch up to develop the idea. Scott already pieces on which he welds hundreds who became a regular visitor to The journey is almost over for the unbridled in this kingdom your long necks had an established reputation for of individual pieces of steel plate our factory during the fabrication creation of the Kelpies and a new between canal and firth, to face the sun” to produce that is beautiful and process and we feel privileged to his equine sculptures and he soon phase begins in April when they breathes life. The solution was to have been able to contribute to the here to harness the river produced an initial sketch of his are opened to the public. Their carry each weary ~ Jim Carruth interpretation of the clients brief. laser cut much larger stainless steel successful delivery of this unique plates whose profiles with their slots artwork.” presence is already being felt locally traveller. and cut out sections would when as 35,000 motorists pass them In April this year the Kelpies will Whilst the Kelpie name has Bow down installed would create an almost Working with international structural daily on the adjacent finally be open to the public and will remained, Scott developed the your strong heads identical aesthetic appearance to engineers SKM the revised design and worldwide interest has been undoubtedly become an instantly project based upon a monument to the originals. was soon being modelled and the overwhelming says Tim Burton. This to taste the water recognisable landmark that will the working horses which made a thousands of drawings for all the has been very much a collaborative Stretch up be visited by many thousands of significant contribution to Scotland’s With a concept design completed, individual components were being process with a fascinating mixture visitors in the years to come. The industrial heritage, including the your long necks the search for a suitable contractor produced and fabrication work building of the Forth and Clyde of the latest computer modelling to face the sun journey from the original idea to the to build the two 30m high structures started in the SH Structures factory canal. Using two Clydesdale horses, and analysis techniques alongside Mighty twins of Carnera, completion of the two magnificent began. Award winning UK based in North Yorkshire. Burton also Duke and Baron, as models - Scott the more traditional skills of the steel heads standing majestically against specialist contractor SH Structures added, “We build all our projects in unbridled in this kingdom created two pairs of tenth scale fabricators and erectors involved in the Scottish skyline has been a were initially approached to assist large assemblies to minimise the between canal and firth, models or maquettes and these the construction. However it is Andy long and fascinating process. The by providing budget and technical work on site. These assemblies surface to take the Kelpies stand within a 360 hectare were instrumental in securing the guidance and after a rigorous are all accurately measured and Scott’s understanding of the horses strain. community park known as the Helix, Big Lottery funding needed to allow prequalification and tender process trial fitted to each other to ensure upon which the Kelpies are based Clydesdales of the near the town of Falkirk to the west the project to move forward. secured the contract in January they go together first time on the that has created something stunning Carron, of . 2011. SH Structures significant construction site. The job of putting that will stand magnificently in the To faithfully replicate the original rare wild-maned kelpies contribution to the project started the many assemblies together Scottish countryside for many years The Kelpies sit either side of a new aesthetic of Scott’s work, the immediately as they were able to started in June 2013 and all the to come. come to harness the canal lock on the Forth and Clyde maquettes were carefully scanned undertake the contract on a Design careful work in the factory paid river canal creating a gateway into the to create a detailed virtual three and Build basis and ultimately dividends with construction taking www.shstructures.com carry each weary Scottish lowlands. In 2006 during dimensional computer surface generate savings of over £750,000 only 75 days to complete.” www.thekelpies.co.uk model of the two heads. Structural traveller. the early development of The Helix by redesigning the internal structure. www.thehelix.co.uk Celebrate their strength the client partners of Falkirk Council engineers Atkins were tasked with The two massive heads soon and Scottish Canals felt there was turning this computer model into SH Structures’ Tim Burton said, “We began to take shape as each piece Never forget a debt owed an opportunity to introduce a major a working structural design and a have over twenty years of experience was added however it was when Images courtesy of SH Echo the great beasts piece of public art into the park. The period of intense calculation and of designing, manufacturing and the features were added that they Structures Limited and The Helix that work among us initial proposal was for something analysis started. installing complex structures and suddenly turned from something

Construction of the Kelpies One of the Kelpies ears being assembled at the SH Structures facility in North Yorkshire

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