A Waterfall of a Strange New Kind Renovating Richard Huws’ listed fountain
Richard. Moore, B.Arch (L’pool), Ph.D., Dip.T.P The Contents of the Talk 1. The MCS’s commissioning of the Piazza Fountain, the design of the actual fountain and search for a suitable site. 2. Design of the fountain complex, its completion and opening. 3. A brief history of the fountain after its opening in May 1967. 4. The threat to remove the actual fountain and reasons why it should not be relocated. 5. Historic England’s 6 reasons for recommending the listing.
6. The overall approach and aims of the renovation. 7. Restoring the designed appearance of the fountain. 8. Restoring the designed performance of the fountain. 9. The full list of renovation works required. 10. Why a Feasibility Study/Conservation Plan is first needed. 11. CV of the Conservation Engineer to be commissioned. 12. The Study Programme, the costs to be funded and the outputs of the work. The Contents of the Talk Acknowledgements
• The Friends of the Piazza Fountain, particularly Tony Folan and Sheila Lane – for many of the photographs and much of the information on the current fountain. • Michael Cosser of Brock Carmichael, Architects – for putting us in touch with James Mitchell, the Conservation Engineer of Industrial Heritage Consulting. (After Cammell-Laird and the University’s School of Engineering had luckily both failed to show any interest in undertaking a Feasibility Study). • James Mitchell, for outlining a proposed Conservation Plan, its costs and providing his very impressive CV. • Last but not least, to the MCS for organising this talk and, particularly, with Engage, Liverpool, for mounting the funding campaign needed to finance the Conservation Plan. And, particularly, to all those who have generously donated, or will do so! Commissioning Fountain MSC Fountain Sub-Committee 1962-67
In July 1962, the Merseyside Civic Society - F.J Gamenisch, Solicitor - Chair of the Sub-C. - Chair of MCS – originally Colin Reay. proposed commissioning a fountain to - Colin Wilson, ARIBA – Proposed the Fountain. commemorate the opening of the Tryweryn scheme - Roy Parker, ARIBA – Proposed Richard Huws. & set up a Sub-Committee:- - Two Other MCS members - Representatives of Graeme Shankand Scheme involved flooding of Tryweryn valley and (Liverpool City Planning Consultant) village of Capel Celyn in Gwynedd. Protesters marching through Liverpool >>>>
MSC approached Richard Huws to design the fountain but as a Welsh nationalist, RH would not be associated with the scheme.
Wanting RH as the designer, the MCS agreed that the fountain should, instead, simply commemorate the opening of the precinct for which it was proposed. Design of Piazza Fountain < One of RH’s presentational drawings • Presented to Sub-Committee, Oct 1962 and to Graeme Shankland & Walter Bor, City Planning Officer, January 1963 • Proposed 20 tipping stainless-steel hoppers supported on and fed from 7 bronze vertical pipes. • Proposed 14 smaller hoppers each cantilevered from a vertical, but 6 larger hoppers each supported between 2 of the vertical pipes. • Chose to extend vertical supply pipes above the top hoppers, likening the effect to “knitting . needles skewered through a ball of wool”. Search for Suitable Site on Planned Pedestrian Network
1. Bold Street/Hanover Street 2. Church Street/Parker Street 3. Williamson Square 4. The Goree Piazza
• Site proposed in July 1964, and considered ideal by RH, enhancing the sound effects by being the most enclosed. Design of Fountain Complex • Development’s London architects, Gotch & Partners, had proposed a small square pool alone. • Richard Huws redesigned complex with a design that complemented the sculptural forms of the fountain itself, to give:- - A much larger, circular receiving pool - An integral cantilevered viewing platform with a pump room below in the circular base. - A freestanding cantilevered viewing platform around a circular ventilation shaft to carpark below. - Two seating walls forming a separate lower space. • Viewing platforms essential to fountain’s operation, RH’s design of 1965 full observation and enjoyment. Completion and Opening 1967 • Arts Council Grant of £750 given to MCS to cover half of Richard Huws’ fees. • Given on recommendation of Hugh Scrutton, Director of the Walker Art Gallery, who commented that “There is no doubt that your project is an outstandingly good one ”. • 7/4/67: “buckets are being polished today” • 14/4/67: Modified to give “less violent flow” • 2 May 1967: Opening ceremony attended by The Mayor, Chairman of Thames Estates (the developers), Richard Huws and his youngest daughter and main members of MCS etc. • The opening was widely reported in local, national and architectural press – as in 1951. Built as designed in 1962
< October 1962 design
May 1967 > photograph RH on right A Target for Vandals, 1967-97 • May 1967: Piazza was then a wholly office area, largely unsupervised at night, in a city that RH claimed was “famous for vandalism”. • Temporarily stopped after only 10 days due to people throwing litter into the hoppers • Pre January 1968 – Shut down for complete overhaul after further vandalism, including of original floodlighting. • After that, hoppers cleaned daily and water changed weekly, rather than weekly and monthly as originally planned. • After 3 years: Bearings showing signs of wear resulting in increasingly leakages • Early 1980’s: thought to have been turned off more or less permanently. • Late 1990’s: Hoppers found to be left full of bricks and other rubble. By Brock Carmichael, Architects 1997-2000 Restoration with BCA Landscape for the Beetham Organisation • Award winning conversion and extension of Wilberforce House into a mixed use development with apartments, offices, a restaurant and bar – Beetham Plaza • Relandscaping of Goree Piazza. - Fountain seating walls removed; - Terrace extended towards Drury Lane and paving raised with lightweight void formers. - Shallow steps replaced with steeper ones. - Width and height of pool wall increased. - Floor and inner wall of pool re-tiled. - Water depth reduced from 16 to 4 inches. - Outer mosaic tiled walls of pool and viewing platforms re-surfaced and repainted. - Actual fountain restored to full working condition and new lighting installed. GroundGround FloorFloor PlanPlan beforeafter re re-landscaping-landscaping Fountain Condition 2008-2019, from videos Year Month No. of No. stuck No. stuck* No. stuck Extent of Water Soapy Video hoppers down & upright & upside leakage Dyed Water Source tipping emptying emptying down Blue 2008 February 19 1 Little YouTube 2010 March Nearly all “ “ August “ “ “ September “ “ “ 2013 August “ Moderate Yes “ 2014 June “ “ “ August “ “ Yes “ 2015 May “ 1 “ “ 2017 March “ Extensive “ 2018 April Limited 1 “ “ September 2 2 “ Author November Limited 1 “ “ 2019 February “ 1 Low P * YouTube April Nearly all 1 Extensive Yes Friends * Little apparent leakage but from long filling times the water pressure appears very low 2019 Threat to the Piazza Fountain. • Proposal by developers, the Elliot Group, to build a 10 storey, 100 bedroomed hotel on the fountain site and relocate the actual fountain elsewhere. • Elliot Lawless’ plan actively supported by Liverpool’s ex Mayor, the LCC’s Director of Regeneration and the Assistant Director of Highways. • Subsequently, all 4 arrested by Merseyside Police on “suspicion of bribery and corruption”. • Would have been a gross over-development in an already small ‘public’ square that is in:- - Liverpool’s World Heritage Site. - The City’s Castle Street Conservation Area - Pevsner’s definite Architectural guide, Liverpool. • Development stopped by listing of fountain on 9 Aug 2019 and following arrests and consequent Government intervention in LCC, fountain should now be secure. Goree Piazza is ideal site; • Would negate or severely diminish at least a half of the reasons Reasons fountain should not for its listing. be relocated:- • Fountain complex, albeit not the actual fountain, designed specifically for the Goree Piazza to exploit change in levels and New Apart-Hotel limited sunlight reaching the square. • The first and only surviving art enhanced, purpose built, public square built for 1965 Shankland Plan • Appropriately, the closest of the 4 proposed sites to the Mersey estuary, while still relatively sheltered. • Ideal site, enhancing the fountain both aurally and visually by being easily the most enclosed • Suitability later improved by use of reflective cladding on the surrounding buildings. • Further enclosed to NW by recently built apart-hotel. • Site otherwise quiet, enabling effects to be fully appreciated, largely devoid of traffic/other distractions. • The architectural interest is heightened by the fact that it is in an unexpected, 'hidden' location Visitors intriguingly hear the fountain first . • African plaque is effectively Liverpool’s only site-specific memorial to its role in the slave trade. Historic England’s Reasons for Listing – Architectural Interest 1. “It is a rare and important example of a mid-C20 kinetic water sculpture designed by the notable artist-engineer Richard Huws, and is his sole-surviving water sculpture”. 2. “ the fountain’s impressive large-scale design successfully combines aesthetics with engineering, producing a sculpture that utilises shipbuilding expertise and knowledge to enhance its stability.” 3. “its unique design incorporating hoppers of differing size set at differing heights, and which tip unexpectedly, creates a dramatic visual and acoustic display by replicating the sounds and movements of a stormy and tempestuous sea; a particularly apt symbolism in the international port city of Liverpool”; 4. “the associated viewing platforms are integral to the fountain’s design, understanding and appreciation, and play a key aesthetic role in the composition as well as fulfilling functional roles in housing the fountain’s pump and ventilation shaft for an underground Richard Huws 1902-80. car park”. Historic England’s Reasons for Listing – Architectural Interest 1. “It is a rare and important example of a mid-C20 kinetic water sculpture designed by the notable artist-engineer Richard Huws, and is his sole-surviving water sculpture”. 2. “ the fountain’s impressive large-scale design successfully combines aesthetics with engineering, producing a sculpture that utilises shipbuilding expertise and knowledge to enhance its stability.” 3. “its unique design incorporating hoppers of differing size set at differing heights, and which tip unexpectedly, creates a dramatic visual and acoustic display …. Display lost/severely diminished if relocated to a busier/noisier, less sheltered and/or less enclosed site. 4. “the associated viewing platforms are integral to the fountain’s design, understanding and appreciation, and play a key aesthetic role in the composition …. Listed pool and platforms constructed of in-situ reinforced ListedRichard Fountain Huws 1902 Complex-80. concrete, so virtually impossible to relocate. Historic England’s Reasons for Listing – Historic Interest
1. “the design developed and improved upon a Festival of Britain prototype produced by Huws, which was displayed outside Basil Spence’s Sea and Ships Pavilion”. 2. it typifies the 1950s/1960s policy of enhancing cityscapes through the incorporation of artwork in the public realm.” Historic England, August 2019. This first and sole example of an art enhanced 1960s Liverpool public square, lost if fountain removed or the piazza redeveloped. Historically important as the first and one of the few fully completed sections of Shankland’s Liverpool City Centre Plan of 1965 - albeit mercifully so! . (Shankland labelled “the butcher of Liverpool”). 1951 FoB Water Mobile Scupture
• The British system of restoring the historic Overall Approach and environment focusses on conservation rather than preservation -“very often assets can Aims of the Renovation accommodate change and alteration without causing harm to their intrinsic significance” Historic England, Nov 2019 • Main aim is to restore the overall appearance and performance of the Piazza Fountain to what they were at its opening in May 1967, but • not necessarily to restore it to exactly as built in 1966/1967. • Some of the changes made with the 1997-2000 re- landscaping of the piazza need to be accepted. • Also it can accommodate engineering advances and new safety standards introduced since 1967. • As a result, the Piazza Fountain, when fully renovated, should be literally better, safer and more robust than when first opened in May 1967. After opening ceremony – 2 May 1967 Richard Huws: Main Inspiration
• Then uncommon mix of Engineer and Artist
< The north-east coast of Anglesey close …to Richard Huws’ childhood home < Close up of the Piazza fountain pool …after opening ceremony in May 1967 • As he said, he aimed to and re-created “The sound and movement … of the restless, temperamental sea” • He found the sprays and cascades of traditional fountains monotonous Restoring the designed appearance of the fountain and “the sound and movement … of the restless, temperamental sea”
Designed appearance with 400mm (16”) water depth Current appearance with 100mm (4”) water depth • Dramatic wave effects • No real wave effects • Impact of cascades cushioned by deeper water • No cushioning of cascades on pool floor tiling • Base of fountain totally concealed • Base of fountain totally exposed (by grey colour, deeper and largely white water). (made worse by bright blue colour!) Restoring the designed appearance of the fountain and “the sound and movement … of the restless, temperamental sea” Broad 40 deg upward floodlight designed to highlight hoppers and cascades and
Narrow downfacing floodlight designed to highlight waves in receiving pool
From an RH drawing > Designed appearance with 400mm (16”) water depth The fountain was designed to give 2 main effects:- • Dramatic wave effects with lighting designed to highlight both at night. • Impact of cascades cushioned by deeper water 1. the random cascades from the hoppers, and • Base of fountain totally concealed 2. the resulting sea like wave effects in the pool. (by grey colour, deeper and largely white water). Second effect currently lost due to low pool depth. Restoring the designed appearance of fountain and “the sound and movement … of the restless, temperamental sea”
No health & safety concerns with 16” depth in 1967 !!! Remaining easy accessibility of pool suggests that some but with increasing recognition of H & S safety measures will be needed if the designed 16 inches pool depth reduced to only some 100mm (4 inches) when (400mm) of water and consequent better appearance fountain restored between 1997 and 2000. and performance of the fountain is to be restored. Restoring the designed appearance of fountain Possible safety measures to enable 16” depth of pool to be restored
Section opposite
Possible new coping of pool wall and safety net Alternative solid shelf in fountain receiving pool • New coping prevents inappropriate use of top of wall • Two water depths would be less safe • Safety net will prevent children reaching deep water • More likely to disrupt desired wave effects • Robust fishing net like safety measure appropriate! • Would be heavier and more costly to build. Restoring the designed performance of fountain (to give tipping frequencies of 15 to 90 seconds)
Point of Leakage Restoring the designed performance of fountain (to give tipping frequencies of 15 to 90 seconds)
Worn bronze supply pipe Main leakage point exposed TUFNOL sleeve in hopper Leaks/Action of Hoppers
• Designed to leave water in tail from previous fill.
• Filling rate depends on size and number of holes in central supply pipe/axle
• Hopper designed to maintain same line of gravity during majority of fill
• Water leaks once central axle reached
Leakage Leaks/Action of Hoppers
• When fully tipped, hopper is shaped to always retain some water in tail. .
• When tipped, centre of gravity moves to behind axle causing it to return. Key to Video showing Leakages from Hoppers
Leakage from Visible Axle Points Occurs after hopper is half full.
Leakage from Non-Visible Axle Points Occurs after hopper is half full
Leakage from Feeder Pipe Occur until nearly full – recently mended
Leakage stopped by sleeve Hopper stuck upside down
Soapy Water due to Pranksters Common problem since opening in 1967
Proposed Restoration of Hoppers/Buckets. Illustration of Principle Only Revolving inner ring of labyrinth seal fixed to side Static outer of hopper. ring of labyrinth seal sealed to Potential leakage axle feeder point sealed pipe. s Feeder pipe Inside hopper
Feeder pipe Potential leakage external point sealed
Typical labyrinth seal Use of labyrinth seal on large hopper invented by Inpro/Seal in 1980s (Exact seal type to be determined) Renovating the Piazza Fountain – Work related to Actual Fountain
1. Renovate the fountain to stop the current leakages and to enable the hoppers to achieve their designed tipping frequencies.
2. Reshape the hoppers where bent or distorted.
3. Clean the stainless steel hoppers and the bronze vertical supports
4. Repaint the base frame of the fountain to match grey brown of the bronze vertical supports.
5. Rationalise and/or modernise the pump and associated equipment in the pump house, if needed.
6. Change the high-level lighting to floodlight the fountain from below, as originally intended. Bent/distortedOriginal pump, hopper/bucket stopcocks & piping mouth Renovating the Piazza Fountain – Work Re. Associated Structures
1. Repair the fabric and tile finish of the receiving pool
2. Commission structural survey to assess safety of restoring pool depth to 400mm.
3. Dependent on 2, replace flat coping of the pool wall with profiled coping to prevent its inappropriate use.
4. Install safety measures to enable deeper pool.
5. Repair the fabric and finish, particularly the floor, of the two viewing platforms.
6. Restore outer pool and viewing platform walls to dark colour to contrast with white water of cascades.
PoorPoor statestate ofof viewingtiling in receivingplatform floor. pool 7. Clean African plaque summarising history of the Goree Exacerbated by normal 100mm water depth Piazzas. Why is a Conservation Plan for the Piazza Fountain first needed? Why not just ask several contractors to quote for the work? Because:- • An engineering solution is needed to stop the severe leakages from the buckets, without materially charging the original performance or appearance of fountain. • A structural survey and designed solution is needed to also safely restore the pool water depth to 400mm, to recapture the fountain’s original appearance and performance. • A precise specification of all repairs is needed to give a level playing field against which:- a) All invited contractors can tender, and b) All received tenders can then be judged. • The plan will greatly increase the likelihood of a successful submission to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and others for the full renovation costs. • It will ensure the best solutions are implemented and save money in the longer term. James Mitchell, ACR, FIESiS BA hons, Conservation Engineer Industrial Heritage Consulting: Heritage Fountains/Water Projects
• Grand Fountain, Mesnes Park, Wigan, 2013 < Grand ‘Walrus’ Fountain, Paisley, 2014 * • Ross Fountain, Princess St Grdns, Edinburgh, 2018 • Dumfries Fountain, Conservation Plan (now on site) • Hawick Fountain, Conservation Plan • Saracen Fountain, Glasgow, Conservation Plan
• Water System, Queens Park, Crewe • Hatfield Corn Mill, Hertfordshire * • Stott Park Bobbin Mill, Ulverston, Cumbria * < New Lanark Mills, WHS, sluices, turbine etc * • Catrine Mills, Ayrshire, waterpower system * Renovation of Paisley’s 1867 Grand Fountain • New Abbey Corn Mill, Dumfries * with Lost Art Limited, Wigan, 2014 • Stanley Mills, Perth, water system, sluices * Museums + Heritage Winner, ICON Award, • Water Sawmill, Pollok Country Park, Glasgow PMSA Marsh Award, Civic Trust Award * Scheduled Ancient Monument or Grade I/A Listed James Mitchell, ACR, FIESiS BA hons, Conservation Engineer Industrial Heritage Consulting: Heritage Machinery and Structures
• Trencherfield Mill Engine, Wigan, 2009 * • Elsecar Newcomen Engine, Barnsley, 2014 * • Lion Salt Works, Northwich, Cheshire, 2015 * < Science & Industry Museum, Manchester 2020/21 • Pit Engine, Astley Green Colliery, Gtr. Manchester • Steam Engine, Middlefield Pottery, Burslem, Staffs • Plant, National Mining Museum, Wakefield • Fulwell Windmill, Sunderland * < SS Great Britain, Bristol (Gulbenkian Award) • Drive system, Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine * • Scottish National Mining Museum, Midlothian * • Mesnes Park, Pavilion & Other Structures, Wigan * Renovation of Steam Engines, 2020/21 • Queens Park Bandstand, Crewe Science and Industry Museum, Manchester • Lions’ Den, Alexander Park, Oldham Part of Restoration of Listed Power Hall * Scheduled Ancient Monument or Grade I/A Listed Feasibility Study/Conservation Plan – Programme of Work/Costs
Phase. Description of Task Person Day rate Cost Donation Gift Aid Totals days £ £ £ £ £ PHASE 1 Site survey of fountain by IHC (including T & S) 3 450 1,680 3,328 832 4,160 accompanied by Lost Art, Wigan (including T & S) 2 250 522 1,000 (250) 1,250 Structural survey of supporting structure 2 500 1,000 250 62.50 312.50 Desk work/research for preliminary proposals 6 450 2,700 Interim report on findings/results from phase 1 0.5 450 250 Industrial Heritage Consulting discount on phase 1 - 492 Surplus - 62.50 - 62.50 Totals for PHASE 1 13.5 5,660 4,578 1,082 5,660 PHASE 2 Site visit, presentation & discussion (incl. T & S) 2 450 1,230 628 0 628 Design & specification, detailing and costing 6 450 2,700 0 62.50 62.50 Preparation of tender and contract documents 4 450 1,800 4,968 75% 5,950 Identification of contractors & tender assessment 3 450 1,350 5,244 50% 5,950 Industrial Heritage Consulting discount on phase 2 - 490 5,553 25% 5,950 Totals for PHASE 2 15 6,590 % with Gift Aid ^ 6,590 TOTALS FOR BOTH PHASES 28.5 12,250 12,250 What the Fixed Price £12,250 Conservation Plan will Give the MCS
1. A completed Feasibility Study/Conservation Plan by a highly experienced, award winning conservation engineer, comprising:- • A detailed plan and specification for restoring the actual fountain, plus its associated receiving pool, the two viewing platforms and the pump room equipment. • A full breakdown of the costs of each of the work items. 2. Fully prepared tender and contract documents for the actual renovation work. 3. The results of as many competitive tenders as required by the National Heritage Lottery Fund and other funders. 4. A preferred contractor (probably the relatively local Lost Art Limited of Wigan). 5. In short, everything required to make an immediate and very strong submission to NHLF and other for the full renovation costs, including the supervision costs of the conservation engineer. Original Installation of the Piazza Fountain, 1966/67 No further public fundraising should then be needed! Save the Bucket Fountain! Campaign to restore Liverpool's Piazza Fountain. - JustGiving The end of the talk, but hopefully the start of the fountain’s restoration
Any questions please? .