Mute Meadow is a striking public artwork located at Ebrington Barracks, Derry~Londonderry, forming a key part of the site's urban regeneration. Designed in collaboration with international artists Vong Phaophanit and Claire Oboussier, this installation consists of up to 60 steel columns, each standing between six and eight metres in height. This was a key part of the public realm design for the now disused barracks site, linking the pedestrian corridor onto the Peace Bridge and through to the local Translink Railway Station. Extending from the former Parade Ground to the riverbank, the installation forms a symbolic and physical connection between past and present, enriching the city’s public realm with art, light, and architecture.
By day, the weathering steel columns continuously transform under the shifting natural light, subtly reflecting their surroundings. By night, integrated LED lighting brings the artwork to life, creating a dynamic, illuminated field that appears to float along the banks of the River Foyle.
Design and Engineering Excellence
Design ID provided specialist structural engineering services, ensuring the artwork's stability and longevity in a challenging coastal environment. The project involved:
- Structural steel column design, with each column engineered to withstand environmental exposure.
- Robust foundations, carefully designed to suit the historic site and tidal conditions.
- Corrosion-resistant yet artistically poignant materials, incorporating a sacrificial thickness to protect against sea-borne salts in a challenging coastal environment, ensuring a 50-year design life.
- Site inspections and quality control throughout construction.
Artists: Vong Phaophanit and Claire Oboussier
Architect: ARD Ciarán Mackel
Project Value: £450k
