Stourport regeneration project: lead by artist David Patten and architect Maurice McGuire, Longhous/British Waterways, July 2006.
ENGINE ART IN THE NEW SQUARE pubic art residence suggestions
The Engine Basin forms topographically an important waterfront linkage between the meadows and the Lower Basin along the East-West axis, and a connecting point between the town center and the river Severn along the North-South axis. It covers a large centrally located area which is at the center of ebb and flow of the town sketching out an old connection of the basin area to the river.
If the raised area of the car park is transformed into an amphitheater seating , thereby keeping and improving the function of flood protection, an open public square emerges . The main driving idea is to integrate the Engine Basin with the town's landscape, and for the new square to become a site with a constant flux of activities as well as a place for relaxed gathering.
The site will form an extension of the children's play area to the west of the bridge dedicated to the family activities during the day.
As the day changes so does the sound and the image s of the Engine Basin. The daily fun activities give way to the next generation of town visitors and youth seekers. It is the time for the film projections, hanging out with mates, having a drink at the outdoor bar while being amused by the street performers, dining alfresco, a concert of the town band, a jazz singers' festival or a hop on the 'barge drive-in' cinema .
Inspired by the shapes of trading locks, barges, curved walls and bridges a life size smart glass construction can be created in the Engine Basin. Slightly raised and transparent it hovers above the water showing images of the past activities on a large circular projection area. When the smart glass walls change into the dark glass skin a pinhole camera reveals the current activities around the square. The images of the past merge with the images of today in front of our eyes.
Facing the amphitheater seating is the flat side of the glass project, which turns into a large-scale outdoor projection screen at a flick of the switch.
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The aims of change The main driving idea is t o integrate the site on every level of design intervention and activity with the town's landscape. The main purpose of the new square is to become a site of many uses with a constant flux of activities, a changing place for the local community as well as the visitors . The main design purpose is to make the Engine Basin and Shipley's an integral part of the town's landscape and to integrate the role of Shipley's amusement park with the activities on the square through the modern visual interpretations based on the local heritage and created for the future. Willingness to change The approach to redefining the Engine Basin needs to be manifold with a series of interventions. The main two aims are to relocate the car park and in its place create a new site to be used as a creative outlet and a public square for the visitors and local public, and to create a series of interactive kinetic art pieces using illusion-art to change the accent of Shipley's amusement park and to add an attractive, contemporary look inspired by the local tales. Shipley's have been developing the amusement park in the area since 1962 building on the tradition of amusements for the basins, and hold a 60 year lease for the current site and the site adjacent to the bridge to use it for 68 parking spaces. The car park is a source of revenue, however it is only partially used by the visitors of the Shipley's amusement park. 
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