All Titan Crane [Clydebank Crane] images by Chris Stewart Architects Ltd:
Titan Crane PR
Clydebank Rebuilt: Titan Crane Restoration and Illumination
Arrol Crane, John Brown's Shipyard, Clydebank
We were approached by Clydebank Rebuilt to carry out a feasibility study to consider a variety of options for potential illumination and regeneration of the landmark Titan Crane in Clydebank.
Arrol Crane, John Brown's Shipyard, Clydebank
This has developed into a full preservation project with the intended installation of a public viewing gallery and feature lighting.
The William Arrol, Grade 'A' listed crane is currently in poor condition, requiring considerable restoration, in doing so care must be taken to maintain the detail and aged appearance of the crane while retaining its unique character.
A proposed new visitor centre with viewing deck will incorporate a passenger lift and secondary stairwell adjacent to the main vertical structure of the crane. It is also being considered to make the main lifting mechanism of the original crane operable again as a feature of the attraction.
A crane of this type is an inherently difficult structure to light due to it's skeletal form. Our lighting design is sympathetic to the original function of the crane, which originally had working lights at cab level to illuminate the quayside below. This will be reintroduced with the addition of feature white lighting to the crane legs and structure, and an obstacle beacon at the highest point. The original cab, winch and electrical rooms will be subtly illuminated with white light on the external face, and filled with coloured light internally. An animated coloured lighting installation will illuminate a stainless steel protective mesh across the jib of the crane. The colours from the lights will cycle slowly and gently through a carefully programmed, seasonally adapted sequence, giving the appearance of movement and activity, which is visible from the area below. The contemporary lighting to the underside of the jib would provide a complimentary contrast with the traditional white lighting to the original functional elements of the crane, illuminated white.
Due to tidal movements, parts of the area directly below the crane is submerged twice a day.
It is hoped that the new development could provide a vital physical and visual connection between the industrial Clydebank of the 20th Century and the evolving contemporary Clydebank in the 21st Century.
Titan Crane - Summary
Client: Clydebank Rebuilt
Contract sum: circa £1.5m
Completed: autumn 2004
Further info re Titan Crane Restoration and Illumination contact:
Adrian Stewart, chris stewart architects ltd, Glasgow - 0141 339 2244
Clydebank Crane - History
The Clydebank Crane is the only Grade 'A' listed structure in Clydebank.
It is one of five Titans designed for the Clyde shipyards by William
Arrol. The Crane was one of the key targets for destruction in WWII but
managed to survive the blitz.
Scottish Architecture
Glasgow walking tours
Historic Glasgow: best glasgow buildings of the past
Clydebank Rebuilt submitted plans in Mar 2005 for a £12m project by Austin Smith Lord: 285 flats & offices in Clydebank. They are helping to develop the Clydebank Business Park, the principal employment hub in the town, created during the 1980/90's; and the John Knox Street Project with workshop buildings by Gordon Murray & Alan Dunlop Architects
River Clyde
Glasgow : back to index
Another Titan Crane: Former John Brown Shipyard, Clydebank, Scotland
Titan Crane beyond: image from Jenkins & Marr Architects
Finnieston Crane
Also by Chris Stewart Architects in Glasgow: Springboig Avenue
Chris Stewart Architects : Urban design competition for Stranraer and Dumfries
competition winner : Collective Architecture, formerly Chris Stewart Architects
Clydebank Rebuilt - Website: www.clydebankrebuilt.co.uk