Birdsphere Sculpture
Birdsphere is a spherical steel sculpture part of the Bord 'Waalk' on the coastline of Amble, Northumberland.
Project Overview
Birdsphere is a spherical steel sculpture created as part of the Bord Waalk trail along the Amble coastline in Northumberland.
Designed by artist Rob Mulholland, the sculpture takes the form of a geodesic sphere clad with bird shapes, symbolising the natural environment of the coast.
Constructed from galvanised steel, the design required a structural solution capable of withstanding the challenging coastal environment while maintaining the light and elegant appearance of the artwork.
Public Art Installation.
Rob Mulholland (Artist & Designer), The Home Engineers (Structural)
Project Challenges
The spherical shape of the sculpture required a complex structural solution that could support the bird cladding while also resisting environmental forces.
The coastal location meant that wind load analysis was a critical part of the design process, alongside accounting for the self-weight of the steel frame and cladding.
The Solution
We developed a geodesic sphere structure using specialist structural analysis software.
This enabled us to model the forces acting on the steel members and design each element to withstand the applied loads.
The analysis included the weight of the cladding, the self-weight of the steel frame, and wind forces typical of the Northumberland coastline.
The structure was fabricated from galvanised steel, chosen for its durability and resistance to corrosion in a marine environment. This provided both strength and longevity while supporting the delicate bird forms.
The Outcome
The completed Birdsphere sculpture is a robust yet elegant installation that captures the motion and character of birds in flight.
Our engineering design ensured the geodesic form could be safely constructed and would perform in the exposed coastal location.
The project was recognised with the IStructE Structural Artistry Award, celebrating the successful fusion of artistic creativity and engineering excellence.