AN art installation celebrating Glasgow’s heritage has been ‘planted’ in front of 177 Bothwell Street by HFD, the property company behind the new office development.
The metal, wood and stone tree incorporates recycled material from the construction of 177 Bothwell Street, together with recycled stone ballast from HFD and Forma’s refurbishment of the adjacent Aurora building.
The sculpture, designed by HFD with technical design and engineering by Woolgar Hunter – the structural engineers involved with both buildings – incorporates items from Glasgow’s city crest, including a bird, a bell, and a fish, as well as seating for passers-by. Each item is a reference to legends related to the city’s patron St Mungo, who founded the monastery that is now Glasgow Cathedral.
Inscribed on the seating is a poem that paraphrases stories about each item and their significance to St Mungo’s life: “Here is the bird that never flew. Here is the tree that never grew. Here is the bell that never rang. Here is the fish that never swam.”
177 Bothwell Street was recently completed and comprises 315,000 sq. ft. of Grade A office space. Occupiers include Virgin Money, BNP Paribas, AECOM, CBRE, Evelyn, Partners, Transport Scotland, and HFD.
Stephen Lewis, MD of HFD Property Group, said, “This piece of public art is another way for us to celebrate Glasgow and do something a bit different not only for 177 Bothwell Street’s new occupiers, but anyone in the city who happens to by passing by. True to the ethos behind the building, we have incorporated recycled materials together with it being fabricated locally by BHC who’s facility is powered by wind energy.
“It is a small but important gesture to the city and its people. We hope anyone who stops to have a seat looks a bit further into Glasgow’s history and finds out more about the amazing stories of the city’s patron saint which are immortalised on the crest we have all seen, but perhaps never looked at in great detail.”
