Sinking House demonstrates the power of collaboration

23rd June 2022
Sinking House demonstrates the power of collaboration

We’re pleased to announce Sinking House has won the AJ100 Collaboration of the Year Award 2022.

In October 2021, we teamed up with Format Engineers, artist Anna Gillespie, Fifield Moss Carpentry and many local organisations in Bath to deliver an ambitious climate emergency art installation.

The striking sculpture was installed in the River Avon next to Bath’s iconic Grade I Pulteney Bridge.

Inspired by Greta Thunberg’s ‘Our house is on fire’ speech and the devasting European floods of 2021, Sinking House appeared semi-submerged and in a seemingly perilous location close to the turbulent Pulteney Weir. On the chimney, a human-like figure held a lifeline which read ‘COP26’.

Sinking House delivered a powerful message of warning, and hope, to UN leaders and communities around the world: the time to act on the climate emergency is now, before it’s too late.

The response from the local community was incredible. Sarah Warren, Deputy Leader of B&NES Council, commented:

“The council is proud and excited that Stride Treglown and Format Engineers have worked with the community, businesses and a local artist to bring this concept to life in the centre of our city. Positioning this art installation in the water in front of the iconic Pulteney Bridge means it will be seen by thousands of residents and visitors and will inspire conversations about the long-term impacts of climate change and the importance of working collaboratively to protect the environment.”

Extinction Rebellion Bath, said:

“Thanks for this powerful installation. It must’ve taken hard work, ingenuity, self-sacrifice, and collaboration. Just what we need from our government and corporations right now to tackle the biggest crisis mankind has ever known.”

And to our amazement, the installation featured in global news publications including Dezeen, Daily Telegraph, Sky News, The Guardian, Reuters, ABC (USA), China Daily, Channel News Asia, Infobae (Mexico), Publico (Portugal), La Stampa (Italy), El Economista (Spain) and Naftemporiki (Greece).

We’re incredibly proud that, together with an entire community of local people and organisations, we created something that captured global interest and inspired so many people.

Special thanks goes to: B&NES Council, The Environment Agency, City of Bath Sea Cadets, Greenman Environmental Management, Bridge Coffee Shop, Sydenhams, Kellaway Building Supplies, Minuteman Press, RIBA, Wessex Water, Architecture Is, Pulteney Cruisers, River Adventures.

You can see a photo of Sinking House, taken by Rob Delius, hanging in this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2022 (21 June—21 August).

Find out more about Sinking House or meet the makers.

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