Abel Homes

Public sculpture

Background

Abel Homes is a family owned and run business, building new homes primarily in Norfolk. The company cares about the environment in which we live and work and develops primarily brown-field sites, where the resulting regeneration enhances the surroundings and brings new life to the local community.

Brief

To create a piece of public sculpture for a new eco-housing development that added to the sense of community. Use materials that reflect sustainability, be visually sympathetic to the woodland environment and should withstand the elements. The size of it should be large enough to create visual impact, but not so large that it competes with the surrounding trees.

Solution

A number of fine art students were hand selected by tutors to put forward submissions. The winning commission is called 'Dandelion' and refers to the profusion of plants to be found in the woodlands surrounding the site. The 14-foot tall sculpture, which has a six-foot diameter 'seed head' on an eight-foot stem, was created to highlight the re-growth and regeneration of the site.

Client Quote

Maggie Abel - Director, Abel Homes:

"We were seeking an iconic piece of art for this flagship site to reflect the environmentally-conscious nature of what we are doing here. We asked students to come up with ideas - and Maxine's stood out as meeting our objectives. It is a bold reflection of the natural beauty of the site, and we are very excited about the commission."