Give us a Spitfire
Time to find design for Spitfire memorial
 |
| One possible design |
DESIGNERS are to be
approached to submit
their vision for Southampton's
answer to the
Angel of the North.
A £70,000 consultation process to
create a monument to the Spitfire
is to be launched this week.
Public reaction to ambitious
plans for a 100ft Spitfire standing
on its tail have been mixed since
the Daily Echo launched its campaign
to finally honour the great
Second World War fighter plane.
Artists and engineering consultants
will now be asked to create
an iconic image that will become
the city's most recognisable landmark.
Councillor John Hannides, pictured
right, who has led the campaign,
said that the Spitfire
Tribute Foundation's vision for
the giant memorial was open for
interpretation by the experts.
"This is the most critical part of
taking this enormous project forward,"
he said. "Two or three
firms will be approached within
the next few weeks to conduct a
feasibility study into the costs,
material and final design.
"We have got something in mind
but we will allow the design company
to interpret the design brief
that we have got. However, the
impact will remain the same as
when we started."
Funding for the feasibility study
has come from Southampton City
Council, while the estimated £1m
cost of construction would come
from fundraising.
Cllr Hannides said that hewould
write to the embassies of all the
Commonwealth nations and
approach any other country
that has an affinity to the
Spitfire, including the USA,
Poland and the Czech Republic.
He said: "This is a unique project
that will never be repeated.
People across generations and
across the globe should feel that
this is something that deserves
full backing."
While the possible locations are
being kept secret for now, planners
say that the monumental
Spitfire sculpture would greet
millions of visitors to the city
each year.
The development comes as
artists across the country are
being invited by Eurostar to submit
designs for a £2m landmark
near Ebbsfleet railway station in
Kent. It is hoped that the Ebbsfleet
project, which could be finished
by 2009, would rival the
Angel of the North and welcome
visitors arriving from Europe.
The artists have been given a
brief to create a sculpture measuring
50 metres (165 ft) thatwill be
visible from the road, rail and air.
11:17am Monday 18th February 2008
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CommentPosted by: Shazza on 11:20am Mon 18 Feb 08
[quote]A £70,000 consultation process to create a monument to the Spitfire is to be launched this week.[/quote]
Why bother spending this cash? I'm all up for copying that Northern one and changing it slightly.
[italic][bold]WOW[/bold][/italic]
A £70,000 consultation process to create a monument to the Spitfire is to be launched this week.
Why bother spending this cash? I'm all up for copying that Northern one and changing it slightly.
WOW Posted by: Family Man, Bitterne on 12:05pm Mon 18 Feb 08
In order to inform the debate and decision, surely the most important thing for people to know is, precisely [bold]WHERE[/bold] it is going..
or is there a fear that NIMBYs will torpedo the Spitfire before it takes off! (Don't you just love mixed metaphors!!!)
In order to inform the debate and decision, surely the most important thing for people to know is, precisely
WHERE it is going..
or is there a fear that NIMBYs will torpedo the Spitfire before it takes off! (Don't you just love mixed metaphors!!!)
Posted by: live local, Southampton on 12:14pm Mon 18 Feb 08
Am I missing something?
The Spitfire has already been designed, so now we want to pay someone, to design something which is an iconic design and therefore must look like the original. Why not get 10 full scale model spitfires and have them on one display in flight. and sack the designers especially one one whos did the Jimmy Crankie statue! My guess that it could be done for little omore thna the design price.
Am I missing something?
The Spitfire has already been designed, so now we want to pay someone, to design something which is an iconic design and therefore must look like the original. Why not get 10 full scale model spitfires and have them on one display in flight. and sack the designers especially one one whos did the Jimmy Crankie statue! My guess that it could be done for little omore thna the design price.
Posted by: Hmmph!, Swamptown on 12:37pm Mon 18 Feb 08
Instead of a mere 50m, why not 150m high, so big that it can accommodate "single luxury apartments"......at least it would be in character with every other development in Southampton over the past couple of years...
One other concern, if it going to be visible from air, rail and road, that limits the number of sites, and points towards Junction 5... in which case it better not be made of metal or it risks being sold off as scrap when the traveller's site is built!
Instead of a mere 50m, why not 150m high, so big that it can accommodate "single luxury apartments"......at least it would be in character with every other development in Southampton over the past couple of years...
One other concern, if it going to be visible from air, rail and road, that limits the number of sites, and points towards Junction 5... in which case it better not be made of metal or it risks being sold off as scrap when the traveller's site is built!
Posted by: skinflint on 12:50pm Mon 18 Feb 08
£70k for what. The best design I've seen is the one submitted by an Echo reader a couple of months ago for nowt - no need to look any further as far as I'm concerned. Site it at Mayflower park along with a relocated aviation museum.
£70k for what. The best design I've seen is the one submitted by an Echo reader a couple of months ago for nowt - no need to look any further as far as I'm concerned. Site it at Mayflower park along with a relocated aviation museum.
Posted by: John Williams, Sholing on 1:06pm Mon 18 Feb 08
I would like to see the display be dynamic, house and carry tourists, perhaps in a vertically slow motion. I would hate to see it resemble or be compared with the angel of the north. I also point out that a similar idea has existed for a number of years at Lutterworth, which is dedicated to Sir Frank Whittle. Let us not deceive ourselves that this idea for a statute is a "wow" factor. And it will not let our dubious councillors off the hook for their wretched decisons in the past that has led to our great city become an eye sore. Neither will we forgive them for allowing Vosper Thornycroft at Woolston to be relocated to Portsmouth. No statute can replace jobs and skills.
I would like to see the display be dynamic, house and carry tourists, perhaps in a vertically slow motion. I would hate to see it resemble or be compared with the angel of the north. I also point out that a similar idea has existed for a number of years at Lutterworth, which is dedicated to Sir Frank Whittle. Let us not deceive ourselves that this idea for a statute is a "wow" factor. And it will not let our dubious councillors off the hook for their wretched decisons in the past that has led to our great city become an eye sore. Neither will we forgive them for allowing Vosper Thornycroft at Woolston to be relocated to Portsmouth. No statute can replace jobs and skills.
Posted by: hmm on 1:09pm Mon 18 Feb 08
all this money to make a decision, can i have an application form please
all this money to make a decision, can i have an application form please
Posted by: ann m taylor, vancouver bc on 2:39pm Mon 18 Feb 08
Don't need to design.
You have it already.
THE SPITFIRE.
Don't need to design.
You have it already.
THE SPITFIRE.
Posted by: John, Southampton on 2:53pm Mon 18 Feb 08
Why cant local university students be given this as a project.
The basic shape has already been designed it needs very little change.
The project would then be a tribute to an old designer and a tribute to what Southampton stands for today.
Why cant local university students be given this as a project.
The basic shape has already been designed it needs very little change.
The project would then be a tribute to an old designer and a tribute to what Southampton stands for today.
Posted by: Harry Remmington, New Forest on 3:57pm Mon 18 Feb 08
Site the Mega Screen at Junction 4 and show **** Movies 24hrs a day to amuse the drivers waiting to get through the M27 roadworks.
Mr Hanedes should go home to Turkey and study the story of the Collosus of Rhodes
Site the Mega Screen at Junction 4 and show **** Movies 24hrs a day to amuse the drivers waiting to get through the M27 roadworks.
Mr Hanedes should go home to Turkey and study the story of the Collosus of Rhodes
Posted by: bingolover, waving a placard in disgust! on 4:56pm Mon 18 Feb 08
Why are they spending another huge pile of money on consultants???!!! I'm all for the memorial but our councillers are being far too free with our money AGAIN!! £70000 is a disgusting amount to spend when, like John says, we have two local Universities and a number of colleges and schools who could do most of the leg work for this project FOR NOTHING. AND it would make it more of a community project, which would perhaps help persuade people who aren't keen that the idea has at least some merit and will benefit some of the local population. I am fed up of them wanting to 'put Southampton on the map'. It already is on a map, WE LIVE HERE, it's our money you're constantly wasting and we deserve to have input into how it's being spent. GGGGRRRRRRRR!
Why are they spending another huge pile of money on consultants???!!! I'm all for the memorial but our councillers are being far too free with our money AGAIN!! £70000 is a disgusting amount to spend when, like John says, we have two local Universities and a number of colleges and schools who could do most of the leg work for this project FOR NOTHING. AND it would make it more of a community project, which would perhaps help persuade people who aren't keen that the idea has at least some merit and will benefit some of the local population. I am fed up of them wanting to 'put Southampton on the map'. It already is on a map, WE LIVE HERE, it's our money you're constantly wasting and we deserve to have input into how it's being spent. GGGGRRRRRRRR!
Posted by: Sheitma Pance, Soton on 7:04pm Mon 18 Feb 08
Can anyone tell me what was wrong with the design that showed the Spitfire swooshing into the air, designed by an Echo reader??
It was as near a perfect design as we could hope for.
Why pay £££££££'s for a "professional" designer to come up with something?
Can anyone tell me what was wrong with the design that showed the Spitfire swooshing into the air, designed by an Echo reader??
It was as near a perfect design as we could hope for.
Why pay £££££££'s for a "professional" designer to come up with something?
Posted by: Barry Mung, SOuthampton on 7:09pm Mon 18 Feb 08
His name is "Colin Lee" and his design is excellent.
The Spitfire was designed by a local, why not the Spitfire memorial?
I'm suspicious as to WHY the Council want to plough money into what will amount to an inferior design and whether there are any connections bewteen design company and those involved in making the decision..
Give the job to Colin Lee!
http://www.thisisham
pshire.net/news/hamp
shirenews/display.va
r.1920518.0.new_spit
fire_proposal_to_com
memorate_designer_an
d_machine.php
His name is "Colin Lee" and his design is excellent.
The Spitfire was designed by a local, why not the Spitfire memorial?
I'm suspicious as to WHY the Council want to plough money into what will amount to an inferior design and whether there are any connections bewteen design company and those involved in making the decision..
Give the job to Colin Lee!
http://www.thisisham
pshire.net/news/hamp
shirenews/display.va
r.1920518.0.new_spit
fire_proposal_to_com
memorate_designer_an
d_machine.php
Posted by: An angry soton resident on 8:11pm Mon 18 Feb 08
£70,000 for consultation, why?
This council is good at cocking up without consultation.
All they need are the designs, scale it to their needs, work out what they want it made from and a location, then get some quotes bill £1000 tops if that.
Move aside councillors and let some sensible people do the work.
What a bunch of money wasters
£70,000 for consultation, why?
This council is good at cocking up without consultation.
All they need are the designs, scale it to their needs, work out what they want it made from and a location, then get some quotes bill £1000 tops if that.
Move aside councillors and let some sensible people do the work.
What a bunch of money wasters
Posted by: wontee, soton on 8:33pm Mon 18 Feb 08
Why are the Echo nitwit reporters so obsessed with Angel of the North.
Jealousy maybe !
You can never compete with it - so why bother trying.
Why are the Echo nitwit reporters so obsessed with Angel of the North.
Jealousy maybe !
You can never compete with it - so why bother trying.
Posted by: mr.southampton, Southampton on 10:25pm Mon 18 Feb 08
I can't beleive the Echo is insisting on throwing it's weight behind what is essentially a rip of of the angel of the north which is also being ripped off by Ebbsefleet.
As people have pointed out, the spitfire is a legendary, iconic design, so simply lazily fusing it with the angel of the north design does it a great dis-service.
As I've pointed out on previous articles (and I'm sure there will be many, many more!)the spitfire has played a major role in the city, but shouldn't we be looking to the future, which is after all the legacy of the spitfire, that the city has a future.
Unfortunately Southampton being Southampton this is just going to be a mess, hate to say it but Pompey got it right with the spinnaker and Southampton is not going to come close.
I can't beleive the Echo is insisting on throwing it's weight behind what is essentially a rip of of the angel of the north which is also being ripped off by Ebbsefleet.
As people have pointed out, the spitfire is a legendary, iconic design, so simply lazily fusing it with the angel of the north design does it a great dis-service.
As I've pointed out on previous articles (and I'm sure there will be many, many more!)the spitfire has played a major role in the city, but shouldn't we be looking to the future, which is after all the legacy of the spitfire, that the city has a future.
Unfortunately Southampton being Southampton this is just going to be a mess, hate to say it but Pompey got it right with the spinnaker and Southampton is not going to come close.
Posted by: King Mush, Woolston on 10:55pm Mon 18 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Harry Remmington[/bold] wrote:
Site the Mega Screen at Junction 4 and show **** Movies 24hrs a day to amuse the drivers waiting to get through the M27 roadworks. Mr Hanedes should go home to Turkey and study the story of the Collosus of Rhodes[/quote] I'm not sure that I understand what HR is on about as far as Mr Hannides is concerned.
I have not explored his background but am presuming that he is of Greek or Greek?Cypriot origin with that name (John=Yanni)
As for the Colossus of Rhodes? Rather difficult to ascertain the facts about this statue and perhaps the mists of time probably exaggerated its size.
Apparently was destroyed by an earthquake on the island of Rhodes which belongs to modern Greece albeit very close to the Turkish mainland. Asia Minor more apt.
Perhaps HR would care to explain?
Harry Remmington wrote:
Site the Mega Screen at Junction 4 and show **** Movies 24hrs a day to amuse the drivers waiting to get through the M27 roadworks. Mr Hanedes should go home to Turkey and study the story of the Collosus of Rhodes
I'm not sure that I understand what HR is on about as far as Mr Hannides is concerned.
I have not explored his background but am presuming that he is of Greek or Greek?Cypriot origin with that name (John=Yanni)
As for the Colossus of Rhodes? Rather difficult to ascertain the facts about this statue and perhaps the mists of time probably exaggerated its size.
Apparently was destroyed by an earthquake on the island of Rhodes which belongs to modern Greece albeit very close to the Turkish mainland. Asia Minor more apt.
Perhaps HR would care to explain?
Posted by: paul b on 5:00am Tue 19 Feb 08
me thinks we should have a big burger for our monument. Its has class, people eat alot of them and everyone knows what it is!
Or a reindeer. With a big red nose which lights up at night, surrond by water and cakes.
or
a giant hunny pot for which could symbolise the bees and all the hardwork they do for my toast in the morning.
Last but not least it could be a swan. An elegant swan with big wings which flaps when its hot to keep passers by cool. like a big air conditioning machine,
me thinks we should have a big burger for our monument. Its has class, people eat alot of them and everyone knows what it is!
Or a reindeer. With a big red nose which lights up at night, surrond by water and cakes.
or
a giant hunny pot for which could symbolise the bees and all the hardwork they do for my toast in the morning.
Last but not least it could be a swan. An elegant swan with big wings which flaps when its hot to keep passers by cool. like a big air conditioning machine,
Posted by: Ted, Southampton on 8:55am Tue 19 Feb 08
Surely the design shown above is worthy of the WOW factor, why spend more money? Also, why not situate it within along the waterfront near the docks so and make it so people can climb up and view Southampton and it's surroundings afar. Locals would get the chance to have the ability to view Southampton's beloved cruise ships and you'll always be ina position to see it from almost anywhere in Southampton. Also, why not get large companies like ABP to partially fund it?
Surely the design shown above is worthy of the WOW factor, why spend more money? Also, why not situate it within along the waterfront near the docks so and make it so people can climb up and view Southampton and it's surroundings afar. Locals would get the chance to have the ability to view Southampton's beloved cruise ships and you'll always be ina position to see it from almost anywhere in Southampton. Also, why not get large companies like ABP to partially fund it?
Posted by: Harry Remmington, New Forest on 9:29am Tue 19 Feb 08
You must accept that any design has to incorporate 200 luxury flats and no car parking
You must accept that any design has to incorporate 200 luxury flats and no car parking
Posted by: Gozza, On the wing on 10:52am Tue 19 Feb 08
If it's the same John Hannides I went to school with (and I think it is), he's Southampton-born of Greek parents.
Mind you, the [italic]"John Hannides, pictured right"[/italic] in the Echo story looks more like the Angel of the North to me...
If it's the same John Hannides I went to school with (and I think it is), he's Southampton-born of Greek parents.
Mind you, the
"John Hannides, pictured right" in the Echo story looks more like the Angel of the North to me...
Posted by: Bertie, Totton on 1:48pm Tue 19 Feb 08
Although it is immaterial, Cllr Hannides is of Greek Cypriot origin. My father in law, who is Greek Cypriot knew Cllr Hannides father during the 1950's and 1960's. How can he go home if he was born and bred in Hampshire, perhaps HR is asking Cllr Hannides to go home in Hampshire? On the other hand though, perhaps Harry Remmington should go home?
Although it is immaterial, Cllr Hannides is of Greek Cypriot origin. My father in law, who is Greek Cypriot knew Cllr Hannides father during the 1950's and 1960's. How can he go home if he was born and bred in Hampshire, perhaps HR is asking Cllr Hannides to go home in Hampshire? On the other hand though, perhaps Harry Remmington should go home?
Posted by: King Mush, Woolston on 8:37pm Tue 19 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Bertie[/bold] wrote:
Although it is immaterial, Cllr Hannides is of Greek Cypriot origin. My father in law, who is Greek Cypriot knew Cllr Hannides father during the 1950's and 1960's. How can he go home if he was born and bred in Hampshire, perhaps HR is asking Cllr Hannides to go home in Hampshire? On the other hand though, perhaps Harry Remmington should go home?[/quote] Thanks - I feel vindicated.
HR is 'home' in the New Forest. He is a thicket.
Bertie wrote:
Although it is immaterial, Cllr Hannides is of Greek Cypriot origin. My father in law, who is Greek Cypriot knew Cllr Hannides father during the 1950's and 1960's. How can he go home if he was born and bred in Hampshire, perhaps HR is asking Cllr Hannides to go home in Hampshire? On the other hand though, perhaps Harry Remmington should go home?
Thanks - I feel vindicated.
HR is 'home' in the New Forest. He is a thicket.
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