Chaos by Philip Watts Design

JournalDesign

Chaos by Philip Watts Design

3 miles of steel tubing comprise a chaotic, functional sculpture...

Whilst in town for last week’s Interiors UK at the NEC, we dropped in on Birmingham’s “cultural quarter”, the aptly named Custard Factory – the 5-acres of riverside factories it occupies were built some 100-years ago, by custard’s inventor; Sir Alfred Bird. The Zellig building is the most recently redeveloped of the factories, and the 100,000 sq ft, £10m development’s centrepiece is this overwhelming steel and glass sculpture cum bridge network. Erected just over a year ago, by Nottingham-based Philip Watts Design, Chaos – as it’s known – is just that, a chaotic, discombobulating 5-storey mass comprised from 3 miles of steel tubing. Awkward, and seemingly unsteady, Chaos is part baby giraffe taking its first steps, part matchstick model – but most of all, it’s the most wickedly unique series of bridges we’ve ever seen. Just don’t ask us to cross them…

Chaos by Philip Watts Design Chaos by Philip Watts Design Chaos by Philip Watts Design