http://www.riverside-one.com/assets/x/50188

Part of the Largest Public Art Project in the World, with structures to be built in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland. Temenos is the first installation in the Tees Valley Giants public art initiative. It will cost £2.7m and will be an awe-inspiring 110m in length and almost 50m high.

Due to be finished by the New Year, Temenos is already Under Construction.

Construction Photos to follow soon.....

Wait, there's already a thread on this!

No, the other thread is for all of the Tees Valley Giants (5 in total) of which the next should be announced soon. This thread is solely for discussion and updated on Temenos not on all five of the planned structures.

Hope that clears it up. :)

Not usually a fan of massive public art (well cos its usually bits of rubbish put together) BUT that looks brilliant

I take it that it will be permanent?

Yes, its part of the Middlehaven regeneration scheme, is one of the only certain things at the moment round there to be going up (other than an office block and some infrastructure).

Anyone have any idea why work has stopped on Temenos?

If i remember rightly, it was some sort of accident, but i could be making that up. :P They said it shouldn't effect the finish date though. There was an article in the gazette a couple of weeks ago......

Why are there two threads for one project? :|

''No, the other thread is for all of the Tees Valley Giants (5 in total) of which the next should be announced soon. This thread is solely for discussion and updated on Temenos not on all five of the planned structures.''

Just clocked that reply. I've removed the update in the other thread.


A selection of photos from Temenos yesterday (09.11.28). As you can see, I'm still having to make do with the camera on my mobile phone I'm afraid.

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/3342/007opx.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2297/000wo.jpg

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/7891/001wj.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/5274/004jhw.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/190/002lfo.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/370/005ua.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6264/006.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/7923/003nz.jpg

Latest article regarding this project from the Gazzette was back in September, when work stopped on site due to an accident. If anyone has any information on the current status for this site - please do post it up.

TEMENOS, the huge sculpture set to dominate the Middlesbrough skyline, has been delayed.

Construction of the world's largest public art project got underway last week, but the Evening Gazette can reveal an "incident" has stalled progress.

http://1.2.3.10/bmi/ts1.gazettelive.co.uk/upload/2009/09/TS1/temenos26091.jpg

Neither Tees Valley Regeneration (TVR), who commissioned the work, or Balfour Beatty, who are overseeing the assembly, have shed any light on the nature of the problem at Middlehaven, Middlesbrough.

Sean Egan, Tees Valley Regeneration's project director for Middlehaven, said: "The construction of Temenos is a one-off and - as with any major and complex construction project - sometimes unforeseen difficulties crop up.

He said: "Because of this, the order of work will have to be rescheduled but this will not affect the delivery of Temenos although it will inevitably mean a slight delay to the programme."

TVR were unable last night to elaborate on how long the delay will be.

Balfour Beatty were also at a loss to produce a timetable for construction, but did confirm none of the workers was hurt.

"We can confirm that there was an incident on the Balfour Beatty site at Middlehaven Dock, Middlesbrough, this morning.

"No body was injured as a result of the incident.

"The matter is currently under investigation so we are unable to comment further at this time.

"The health and safety of the public and its workforce is always Balfour Beatty's prime concern," said a spokesman for the London-based firm.

Plans are that Temenos, at 110m long and 50m high, is to be the first of five "Tees Valley Giants", with other erections to go up in Darlington, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool at a total cost of more than £15m.

http://ts1.gazettelive.co.uk/local-news/incident-stalls-building-of-27m-art-sculpture.html

Cheers, Forsaken.

Good photos forsakenarchitecture!

Is this actually in Middlehaven or is it a different/seperate area?

Thank you TownPlanningNE :)

It's on the Middlehaven site, just over the road from the Riverside Stadium.

There hasn't been much change on site from September as far as I can see (except for some scaffolding been taken down).

Thanks for those. Where you actually on site there then? Or is there a gap to see through the walls?

It Looks like its pretty much ready to lift into place, or is it that work has just totally stopped? Didn't it say in that article that it wouldn't have too much of an effect on the time plan? The latest i heard is that Temenos is to be lifted into place by Late December/January.

Will look great when its finished!!!

On site, except for the last one - which was taken from outside the perimeter fencing.

I'm unsure Bob, I probably know as much as you do at this point. Hopefully you're right that December/January is still a realistic aim. Next time I'm over there in normal working hours, I'll make sure to have a nosey if there is any activity on site.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to this one too. I'm not usually a fan of large scale sculpture like this, but this one looks very impressive.

Ah ok. See if you can get a hold of one of the construction workers and find out what they know! :P :)

Yeah looking forward to this, but i'm looking forward to seeing what sort of designs they come up for the other regions, IF they ever get round to doing them. :( I'm sure the Stockton one will be next to the infinity bridge on North Shore, if on the same scale as Temenos that would be amazing!

Ah ok. See if you can get a hold of one of the construction workers and find out what they know! :P :)

Yep, I'll subject them to my usual interrogation :P

I called one of the workers over when they were completing the foundations a few months back, and stopped him working for at least ten minutes :P . He said he'd just finished work on the new bridge at Stockton and that the Temenos was the start to a chain reaction of construction on the Middlehaven site.

It's just so frustrating seeing everything lying on the ground waiting to be built, but not knowing when it's going to happen. What on earth is the hold up?

I really don't know. Can't wait to see it go up.

Was an article in the gazette last night about it and it even mentioned announcing the 2nd giant next year!

Sound promising if hes in the know and work will start on RiversideOne. Guess he walks for Balfour Beaty?

Guess he walks for Balfour Beaty?

Yep, it was a construction worker for Balfour Beaty. There was work on site today but they certainly weren't working on Temenos and it remains in the same condition as the photos above. Three men were on site working on the footpath:

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5259/009xx.jpg

No good news I'm afraid. As Talisker said, I'd like to know why it's on hold still.

Who can we contact to find out more info.? We always seem to be kept int eh dark on developments on Teesside. I guess the footpath is just part of the Temenos development? Nothing will be built near Temenos for years, if ever. The land across the dock entrance is reserved for future development, and supposedly something special is planned for there, which i doubt anything will ever come out about it though!

Who can we contact to find out more info.? We always seem to be kept int eh dark on developments on Teesside. I guess the footpath is just part of the Temenos development? Nothing will be built near Temenos for years, if ever. The land across the dock entrance is reserved for future development, and supposedly something special is planned for there, which i doubt anything will ever come out about it though!
Bob you are beginning to sound as pessimistic as me!!!:nuts:

What do you expect after that news yesterday! But, anyway, Temenos will be built this no doubt of that, just going to take much longer than was planned i think. The rings have been on site for ages!

Who can we contact to find out more info.? We always seem to be kept int eh dark on developments on Teesside. I guess the footpath is just part of the Temenos development?

I can't find any official online resource posting updates on the project. I found it was best just to ask the construction workers for Balfour Beaty on site - not that I could get their attention last time as they were working in the far corner.

It seemed like they were just trying to get on with something on site while the sculpture is on hold. Hopefully work will resume soon, shouldn't be too long!

Yes, i have looked to for any updates but there isn't any, other than the gazette and what we post here. Its like that with ever development on Teesside - theres no updates online, so we have to rely on the gazette.

I think we should start to see it put into place early next year, and looking forward to seeing where/what the second giant will be!!!!! :D

The Poles and Rings are expected to be lifted into place in the first week of February of Temenos, and completion is due to in April. :banana:

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2010/01/20/middlehaven-plans-move-on-84229-25638203/3/

Article been posted on SSN today: http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=2443

I drove past the Temenos site today and a large crane has appeared on site ,so it looks like construction has restarted at last !

Thanks for that lms. I drove by on the way to work and they've got two mobile cranes down there with plenty of workers on site.

I've been told the project was featured on the local news at lunch time and they were reporting live from the site. They'll be covering it again this evening in more detail (and probably later tonight).

There was a piece in tonights Gazette saying they were starting to lift the rings into place

There was a piece in tonights Gazette saying they were starting to lift the rings into place

Yeah, the local news showed the first ring being put into place.

The largest ring has been lifted into position according to the Gazette

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2010/02/03/first-ring-of-middlesbrough-s-temenos-sculpture-hoisted-into-place-84229-25752080/

Just found this on the BBC website


http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tees/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8494000/8494383.stm

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47231000/jpg/_47231834_hpim0463.jpg

Here's some photos I took from the night after the first ring was lifted and supported into place:

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3876/dsc4507j.jpg
[2010-02-02]

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/963/dsc4508.jpg
[2010-02-02]

Last night in the fog:

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/971/dsc4541.jpg
[2010-02-05]

Last night in the fog:

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/971/dsc4541.jpg
[2010-02-05]

Excellent photos,i was hoping someone would post some photos of it going up as i havent had chance this week to get down to take some myself.

Thanks lms. I drove by the site on the A66 today and they're lifting the other ring into place now. Work on site has certainly picked up! (no pun intended :p)

Thanks lms. I drove by the site on the A66 today and they're lifting the other ring into place now. Work on site has certainly picked up! (no pun intended :p)


Looking at the photos it certainly looks bigger than i thought it would be

Some pictures of Temenos i took this morning


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4348752412_ca07baf51d_b.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4348006763_c8e075229c_b.jpg

Nice photos lms. You can see how much of a complex job they have on their hands to assemble that cable work!

Construction of this one is being followed quite nicely. I'll get some more photo updates once they reach the next phase.

Been away for 2 weeks- been stuck in Washington DC! This looks brilliant, does anyone know the different phases of construction? Will the rod go any higher than it is?

Been away for 2 weeks- been stuck in Washington DC! This looks brilliant, does anyone know the different phases of construction? Will the rod go any higher than it is?

Hope you werent snowed in!!!My sister who lives in Pennsylvania said the snow has been mad over there!

Our flight was canceled so we were stuck there for another 3 days, good though, you'll never see snow like it, was ridiculous! You can see some videos here: http://www.youtube.com/borobobbie and photos here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1329515@N20/ some before and after the snow.

We could've done with that snow over in vancouver for the olympics. They've had to airlift snow by helicopter onto cypress mountain.

Are you in Vancouver now? Must be brilliant to be there with the Olympics on, been watching it on the tele but mainly highlights as its 8 hours behind isn't it? Some of the events were delayed with no snow weren't they?

Oh you're going to have great fun in 2012, trust me. Complete chaos. Anyway this is getting way off topic. How is construction of temenos getting on? Must be nearly complete now.

We might not, as were that far away from it all! I will try and get down there though for something just to experience it. Although, we may have a bit with them hopefully staging the training facilities at the Tees Barrage. :)

Yep, back on topic, its quite away on, not much has changed from Saturday since the last photos, i think the rod has to be extended and lifted into place properly and then the second ring attached, then i guess its all ground works for landscaping etc.

I wonder if they'll do an opening ceremony like the Infinity Bridge? They may even announce the next giant when this one opens! :D

what an exciting project for Teesside, thanks for all the photos guys

Starting to see the structure from many different places around Middlesbrough now, must get some more photos, looking forward to the second ring being attached to the rod, and we'll be able to see what its going to look like finished. :) Guessing it'll go up within the next week, although strong winds are forecasted which could put it off?

Here are some photos I took today of Temenos Its looking quite big when you are up close.



http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4387347848_bbc596dd1f_b.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4386584975_2b928b6f5c_b.jpg

Looks good, although the wires are rather inconspicuous. I'm just worried it's going to look like two isolated rings when seen from a distance.

Can't really tell at the moment, but i think it will look quite good especially when the suns glistening off them.

I got some photos last week with the guys right at the top. Was a much sunnier day too, will have to post.

Guess the second ring will be lifted in to place next week?

Theres a piece in tonights Gazette about Temenos and some photos

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2010/03/03/workers-busy-fitting-steel-wires-to-temenos-84229-25947213/

Great thanks will take a look/

Thanks for the Gazette link. The positioning of the sculpture hasn't changed, so I've just uploaded one of the workers up on the cable work :)

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/5699/dsc4762a.jpg
[2010:02:25 - 15:00:11]

Great, i like the sign in the foreground.

Did anyone read the stupid comments posted on the gazette article? :@

Great, i like the sign in the foreground.

Did anyone read the stupid comments posted on the gazette article? :@

Yes I did!,the thing is The Angel of the North had the same sort of negative comments when it was first built but look at it now its become a national icon.

People are always like this with developments.

The thing that always gets me is: How much tax am i paying for this? or Why couldn't they have spent the money on something that will improve the area? We wouldn't get any money at all if we didn't have this!

The thing is money allocated for Art projects can only be used on art projects
,if it doesnt get used you lose it .
People always moan about how terrible their town is and no money ever gets spent,yet when it does ,they still moan .You cant win,its better off to just ignore them .

Exactly!!! Its not hard for people to understand, i wish they would get it into there heads.

Yep, people complain about anything and everything, not just to do with regeneration, thats what people do best in this country - moan!

There's always people who say this money should be spent on school and hospitals, which let's face it havn't got the best track record of spending money wisely. If every spare penny went into healthcare then your in danger of creating a seriously boring place to live in. Middlesbrough will get returns on this. It's not much to pay for a very unique sight, which when combined with the other 'giants' will increase tourism and improve the image of the area.

Yep, we do need to try and have some interesting structures locally of big scale, which maybe, might get the area noticed.

Barring all the industry, which in most people's opinions is awful and not somewhere they'd like to see when they are on holiday, i think Teesside or the "Tees Valley" would make a good little holiday destination. With all the quaint little villages surrounding the area, wonderful countryside, and lovely seaside places, i.e. Saltburn there's enough variety. If only we could get a bit more money spent on Stockton and Middlesbrough centers to spruce it up and make them a bit more upmarket, particularly Stockton, you'd have an even better variety of things to do.

Yeah the countryside south of middlesbrough really is nice and full of potential for tourism. People are going to be hard pushed to use middlesbrough as a base for visting the area unless it improves it's reputation though, especially when you have picturesque towns like whitby close by.

Yep, it is, lots to do as well.

Middlesbrough would have to improve a hell of a lot and have lots of money invested into it, it has the potential, it just will never happen. As you said, not only that but it would need some sort of brilliant publicity campaign to change peoples perceptions, in the UK anyway. Maybe not so much from other country's which is where they should market it too.

Temenos artist’s work goes on show at mima

Mar 25 2010 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

STUNNING work by Anish Kapoor has gone on show at Middlesbrough’s mima to coincide with the launch of the first of the Tees Valley Giants.
Anish Kapoor exhibition at mima
Anish Kapoor

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/gazettelive2/mar2010/8/7/anish-kapoor-exhibition-at-mima-988862913.jpg

Temenos, under construction at Middlehaven, has been designed by the internationally acclaimed sculptor, along with structural designer Cecil Balmond.

It is hoped the £2.7m work will be completed by May, marking the first phase of the Tees Valley Giants public arts project.

The project will see huge sculptures erected in each of the five Tees Valley boroughs - making it the biggest public arts project in the world.

But gallery-goers can now see a selection of works by Kapoor at mima, until July 4.

The show also puts Middlesbrough alongside New York and Bilbao in Spain as locations where work by the artist can currently be viewed.

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao has just launched a major solo exhibition devoted to the art of Kapoor. His work can also currently on show at New York’s Guggenheim museum until March 28.

Over the past 30 years Kapoor has gained international acclaim as one of the most influential and significant sculptors of his generation.

His exploration of form and space and his use of colour and material have profoundly influenced the course of contemporary sculpture.
Anish Kapoor exhibition at mima

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/gazettelive2/mar2010/6/2/anish-kapoor-exhibition-at-mima-378760814.jpg

Once completed Temenos - which means “land cut off and assigned as holy ground” - will measure 50 metres in height and almost 110 metres in length.

The mima show has been developed in direct collaboration with the artist. And a publication to celebrate the launch of Temenos will also be available this summer.

See work by Anish Kapoor at mima until July 4. The gallery is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am-5pm, Thursday 10am-8pm and Sunday noon-4pm.

More details at www.visitmima.com or call 01642 726720.
Source (http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2010/03/25/temenos-artist-s-work-goes-on-show-at-mima-84229-26107858/)

Have you been yet?

I need to go soon!

The only two exhibitions i have enjoyed at Mima so far are the Bauhaus one when it opened and the Top Gear one last year ,though i will go to Anish Kapoors maybe in the next couple of weeks.
I think we need to start a separate Mima thread on this site.

yes that Bauhaus one was good, would never dream of going to an exhibition from those idiots! But yes a lot of the stuff is very, erm............obscure? :P

Yes we probably do.

I think a MIMA thread would go down well and we can update it with new exhibitions.

I've not been to Kapoor's yet, but like 'lms', I'll go within the next few weeks. The viewing terrace at MIMA is also a convenient location to take construction photographs of the developments at Dunning Road.

I love the terrace out, you have good views over Centre Square and it looks lovely on a sunny day. Whats Dunning Road like atm?

Yep, good idea about the MIMA, i'll get it up by the end of the week if know-one else does it before this?

It would be nice to see some sort of lighting underneath Temenos so it really looks like a centrepiece at night time.

i would guess it would be lit up at night, it better be!!! I think it will look 10 times as good at night, especially with all the developments finished round there and the reflection on the water!

Dunning Road is a site I haven't been past in a good few weeks now. I was told yesterday that they were still making progress, but the site isn't entirely cleared yet.

Temenos should have a lighting scheme and I'm sure it'd finish it off nicely. Hopefully they'll encorporate some green spaces, too. Even some basic landscaping would be appreciated.

I think the renders for Temenos did show that this was the case, i hope so too.

They may be making progress, but god, its slow!!! They should be well on with construction now!

Some more stuff on Temenos in tonights Gazette

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2010/04/15/temenos-artist-anish-kapoor-views-creation-84229-26248646/

Yep, saw that. I wish they would release some news about the next giants!!!

Still didn't say when the second ring will be lifted in to place though, as far as i'm aware.

Fairly mixed comments on that news article, although the idea that the money would be better spent elsewhere is as dependable as death and taxes, and is total nonsense.

People complan i about everything. This is peoples argument everytime andits frustrating when you here people say it as they obviously don't have a clue about this or how it is funded.

Anyone know when the second ring is to be lifted in to place?

The second ring has now been lifted in to place, it seems quite high aswell.

Surely it won't be too long till this project is completed

Oh Great, thanks for the update! Will have to go and have a look and get some pictures i think. Yes, should be finished within the next few weeks i would think. Hasn't been a very good day to lift it like!

According to the Gazette it looks like the finish date is about 10th June.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2010/05/12/send-in-your-temenos-photos-and-spread-the-word-about-middlesbrough-84229-26425059/

Good to here. Haven't been down since they lifted the second ring, but looks practicly finished:

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/gazettelive2/may2010/8/6/temenos-47927905.jpg

There is now a website as well: http://www.teesvalleygiants.com/

Check out this interesting article too: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2008/07/11/temenos-sculpture-will-be-tees-signature-84229-21325350/

Those cables really are hard to see. From a distance it's just going to look like two rings

Maybe in the dark they'll be lit up and "glisten"?

Heres a couple of pics of Temenos now its nearly finished

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4616738412_0a44f17f2d_b.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4616732824_f5d263aec6_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/4616116453_1818375b04_b.jpg

Great. You should add your photos to the flickr group from here: www.teesvalleygiants.com

Saw a long article today about this, on the national BBC news channel, I think it looks absolutely great.

It was good to see it getting some good national TV coverage too!

Temenos artwork a symbol of things to come for Boro
Jun 11 2010 The Journal

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/nejournal/jun2010/2/6/temenos-156638240.jpg

THE REGION’S growing portfolio of extraordinary artworks grew yesterday when the first of five proposed Tees Valley Giants was formally presented to the people of Middlesbrough.

Steve Gibson, chairman of Middlesbrough Football Club, did the honours, standing on a plaque sunk in the ground near Temenos, a new landmark at the town’s Middlehaven regeneration area.

Earlier, at the football club’s Riverside Stadium, Turner Prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor declared himself well pleased with the £2.7m artwork, which was built by Balfour Beatty.

“It’s as light and as graceful as I wanted it to be,” he told an invited audience.

It was two years ago that plans to erect five sculptures in the Tees Valley by Kapoor and his creative partner, structural engineer Cecil Balmond, were unveiled.

Since then the celebrated pair have made more headlines for landing a commission to build a sculpture in London higher than the Statue of Liberty to mark the 2012 Olympic Games. Temenos, which means a place apart or sacred ground, rests among a host of eye-catching structures including the famous Transporter Bridge, the football stadium, the new Middlesbrough College, a huge gantry crane and – for now, at least – a pair of resting container ships.

If the dormant vessels are signs of economic slowdown, Temenos, which was finished this week, was being hailed as a symbol of better thing to come.

Ray Mallon, Middlesbrough’s bullish elected mayor, said the sculpture was a sign that the town was confident, ambitious and moving forward.

He said he and the people of Middlesbrough were proud of the town.


REST OF (TWO-PAGE) ARTICLE HERE - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2010/06/11/temenos-artwork-a-symbol-of-things-to-come-for-boro-61634-26632692/

Saw a long article today about this, on the national BBC news channel, I think it looks absolutely great.

It was good to see it getting some good national TV coverage too!

Yeah, I saw that report too. They conveyed the project rather well and only had positive words to say about the sculpture and the future of Middlesbrough itself.

I've been informed that the temporary fencing has been removed from the base of the sculpture. It must be nearing completion now.

An impressive sculpture once you're stood underneath and up close. A few photographs I took today as it's now fully complete:

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/6821/day6551.jpg

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/9014/day6544.jpg

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6205/day6517.jpg

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4509/day6521g.jpg

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/5791/day6523.jpg

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/8259/day6526.jpg

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3909/day6535b.jpg

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9751/day6531.jpg

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9356/day6536o.jpg

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8923/day6533z.jpg

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/1553/day6545.jpg

Excellent photos

Thanks, 'lms' :)

The only issues I can see are regarding the site itself. A maintenance building is located directly beneath one of the rings, and the landscaping could be improved upon. Grass would have looked more suitable in my opinion:

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8168/day6539.jpg

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/4933/day6534.jpg

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/5185/day6537.jpg

I see what you mean,looks a bit barren ,maybe grass would have been more suitable ,and as for the building its totally out of place

That building is stupid there, the strucutre itself is fantastic and the views, but this spoils it slighlty, if it has to stay, why not clad it in something modern that fits in with Temenos, or have pictures of the area on it.

Does anyone know if Temenos has/will have a lighting scheme on a night???

I know you guys don't know 'Solomon', but he was a good friend and the first to climb Temenos just last week. I'll just copy and paste the article in the Gazette and there's a link at the bottom to the full Temenos report.

Teesside man dies in Thailand fall
Aug 26 2010 by Andy Passant, Evening Gazette

AN URBAN explorer who is said to have climbed many buildings and structures, including Teesside’s Temenos sculpture, has died in a suspected fall in Thailand.

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/gazettelive2/aug2010/6/0/jim-smith-630427261.jpg

Middlesbrough man Jim Smith, also known as Solomon, was discovered beneath the balcony of the hotel where he was staying in Bangkok.

The exact cause of the tragedy is not yet known, but it is thought the 30-year-old may have fallen to his death.

Mr Smith is believed to have been in Asia on business.

He worked for Seatechs in Hartlepool, which supplies services and personnel to the offshore industries.

His boss, Paul Cave, director of Seatechs, is understood to have flown out to Bangkok.

Mr Smith’s parents are also believed to have travelled to Thailand.

Today friends paid tribute to the popular Teessider, who was well-known in urban exploration circles.

The hobby of urban exploration is defined in Wikipedia as the “examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities”.

Mr Smith is thought to have climbed Temenos, the landmark sculpture in Middlesbrough. His previous climbs have also included the Angel of the North and Middlesbrough’s Newport Bridge.

Friend Kerry Dooley said he lived life to the full and would be missed by all who knew him.

In a post on 28 Days Later, the urban exploration website, she said: “Jim was a lovely, ambitious, life loving person who loved a challenge. He will be sorely missed by all his friends and family.”

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She said he had recently climbed Temenos in Middlesbrough and “was very proud of being the first person to do it”.

A post from 28DL member Forsaken said of the tragedy: “I’m really shocked and sad to hear this. I had the pleasure of exploring with Solomon on many occasions and I always enjoyed the stories he shared.

“A great sense of humour and a genuine guy. I don’t know what else to say. My thoughts are with his family. R.I.P, Solomon.”

Forsaken told the Gazette he had joined Mr Smith on the Temenos climb.

He added: “Jim was a professionally qualified climber and I took the photographs of him while he was up there. He’d been wanting to climb the sculpture since he first saw it and I’m so pleased for him that he climbed it safely and successfully before he passed away.”

Another post, from Skydiver, said: “We met two weeks ago and climbed to the shoulders of the Angel.

“He really was an inspirational guy, scared of heights, yet he climbed that rope with no hesitation at all.

“We had planned a return trip, I’m sorry we will never get the chance to do that. Climb high Sol. You’ll be missed.”

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: “Cleveland Police was informed of the sudden death abroad of a 30-year-old Middlesbrough man who had been on business in Asia.

“Along with our colleagues from the British Embassy and the Foreign Office, we have offered whatever support, advice and assistance we can to his family.”

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We can confirm the death of British National James Smith in Bangkok on August 23, 2010.

“The next of kin has been informed and we are providing consular assistance to them.”
Source: Evening Gazette (http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2010/08/26/teesside-man-dies-in-thailand-fall-84229-27141983/)

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Links of interest on www.28dayslater.co.uk:

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=53076

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=53204

Sorry to hear this , RIP Solomon

Yes, very sad, similar to downfallen.

The images when shown in the gazette looked fake, but don't here, guess you get the true scale of how big Temenos is with someone inside it.

Temenos puts Tees Valley on world map
October 12th 2010, by Peter McCusker, The Journal

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/nebusiness/oct2010/9/6/temenos-834580414.jpg

THE latest addition to Tees Valley’s skyline is raising the profile of the area to an international audience, latest figures have revealed.

Temenos, the £2.7m sculpture designed by award-winning artist Anish Kapoor and internationally renowned structural engineer Cecil Balmond of Arup, was launched to the world’s media in June, just weeks after it was confirmed the duo had been chosen to design the centrepiece of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

And in the four months since its unveiling, Temenos, has attracted almost £10m worth of media coverage globally.

This includes extensive coverage on CNN international, which filmed a documentary with Anish Kapoor and featured Temenos extensively; the Indonesian edition of Elle magazine; coverage on BBC Breakfast News; and several national newspapers including The Daily Telegraph, The Observer and The Independent.

Sandy Anderson, chairman of Tees Valley Unlimited, said: “Temenos is not only a fantastic structure in its own right but has undoubtedly helped to put Middlesbrough and Teesside on the map.

“When Temenos was first launched, we recognised its tremendous potential to raise the profile of the area to a worldwide audience, and the coverage it has achieved is proof that it has helped do just that.”

The £10m of coverage, collected by Middlesbrough agency Cool Blue who supported Tees Valley Unlimited with the Temenos launch, is calculated by the cost of buying the equivalent space and airtime in each media outlet combined with the greater impact editorial has over advertising.

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon said: “Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond have built an international reputation with works all around the world, and Temenos is a fantastic combination of art and engineering.

“It is a coup for Middlesbrough to have a work of this nature at the heart of the town, and it symbolises the regeneration that is transforming the area.


Read More - http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business-news/latest-business-news/2010/10/12/temenos-puts-tees-valley-on-world-map-51140-27450297/

The official website is located here: http://teesvalleygiants.com/