Love under the 'lobster pot'

By Brady Haran BBC News Online

A great place for romance?

When Tom Hughes and his team were designing the Sky Vault, they dreamed of creating an icon.

They hoped the cable structure - compared by some to an oversized lobster pot - would span a major road and become a world famous landmark for the East Midlands.

But when an unnamed gentleman from Northampton saw the plan, he had other things on his mind.

Mr Hughes says: "The Northampton man asked that we build the Sky Vault near his home so that he could have 'romantic interludes' with his girlfriend under it.

"This is not specifically what it was designed for, but we took it as a compliment."

Since his team's design won a well-publicised competition to become the East Midlands' landmark of the future, excitement about the Sky Vault has died down.

SKY VAULT

Sky Vault was designed by 2hD, a group of designers and engineers from Nottingham

It beat nearly 200 entries in the Great East Midlands Competition

About 5,000 people voted

See more photos of Sky Vault

Tell us your view

But Mr Hughes says the plans are still on track.

"We are working on the design with engineers Buro Happold, who are world experts in the field of tensile structures, and MACE project managers, who sorted out the London Eye.

"These people know exactly what they are doing, and having them involved at such an early stage will help ensure a trouble free project.

"Later this year, we will launch a campaign to raise funds for the project."

Mr Hughes has little doubt the Sky Vault will be built and become a familiar part of the East Midlands skyline.

He says: "It will be something to navigate and orientate ourselves by.

LOBSTER POT?

I welcome the idea that people will give the landmark a pet name - it shows they are taking the Sky Vault to heart

Tom Hughes

"As a symbol of the togetherness of the region, it will promote the idea of an East Midlands community, encouraging collaboration rather than competition within the region.

"This is important for businesses too, who need to work together to promote the region, which has some significant competitors such as Birmingham, Sheffield and Manchester on its borders.

"The other benefit is that the Sky Vault will be used to promote the region to the rest of the world, painting a picture of the East Midlands as an exciting, forward thinking place to live and do business."

The designs and a model have been displayed in major centres around the region and generally received a positive response, Mr Hughes says.

"We have had negative comments too, of course, but these are also very useful.

REGIONAL ICONS

See some of the UK's other landmarks

"We have been thoroughly grilled about a huge range of issues that are of concern to people in the region, which has been enormously helpful in setting targets for the project to address."

Some have labelled the cable structure as a giant lobster pot, but Mr Hughes is comfortable with the tag.

"I welcome the idea that people will give the landmark a pet name - it shows they are taking the Sky Vault to heart.

"We don't expect to trap any lobsters, but the landmark will attract another valuable catch to the region - visitors and investment."

Providing money can be raised to build it, the next big question is where the Sky Vault should be located?

Somewhere over the M1 has been raised as a possibility.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Sky Vault to be made out of steel cables (about 18mm diameter) woven together into a large net

Net supported at both ends by steel arches spanning motorway

Front arch is 150m long and spans 100m

Back arch spans 60m

Computer animation of Sky Vault

"It's all up for grabs at the moment and we have had expressions of interest from several quarters.

"We will be looking at the viability of all potential sites carefully of the next few months, and carrying out consultations with all concerned parties.

"As for cost, Sky Vault will be very good value for money in terms of the benefits it brings to the region.

"It will also be privately funded, which should alleviate the understandable concerns which are raised when public money is used for emotive projects."

'On the map'

The East Midlands Development Agency has given the project conditional backing.

Abby Johnson Brennan, director of international development at EMDA, said: "As an agency we are keen to support the region to adopt a much bolder approach to public arts and landmark buildings.

"In principle we support initiatives like the Sky Vault which have the potential to put us well and truly on the map.

"With all such projects however, we need to ensure that they are realistic and deliverable."

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SOME COMMENTS RECEIVED DURING PUBLIC CONSULTATION

A good idea - some interest in the area... it may be new today, but in years to come it will be "heritage".
D and A Simpson, Stoneygate, Leicestershire

We don't need to draw attention to ourselves in the East Midlands... It's crowded enough as it is. Stop attracting more people, more traffic, more chaos to this area. So do we need this?!!
S Barcikowski, Nottingham

You can't contrive a local identity just by erecting a big net over a motorway. The only people who would be able to appreciate it are passing motorists, unlike the Angel of the North for example, which can be visited by pedestrians on the ground.
J Power, Nottingham

How about mending the roads first?
C Snaith, Lincoln

It will look silly in 10 years time.
J Fowler, Nottinghamshire

Looks good. Drive through France and the motorways are full of interesting art. Good to do the same in Britain.
Z Cebula, Northampton