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| ©2013 Barry Smith - Lomandra Longifolia cut-out in the Maleny IGA walkway roof |
About two years ago when Sam and Rob
Outridge decided to build a wet weather covered walkway as part of the upgrade
of Maleny IGA they wanted it to be more than just a functional covered way. Whilst the covered walkway had to shelter shoppers and visitors from the rain and sun
as they made their way down the laneway between the Maleny IGA and Credit
Union; but it could also provide an opportunity for local artists to add a
touch of community art; and the pathway could tell part of the story that is
Maleny.
Sam and Rob invited art4place to become partners in the design
of the covered walkway. Art4place consulted its 30 plus members; and 5 design
concepts were put forward. Sam and Rob decided to go with a design that combined elements from designs by Barry Smith, Edith-Ann Murray and Fiona Dempster. This design tells a
story of some of the history and environmental aspects of Maleny. Designs and
plans went through many modifications to meet different planning, engineering, structural, budget and construction requirements.
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| ©2013 Barry Smith - Walkway after rain - cascading water and Lomandra Longifolia light on the path |
The 50-metre long and 3-metre wide covered walkway
incorporates a newly laid even concrete pathway; a series of overlapping free
standing shelters covered with rusted Corten steel that channel the rain in a
series of cascades towards a waterfall feature with large chains at the car
park end of the pathway; a series of Lomandra Longifolia cutouts in the roof;
and Perspex covers bolted over the cutouts to let the light through and keep the
rain out.
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| ©2013 Barry Smith - Walkway after rain - cascading water |
The rusted Corten steel and bolts reminds
us of the water tanks used by the early dairy farmers; the roof that shelters
and channels the water in a series of cascades and ends in a waterfall is a
artistic representation of the water of the Obi Obi Creek and Gardners Falls;
the Lomandra Longifolia is an important native plant in the area that stabilises
banks and acts to mitigate erosion; and the chains in the waterfall feature hark back to the
horses and bullocks and chains used to haul timber and produce.
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| ©Barry Smith - Fractured Lomandra Longifolia light - sunlight through water on perspex |
The Maleny IGA covered walkway is not only
functional; but it creates a community place and piece of community art in
Maleny that tells a part of the Maleny story to visitors and locals alike.
