All About Gates

South Porch Gates by P Johnson & Company

GA Admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:18:07 +0000

St Michael’s Church has stood in the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow since 1242; it’s one of the largest burgh churches within the Church of Scotland.
The South Porch Gates were commissioned by The Society of Friends of St Michael’s Church. The Gateway, which consists of two gate leaves and an overthrow, has been hand crafted using traditional blacksmithing skills and techniques. The hot forging of mild steel, punched holes, forged tenons, rivets, fire welding, forged leaves and tapers are all evident of the highly skilled craftsmanship utilised to create the gates. The design, which consists of intertwining tendrils, leaves and hanging grapes, is representative of the true vine. The Gateway took three blacksmiths, working at the fire and anvil and then riveting the elements of the gates together, three months to complete. Due to Grade A listed building status, permission had to be obtained for the addition of a gate to the building. The gate design was approved but no fixings were allowed into the fabric of the building to hang the gate. The overthrow is ingeniously clamped around the curved pillars, holding it firmly in place. The gates are hinged from the overthrow above and the ground below via a simple pin joint. The gates are given an added lustre with galvanizing and painting. The paint has graphite powder added to it which is then burnished to give an added texture and sheen to the finish. The South Porch Gates look very much a part of this ancient historic building, both in the timeless design and workmanship to create the gates and the use of galvanizing and painting as an appropriate finish.

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Dymocks Building Gates by P Johnson & Company

GA Admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:08:56 +0000

Automated Entrance Gate & Pedestrian Access Gate. Dymock’s Building, Bo’ness. Commissioned by National Trust for Scotland. The design relates to past maritime activity in Bo’ness, whaling and salt production. Its site, adjacent to the harbour in the 1600s but now far back from the Forth, illustrates the way a townscape may be altered (in this case with a continuous process of silting and infill in the harbour) and how this alters the way a building is used.

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Sytch Lane Cemetery Gates, Wombourne

GA Admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:25:45 +0000

Designed by Ian Moran, the gateway is said to be a comforting line of figures, with gates harmoniously using similar detailing as the surrounding sculptures.
The wavy line seen on the gates being taken from an OS map detail of the waterways in Wombourne (its name derived from the Olde English Womburnan, meaning winding stream) Linking the design geographically to Wombourne.

The traditional method of manufacture seems appropriate, making the work itself and its process feel respectful.

The galvanized finish only adds to the understated feel created.

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Knowle West Gates, Bristol

GA Admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:22:36 +0000

Quattro Design worked with the local community to create a master design plan for an impressive set of entrance gates for a Health Centre in Bristol.
For the design, ideas were based on the theme of health and happiness and drawn up from community consultation and the help of local youngsters. Happy faces appear, with all manner of comical expressions and electrifying hairstyles, exposing their hearts to show true well-being. Vegetables and fruit lie at the gate base, the inducements of good health, whilst a football and cricket bat serve to illustrate the importance of exercise for a fit heart. Randomly, little reminders nestle in the railings for the observer to read such as “don’t take drugs”, “helping hand” and “love is health”. Spiky backbone protrusions simulating the strength of a stegosaurus undulate across the top, sweeping up to scroll as a cresting wave. So as to withstand a harsh environment, a robust finish was required, and so galvanizing was chosen for its stable, enduring and attractive qualities.

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Carrick Gates by P Johnson & Company

GA Admin — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:23:54 +0000

The Claret Jug gates herald the entrance to the 5 star golf course and leisure centre, The Carrick on the banks of Loch Lomond.

The gates were hot forged from mild steel, hot dip galvanized and spray painted grey graphite. The gates are automated, allowing the entrance to maintain a sense of arrival. The asymmetric gates feature a stylised claret jug in the centre, the name of the British Open Golf trophy and the restaurant.

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Rabley Barn Gates by Melissa Cole

GA Admin — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:21:40 +0000

These gates were commissioned for a couple having a contemporary new house built on the site of old barns, who asked sculptor, Melissa Cole to create a gate and two panels.

The design would link the new build to the remaining old barn. The new build has a spectacular curved roof made from zinc and this was the main focus for the design – linking the top line of the gates to the curve of the roof. The finished gates feature rivet details and forged lines with smooth transitions of section change through to flared ends woven through the horizontal cross members. The gate posts have scooped tops to match the forged lines in the gates. The decision to finish the gates in the galvanized finish with no paint was intended to link with the use of zinc on the roof and to maintain a ‘farm gate’ feel while keeping a contemporary aspect to the entrance. The building project was featured on Channel Four ‘Grand Designs’ and in their accompanying magazine.

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