Ibrahim Mahama – Purple Hibiscus
Steel framework fabrication with Buro Happold for the Barbican Centre and Ibrahim Mahama
Barbican Centre, London.
April 2024
millimetre were commissioned by the Barbican Centre for the Ibrahim Mahama Purple Hibiscus installation. Collaborating with Buro Happold millimetre designed & developed a steel framework to secure the art installation to the Barbican without requiring any fixings into the building.
The steel componentry of the framework was supplied as a kit of a parts that was installed by Infinite Rope Access under millimetre’s guidance.
The framework consisted of steel brackets positioned on the corners of the building details, weights, vertical & horizontal steel members all connected with ropes & ratchet straps to form a web of fixings which anchor to & around the building.
The system allows the lower fabric panels to be raised if the wind speed reaches a certain speed.
- Materials
- 49 bespoke folded steel brackets, 70kg each
- 100m2 of cork & rubber protection on the brackets & other components to protect the building
- 373m of steel profiles used to manufacture the support structure
- Over 200m of high strength ratchet straps
- Partners
- Barbican Centre
- Buro Happold
- Infinite Rope Access
- Photography: ©Buro Happold