Quantum Leap

Quantum Leap is a new sculpture set to be unveiled in Mardol Quay Gardens, Shrewsbury to mark Darwin’s bicentenary in 2009. The sculpture is intended to represent Darwin’s ground breaking scientific ideas and his impact on the scientific world.

Designed by Pearce & Lal, the sculpture is to be an impressive 12 metres high and 17.5 metres long, weighing in at more than 100 tonnes. The design itself is open to interpretation and has already been likened to a shell, human vertebrae, DNA, a dinosaurs skeleton and more. Jon King, Darwin coordinator explains: “What we wanted was an iconic structure - something that was big, was bold, but something that could be interpreted in different ways.”

Mardol Quay Gardens on the opposite bank of the River Severn to Shrewsbury’s new Theatre Severn is to become a new “geo-garden”, celebrating Shropshire’s geological history - 10 of the 12 geological periods are represented in the county. Geology also played a large part in Darwin’s young life, being a key interest and inspiration to him during his years in Shrewsbury. The Quantum Leap scultpure, to be made from cast stone, is to be the centrepoint of this new garden. Jon King describes what visitors might see: “Imagine yourself stepping through the gateway, maybe two or three yards at most, and you’ll see the start of this arch leaping up out of the ground and away from you towards the theatre.”

Quantum Leap will be unveiled as part of Darwin’s 200th birthday celebrations.

Manufacturing Quantum Leap

This slideshow takes you through the process of making the main element of the sculpture, the five metre long ‘ribs’ or ‘blades’. These were cast by Histon Concrete Products, one of Aggregate Industries factories near Ely, Cambridgeshire. First, a timber mould is painstakingly made from CAD drawings; secondly into this goes a metal frame designed to give the unit sufficient structural integrity for use in construction; thirdly, the cast stone mix of cement and crushed stone is poured in. When this has set, the mould is unscrewed, and the unit can be de-mounted, water-blasted, acid etched and finished prior to being transported to Shrewsbury.

Short Video About The Casting And Erection Of Quantum Lap

Live Quantum Leap Webcam

View of the site of the “Quantum Leap” sculpture, Shrewsbury, as seen from the top of Theatre Severn.

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