Where will you work?

I’m based in N Ireland and work for the most part across the UK, however I will work with clients anywhere in the world if the conditions are conducive. Much can be achieved via the web and email.

Unfortunately, using materials which can withstand permanent external installation and the processes necessary to work with those materials are a big part of the cost. I use aluminium and stainless steel mostly. I’d rather do that than see rust 6 months down the line.

These outdoor sensory items are available in diameters ranging from 50mm to 1metre both as full spheres and hemispheres.

" WOW! I look like a giant... cooool!"

They are a passive sensory implement have a broad fun appeal and an interesting perspective on the users' everyday environment.

"En route to a client, a one metre version visited my home briefly. My children immediately took to it as regular seating; they lay over it, leaned against it, slid down it, spun on it, wrapped themselves around it..., they made

faces in it, did funny walks by it... I turned it over and I have an ultra-low frequency bell endless amusement, great fun.

Under family pressure, I now have one as a permanent piece of furniture!" *

These are:

• Hand-made stainless steel skin 1mm thick
• Hand welded
• Polished to mirror finish
• Self- cleaning (please no abrasives!).
• No rust - ever!
• Recommended only fit with concrete filler**

Price range £20 - £900 - can be hard to get - please check availability with bingbangbong.

*NB

The metal is relatively thin (1mm) and it will dent if struck with sufficient force.

**We do install these in public areas but we fill them with concrete first. If the site is non-vulnerable and the users are young or unlikely to be aggressive, the bare ball on its own will be strong enough. I sit on my own one every day but would not wish to jump on it.

You have been notified of a potential weakness in this product when used without appropriate reinforcement. Please be careful if you do use the stainless skin alone

The Whaleback piece's shape and name come from the image of a large submerged form which is just about breaking the surface of the water as it moves forward.

It draws on the theme of proximity of the River Lagan to the Lyric Theatre and hints at there being much more mass and momentum below the surface than is apparent from the movement on visible plane. As such, it reflects in many ways on the arts and

creativity in Northern Ireland where there are many working creatively, yet only a few break the surface. The use of rocks is symbolic to represent the effort that is required to make even a ripple. It is symbolic that the 'front' of the piece is pointing in the river's upstream direction

The piece is constructed from hand-picked North Down ocean cobbles graded by size, colour and shape, fixed to glass fibre rod which are in turn affixed into a (beautiful and damned expensive :) bespoke base which is buried in 6" of concrete. All of the stones point to the 'keystone' which is different from the rest in every way and is adorned with small pieces of dichroic glass. This stone is the single part of the piece that is 'breaking the surface'

The sonic elements are the stone/rod combinations which, because of the way they are integrally affixed to the rod and firmly fixed to the base embedded in concrete, are resonant way beyond the sound of banging stones together.

This is a hands-on piece intended to be sounded by public interaction or very strong wind. The piece can be triggered by running one's hands over it or by tapping the individual stones, each will have its own sonic characteristics and tone.

Any triggered rod that has been moved will continue to 'shimmer' for a period which adds to the sense of movement and life of the piece. This vibration will also generate a subsonic tone but no-one will be able to hear it

Because our climate in the British Isles is temperate, Instruments designed to be permanently sited outdoors must be made from certain types of materials that will endure the weather .

In general you will find aluminium, stainless steel or plastics. Rarely can solid wood be reliable for tuned elements.

Aluminium items receive a microns-thin chemical coating that makes them weatherproof. This also provides superior paint adhesion when the final protective powdercoat is added.

The powdercoat paint has a F1 warranty, i.e. it endures 1year of Florida level UV before starting to fade. In the UK, this takes 3-5 years. The fade rate is similar to a modern car finish

All fittings used are tamper-proof, you'll not get them off with a screwdriver or pliers. If you have theft-vulnerability concerns we offer a range of upgrade options to match with your needs. Vandal resistant is not 'vandal proof'

May you have many years of enjoyment.

Business to Business co-operation

Bingbangbong seeks to establish mutually supportive working relationships with other providers of complimentary services and product ranges

• Universities / Thinktanks
• Architecture / Design houses
• Playground Designers & Manufacturers
• Urban and Estates management
• Interior/Atrium/
• Public Art Commissioners & Designers
• Product Designers
• Sensory Specialists
• Online Sensory Catalogues
• etc etc architecture, landscaping, playground manufacture, urban management, interior design