Apertura 1900 is a large-scale interactive sonic sculpture installed at Walltown Country Park in Northumberland, one of the most dramatic and historically significant landscapes in England. Commissioned to celebrate 1900 years since the original construction of Hadrian’s Wall, this remarkable artwork was designed by artists Ed Carter, Nick Kirk, and Tony Broomhead — and brought to life through the specialist steel fabrication expertise of MorFabrication Ltd.
Sitting within one of the most visited sections of Hadrian’s Wall, Apertura 1900 provides visitors with an immersive sensory experience. The sculpture’s 1900 copper wind chimes respond to the ever-changing Northumberland weather, creating shimmering sounds and light that shift throughout the day and across the seasons. It is a piece of art that is constantly in motion, constantly evolving.
The Fabrication Challenge
From a steel fabrication perspective, Apertura 1900 presented a genuinely unique set of challenges. Unlike commercial or structural steelwork, this project demanded the precision of engineering combined with the sensitivity of artistic expression. The structure needed to be robust enough to withstand exposed Northumberland conditions — high winds, rain, temperature extremes — while remaining visually delicate and acoustically responsive.
MorFabrication was chosen as the steel fabrication specialist for the project, tasked with manufacturing the overall structural framework of the sculpture along with all 1900 individual copper wind chimes that form the artwork’s centrepiece. This was not a project where standard fabrication approaches would suffice. Every element required bespoke design and manufacture, with tolerances that would affect the acoustic performance of the finished piece.
What We Manufactured
The Primary Structure
The main structural framework was fabricated from steel at our Newcastle workshop, designed to support the full weight and wind loading of 1900 suspended chimes while maintaining the clean architectural lines specified by the design team. The structure needed to be self-supporting in an exposed outdoor environment with no shelter from prevailing winds — engineering calculations had to account for significant lateral loading as well as the dead weight of the copper elements.
Our team worked closely with the artists throughout the fabrication process, translating their creative vision into structurally sound steelwork. This collaborative approach is something we bring to all our projects, but it was particularly important here where aesthetic intent and structural integrity had to be perfectly balanced.
1900 Copper Wind Chimes
The wind chimes are the heart of Apertura 1900. Each of the 1900 chimes was individually fabricated from copper, with precise dimensions that determine the pitch, resonance, and tonal character of each piece. When the wind passes through the sculpture, these chimes interact with each other to create an ever-changing soundscape — no two moments sound the same.
Manufacturing 1900 individual chimes to consistent quality standards required careful process control. At MorFabrication, we used our CNC profiling and precision cutting capabilities to ensure each chime was produced to specification, before hand-finishing to achieve the visual quality expected of a public artwork. The copper material was selected both for its acoustic properties and its ability to develop a natural patina over time, meaning the sculpture’s appearance will continue to evolve for years to come.
Materials & Techniques
The project combined two primary materials: steel for the structural framework and copper for the chimes. Each material was selected for specific functional reasons beyond aesthetics.
The steel structure was fabricated using precision welding techniques at our workshop, with all joints and connections designed to provide maximum rigidity while allowing for thermal expansion in an outdoor environment. Surface protection was critical given the exposed location, and all steelwork was finished to withstand the harsh Northumberland climate.
The copper chimes exploit copper’s natural resonance and tonal warmth. Unlike steel or aluminium, copper produces a rich, sustained note when struck — essential for creating the layered soundscape that defines the Apertura experience. Over time, the copper develops a distinctive green patina (verdigris) that further connects the artwork to its natural landscape setting.
Installation & Location
Walltown Country Park sits along one of the most popular stretches of Hadrian’s Wall, attracting visitors from across the UK and internationally. The installation location was carefully chosen to maximise the sculpture’s exposure to prevailing winds while being accessible to visitors walking the Wall path.
On-site installation presented its own challenges. Working in a designated heritage landscape means strict controls on ground disturbance, vehicle access, and construction methods. Our installation team had to carefully plan logistics to deliver and erect the sculpture with minimal impact on the surrounding environment — an approach that reflects MorFabrication’s experience working on sensitive sites.
Fully funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority, Apertura 1900 was free to attend, bringing together people across Northumberland, the North East, and beyond to celebrate shared history and experience the intersection of art, engineering, and the natural landscape.
What David Morland Said
Speaking about the project, David Morland, CEO of MorFabrication, said:
“We’re proud to be part of and work on such a prestigious and monumental piece of artwork. Celebrating the history of Hadrian’s Wall and also the North East.”
“There are various detailed intricacies in the design of this sculpture and a lot of wind chimes! Completing the project to the vision and specification of the designers, the final piece of artwork, with all wind chimes in situ, is incredible, and certainly worth a visit.”
“Hadrian’s Wall is a big part of our history, and we’re pleased to be part of such a creative and out-of-the-box design and vision that helps to recognise this.”
“We’re extremely proud to see the hard work of our team, for the artists’ vision of this structure come to life, and of course to hear all 1900 wind chimes take over the beautiful Northumberland countryside.”
The Collaboration Process
Working on a public art installation requires a different approach to standard commercial fabrication. From the outset, MorFabrication’s team worked in close collaboration with artists Ed Carter, Nick Kirk, and Tony Broomhead, attending design meetings and providing fabrication input that helped shape the final piece. This is a process we value — understanding not just what a client wants to build, but why they want to build it and what it needs to achieve.
For Apertura 1900, this meant understanding the acoustic science behind the chimes. The length, diameter, wall thickness, and suspension point of each copper chime all affect its sound. Our fabrication had to be precise enough that the finished chimes would produce the tonal range the artists had designed for. This is precision metalwork at its most demanding — where the quality of fabrication directly determines the quality of the artistic experience.
The design also had to account for practical considerations that would never arise in conventional fabrication work. How would individual chimes be replaced if damaged by extreme weather? How would the structure be maintained over a long lifespan in one of England’s most exposed locations? These questions influenced our fabrication approach, leading us to design modular connection points and standardised chime specifications that would allow straightforward maintenance without specialist intervention.
From Workshop to Landscape
The journey from our Newcastle workshop to the Hadrian’s Wall landscape reflects MorFabrication’s approach to every project. Everything was manufactured, quality-checked, and test-assembled at our facility before being transported to site. This controlled workshop environment is critical for precision work — it allows us to verify dimensions, test fit-up, and confirm structural integrity before anything leaves the building.
For the Apertura installation, we transported the structure and all 1900 chimes to Walltown Country Park, where our installation team erected and commissioned the sculpture over several days. Working in partnership with the artists, each chime was hung in its designated position according to the acoustic design plan. The moment the last chime was placed and the wind caught the sculpture for the first time was, as David described, truly incredible.
Why This Project Matters
Apertura 1900 demonstrates MorFabrication’s ability to operate beyond traditional commercial and structural steel fabrication. While our core work includes steel finishing and powder coating, structural steelwork, and sheet metal fabrication, projects like Apertura show the breadth of what is achievable when specialist fabrication skills are applied to creative briefs.
This project required every element of our capability: precision CNC profiling for the copper chimes, skilled welding for the primary structure, careful material selection and finishing, and experienced on-site installation in a challenging environment. It is exactly the kind of bespoke, technically demanding work that sets MorFabrication apart from standard fabrication companies.
Project Summary
Project: Apertura 1900 — Interactive Sonic Sculpture
Location: Walltown Country Park, Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland
Artists: Ed Carter, Nick Kirk, Tony Broomhead
Funded by: North of Tyne Combined Authority
MorFabrication’s Role: Fabrication of primary steel structure and all 1900 copper wind chimes
Materials: Steel (structure), copper (chimes)
Techniques: CNC profiling, precision welding, hand finishing
Year: 2022
MorFabrication Ltd provides a complete metal fabrication service across the North East and other parts of the UK. Working with retailers, commercial properties, architects, artists, and designers, we are a family-run company that offers precision engineering solutions from our facility in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Have a bespoke fabrication project in mind? Contact us on 07825 909 669 or email info@morfabrication.com.