Oxidised steel planels hous stainless steel windchimes as part of a large outdoor sculpture.

Two metre high windchime garden sculpture underplanted with yellow flowers

Wind chimes

Canadian garden designer Donohoe Design approached David Harber to help design, build and install a striking centrepiece in a formal, asian-inspired garden in Vancouver. The concept was to create eight giant wind chimes as an elegant sculptural feature which would lend an audible and calming effect to the tranquil surroundings.

Design details

The project was an interesting challenge. On top of aesthetic considerations, material, tube diameter, length, wall thickness and suspending techniques all needed to be accurately calculated to achieve the desired clean tone and suitable volume.

The final result comprises eight two metre high, quarter tonne blades of Corten steel, each chemically weathered for an even warm chestnut hue. Each blade also houses a vertical insert of a traditional Asian woodwork pattern containing an individual character plaque of special meaning to the client. The strikers are mirror-polished, stainless steel tubes connected at the top by a curved beam.

Render image of a large outdoor sculpture made up of eight giant corten steel blades.

Large wind chime style sculpture in oxidised and stainless steel

Lights illuminate a giant windchime sculpture in the centre of a formal garden with a pool

The wind chimes encircle a large Chalice water feature creating an impressive large centrepiece for the garden, that becomes even more striking at night when uplighters switch on and cast dramatic shadows from dusk until dawn.