A NEW art installation and event space outside the Old Fire Station in Bournemouth's Holdenhurst Road has divided opinion.

The Chine Forest art installation is made up of seventeen steel columns of varying heights and boasts integrated light and sound elements.

Urban and public space designers at Dallas Pierce Quintero were commissioned to design and deliver the artworks, which 'evoke memories of Bournemouth’s famous chines and pines'.

As part of their design process, Dallas Pierce Quinter took into consideration local heritage and cultural themes of technology, innovation, and nature were identified by residents during the Lansdowne Cultural Consultation held in 2020.

Bournemouth Echo:

The transformed Fire Station Square with the artworks and space will be open to bookings via BCP Council from local businesses, organisations and groups.

The aim was to draw visitors to Lansdowne, with entertainment and activities that encourage people to spend more time enjoying the area’s independent business district.

However, in a poll by the Daily Echo, 30 per cent of readers said they liked the Chine Forest artwork but 59 per cent said they didn’t and 10 per cent said it might grow on them.

READ MORE: Chine Forest art installation in Holdenhurst Road is unveiled

In Holdenhurst Road, a group of students said they liked the lights but they didn't see how it would attact people to the area. 

Laura said: "I don’t understand what it is and why it has bird song, but I like the lights, they could have made it silver, it was definitely not worth £450 thousand in my opinion, the lights are cute but I don’t understand the bird song.

"I don’t think its going to bring people to the area, I don’t think they’re going to come just for the lights."

Business manager, Gene Brown, said: "I don’t see how its ever going to bring people to the area because all it does is play noises and it’s got pretty lights on, I think they could have spent the money in a better way.

"The open space was supposed to be for shows but those columns will get in the way. I don’t think there is space enough there to hold events now. It could be another white elephant from the council.

"Holdenhurst market used to be there and it was a big space, I don’t think you could do things like that now. They were installed quickly but I don’t think it was thought out very well."

Bournemouth Echo:

The artworks and event space are the final elements to be delivered within the initial phases of BCP Council’s Lansdowne programme.

A BCP Council Spokesperson said: “The artworks have been delivered as part of the Lansdowne Transformation programme.

"For this programme £4.8 million in government funding was secured through Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund and a further £2.9 million of council match funding from local contributions was also made.

"This funding was secured specifically for investment into the Lansdowne area and could not be spent elsewhere or reallocated.

"As part of the funding agreement, we committed to deliver a number of must have elements, including cultural aspects such as art and public realm event spaces.

“A design and financial commitment for the Chine Forest artworks of £450,000 was formalised over three years ago. This covers design, a long-term maintenance agreement, manufacturing costs and integrated sound and light elements.”