Sails of the South
Encyclopedia
The Trimast, commonly referred to as the Sails of the South, is a 43 m (141.1 ft)–high structure situated between two carriageways of the M275 motorway
just outside Portsmouth
, England
.
It was unveiled in March 2001 in order to enhance the entrance to the city as part of the regeneration scheme The Gateway Project
. HGP Architects
, offices located in Fareham
less than 5 miles (8 km) realised the scheme and installation. The structure is one of the tallest buildings in Portsmouth.
The physical appearance of the Sails are a masted tri-sail, flanked by poles and cables on either side of the carriageway to form Tipner Bridge. The Sails are illuminated in violet
at night. In addition, there are bird roosting
sites in nearby Tipner Lake
.
The sails of the south was part of the redundant but later revived gateway project, this and the refurbishment of the nearby bridge was the only parts of the project to be realised. The bridge intended to take the M275 over a roundabout of an unbuilt junction roundabout.
In 2006 vandals smashed 21 of the 24 lights that light up the structure.
M275 motorway
The M275 is a long, dual three-lane motorway in the county of Hampshire, southern England. It is the principal route for entering and leaving Portsmouth. It continues as the A3 into Portsmouth, and meets the M27 at its northern terminus...
just outside Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
It was unveiled in March 2001 in order to enhance the entrance to the city as part of the regeneration scheme The Gateway Project
The Gateway Project
The Gateway Project is a major construction process that took place at the I-75 and I-96 interchange in Detroit, Michigan. The construction was funded by the Michigan Department of Transportation and the United States Federal Government. The Gateway Project construction took place to better the...
. HGP Architects
HGP Architects
HGP Architects is a firm of architects based in Fareham in Hampshire, and London. They have over 60 staff.-Major Projects:*Asda Stores*B&Q Stores*Barratts*BAA*Bognor Regis Seafront*British Gas*Carillion plc*CAA*DERA*Gunwharf Quays*Hampshire County...
, offices located in Fareham
Fareham
The market town of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire, England, between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire conurbation.It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area...
less than 5 miles (8 km) realised the scheme and installation. The structure is one of the tallest buildings in Portsmouth.
The physical appearance of the Sails are a masted tri-sail, flanked by poles and cables on either side of the carriageway to form Tipner Bridge. The Sails are illuminated in violet
Violet (color)
As the name of a color, violet is synonymous with a bluish purple, when the word "purple" is used in the common English language sense of any color between blue and red, not including either blue or red...
at night. In addition, there are bird roosting
Communal roosting
Communal roosting is practiced by birds when large flocks or colonies roost together usually in trees with several hundred on each.Several communal roosting trees can be located within densely populated cities nowadays where common birds like house sparrows and starlings etc...
sites in nearby Tipner Lake
Tipner Lake
Tipner Lake forms the north eastern section of Portsmouth Harbour. Although referred to as Tipner Lake, it is not an actual lake. However the reclamation of land north of Horsea Island and the building of the M275 motorway in the early 1970s, which passes over a bridge to the west of the lake, can...
.
The sails of the south was part of the redundant but later revived gateway project, this and the refurbishment of the nearby bridge was the only parts of the project to be realised. The bridge intended to take the M275 over a roundabout of an unbuilt junction roundabout.
In 2006 vandals smashed 21 of the 24 lights that light up the structure.