SE1 - @se1.news on Bluesky

Good news Friday: After being dismantled and placed into storage more than a decade ago, the Grade II listed Torsion Fountain by Czech artist Franta Belsky (1921-2000) has finally returned to the South Bank! Created in 1959-63, the fifteen ton bronze sculpture was originally positioned in the courtyard of the Shell Centre on London’s South Bank. Cast from clay and plaster moulds in 104 sections, the fountain was driven by two four-horsepower pumps. When in full operation, 2,000 gallons could be driven through the channels and piping that vein its spiralling shell forms. Permission was granted by a Planning Inspector in 2014 for it to be removed while the site was redeveloped into luxury apartments, with a planning condition that it eventually be reinstalled. As the final phase of the Southbank Place development completes this month and the site hoardings come down, Torsion has re-emerged in its new position - slightly further to the north by the railway viaduct and hemmed-in between two residential blocks.