Wave Chamber

Kielder Water and Forest Park, Northumberland.

‘Wave Chamber’ was commissioned for the shore of Kielder Reservoir by Kielder Partnership, in particular Northumbrian Water and Forest Enterprise, as part of Visual Arts UK 1996 in the North of England.

The 4m tall dry-stone beehive hut, made from 80 tons of stone, works as a camera obscura with a lens and mirror built into the top, angled at the reservoir. The rippling surface of the water is projected on to the pale floor of the chamber, which echoes to the sound of the waves.

Directions: At Kielder, drive across the dam and park at Hawkhope car park. Follow the north shore footpath waymarking to the first peninsula, called The Belling. Cross The Isthmus onto the Belling, follow the circluar path to the most southerly point on Belling Crags. The work is just east of The Crags near a trig point and information board. 30-40 minutes each way. OS Landranger Map 80, Cheviot Hills / OS Explorer Map, Kielder Water. 69.5 longitude, 88.3 latitude. Contact: Kielder Partnership, Bellingham TIC, Main Street, Bellingham, Hexham, Northumberland. NE48 2BQ. Tel: 01424 220643