Blowing in the Wind

Canadian garden designer Donohoe Design approached David Harber to help design, build and install giant wind chimes as a garden centrepiece for an Asian style garden in Western Canada.

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 finish in warm chestnut. Each blade also houses a vertical insert of a traditional Asian woodwork pattern containing an individual character plaque of special meaning to the customer. The strikers are mirror-polished stainless steel tubes, connected at the top by a curved beam.

The wind chimes encircle a large Chalice water feature creating an impressive large centrepiece for the garden.