Whale on the Wharf, Canary Wharf

Overview 

With more than 150 million metric tons of plastic in the oceans and millions more being added every year, pollution is a growing threat to marine life and the environment. Whale on the Wharf, a striking 12-meter-tall sculpture recently unveiled at London’s Canary Wharf, not only raises awareness about ocean pollution but also incorporates cutting-edge sustainable design. Created by artist-architects Lesley Chang and Jason Klimoski of StudioKCA, the sculpture of a breaching whale is constructed of five tons of plastic collected from the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The project, completed in partnership with the Hawaii Wildlife Fund and Canary Wharf Group, highlights the staggering reality that there is now more plastic in the ocean, by weight, than there are whales. 

Originally constructed for the 2018 Bruges, Belgium, Triennale, the sculpture was displayed in various locations, including Utrecht, Netherlands, and Singapore, before arriving in London. Our CORE studio and façade engineering team contributed structural analysis and parametric design to support the sculpture’s complex geometry and cantilevered loads during its first debut in Bruges in 2018. We then collaborated with A-squared Studio to provide essential structural and geotechnical engineering support for the sculpture’s relocation to London. We also provided construction design and management (CDM) principal designer services to mitigate the risks and hazards posed by the challenging site. 

Highlights 

• The installation’s new location – in five-meter-deep water, above an underground train tunnel and adjacent to historic structures – required careful planning and engineering.
• The sculptural illusion of a whale leaping from the water is anchored by concrete foundations and a submerged steel frame designed to support its weight and resist asymmetrical loads.
• Five metric tons of plastic were used to create the sculpture, while four metric tons of reclaimed steel were utilized for the frame.
• The low-carbon concrete foundation incorporates biochar, a material produced through pyrolysis from recycled coffee grounds collected from cafés across Canary Wharf.
• Biochar increases the strength and durability of concrete, makes it more resistant to freeze-thaw cycles, improves water retention and reduces shrinkage. And since it's much lighter than traditional aggregates or fillers, it reduces the overall weight of the concrete. This project represents the first use of biochar in concrete in the U.K.