Three Totem Sculptures In Front Courtyard Of The Allerton Building On Salford University Campus

Three concrete totem sculptures. 1966 by William Mitchell for the forecourt of the contemporary Allerton Building, by Halliday Meecham for Salford Technical College now University of Salford.

PLAN: Positioned in a triangular group facing each other and arranged 'so that the morning and evening sunshine will fall on the faces of the figures'.

MATERIALS: Concrete with pebble aggregate, small coloured tiles.

DESCRIPTION: three tall, stylised totemic figures. Approximately square columns of 5.6-6 metres in height each formed from four blocks stuck together. Each figure has an individual design and is a distinctive colour, described at the time of construction as sandy white, flaky black and pale terracotta. The four faces of the columns are differently detailed, some with organic forms recognisable as human features such as faces, eyes, and arms. Also textured and high relief patterns of swirls, squares, and shells, with applied mosaic detailing of small coloured tiles, reinforcing the Mayan influence.

Mapping Note: The associated mapping marks the location of the sculptures with triangles; it is not intended to define an area on the ground.