Construction in Aluminium by Kenneth Martin, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge is a Grade II listed building in the Cambridge local planning authority area, England. First listed on 19 January 2016. Sculpture.

Construction in Aluminium by Kenneth Martin, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

WRENN ID
floating-finial-khaki
Grade
II
Local Planning Authority
Cambridge
Constituency
Cambridge MP: Daniel Zeichner (Lab)
Country
England
Date first listed
19 January 2016
Type
Sculpture
Address
Construction in Aluminium by Kenneth Martin, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, CB2 1PZ
OS grid reference
TL 450 577
Coordinates
52.19865, 0.12162
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: EPC · flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

Construction in Aluminium is a sculpture created in 1967 by Kenneth Martin, located at the entrance to the University of Cambridge's Department of Engineering. This abstract Constructionist piece consists of 51 aluminium-coated steel bars of uniform length, arranged to radiate horizontally from a central axis, forming a helical shape that is thought to represent the mathematical formula of jet propulsion.

The sculpture is mounted on a roughly oblong ashlar Portland stone plinth, which is designed as three interlocking cylinders and stands approximately 130cm tall, while the overall height of the sculpture is around 360cm. The metal sculpture features the artist's signature, ‘KENNETH MARTIN 1967’, in stippled lettering on the east side facing north. Additionally, the plinth has an inscribed metal plaque on its south elevation that reads: ‘Construction in Aluminium 1967 / By / Kenneth Martin (1905-1984)’.

Local climate

Construction in Aluminium by Kenneth Martin, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge sits in one of the driest parts of the UK, with an average of 690 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 96% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 82% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 32 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 57% of listed buildings. Of these, 15 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

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