Revolving Torsion is a Grade II* listed building in the Lambeth local planning authority area, England. First listed on 19 January 2016. Sculpture. 35 related planning applications.
Revolving Torsion
- WRENN ID
- standing-lintel-meadow
- Grade
- II*
- Local Planning Authority
- Lambeth
- Constituency
- Vauxhall and Camberwell Green MP: Florence Eshalomi (Lab)
- Country
- England
- Date first listed
- 19 January 2016
- Type
- Sculpture
- Address
- Revolving Torsion, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH
- OS grid reference
- TQ 306 796
- Coordinates
- 51.50038, -0.11949
- Source
- Historic England listing
Description
‘Revolving Torsion’ is a modern sculpture located in the centre of a large circular pool. The sculpture itself is fabricated from stainless steel plate and comprises an abstract composition of multiple, curved, rib-like plates that appear to rise in a twisting motion from a shallow stainless steel basin. The plates are joined with straight seams to form an open, three-dimensional shape. Water jets flow from the curved edges of the plates, creating streams that cross along the curves. The artist, Gabo, intended the water jets to be considered part of the sculpture’s overall form, and he chose stainless steel to reflect his theory of “non-colour,” believing it would resemble water and create shadows visible in the water. The circular pool is essential to the fountain’s operation and was part of Gabo’s original design. A low, tubular steel rail now runs around the outside of the pool; this is a later addition and is not considered to be of special architectural or historic interest.
Local climate
Revolving Torsion 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 95% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 98% of listed buildings.
It experiences an average of 35 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 57% of listed buildings. Of these, 16 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.
More on this building
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- Full EPC report — heating system, energy costs, size, glazing, construction etc.
- Sale history — 5 transactions since 1995
- Related listed building consents — 35 applications
- Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
- Flood risk assessment
- Radon risk assessment
- Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
Matched applications, energy data and sale records are assembled automatically and may contain errors. Flag incorrect data.
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- Westminster Bridge
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- Statue of Robert Clayton at North Entrance to Ward Block of North Wing at St Thomas' Hospital
- Westminster Bridge