JANUS CHAIRS ARE CURRENTLY IN NEED OF REPAIR AND ARE NOT CONSIDERED SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC INTERACTION. THE AREA IS THEREFORE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. THE CHAIRS CAN STILL BE SEEN FROM THE LAKESIDE WAY.
Janus Chairs are three large rotating seats that offer seating, shelter and a view across an open expanse of Kielder Water. Based on the idea of flower petals in different stages of unfolding, the seats can be arranged to face each other, face the sun, a desired view, or turn their backs to inclement weather.
On the right of the peninsula approach to Janus Chairs, can be seen the remains of an enclosure that formed part of Plashett's Farm, a set of buildings that were once located just beyond the site of the Chairs. The buildings were demolished when the valley was flooded and their remains are now largely hidden beneath the surface of the water. The track down to the Chairs from the Lakeside Way follows the line of an old road that passed through the farm and when the lake level is low traces of the road surface and also dressed stone blocks that were once part of the farm buildings can be seen on the shoreline.
Further into the lake in the bottom of the valley was the site of Plashett's Station, a stopping point on the Border Counties Railway that ran from Hexham to the southeast, through to Riccarton Junction and the Waverly Line in Scotland.
OS map ref: NY 665906
What 3 Words: loves.fortunate.increment
Janus Chairs are located on the north shore of Kielder Water down a short spur path off the Lakeside Way. The nearest parking is at Kielder Castle. Follow directions to the Lakeside Way north shore and head east towards Kielder Dam.
They are 4.75 miles (approximately 1 hour 45 minutes on foot) from Kielder Castle.
A good way to explore all the artworks along the Lakeside Way is by cycle. Bikes should be to at least hybrid cycle grade with decent country tyres for the changing terrain of Kielder Water & Forest Park.
Janus Chairs sit on the Lakeside Way north shore about 1 mile from Viewpoints and 1.5 miles from Silvas Capitalis, both to the west.
If travelling from Kielder Castle, you will have the opportunity to visit both en route to the Janus Chairs. If feeling energetic Belvedere is 3 miles to the east, passing Robin’s Hut on the way.
The seats are 'Goldilocks' like with a large one, a medium sized one, and a small one, although once a visitor arrives it is clear that all are actually very big structures.
The have been set close to each other and close to the water on a small promontory facing out into the middle section of the lake. Their bases include a bearing that allows each to be slowly turned. In this was visitors can arrange them in a social group facing each other, towards the sun or a desired view, or to turn their backs to inclement weather.
Janus Chairs have been made using a Glulam construction method, where many thin strips of wood are bent around a former and then glued together. When they are removed from the jig, they retain their curved form and then a number of individual curved beams can be glued side by side with each other to create the larger, wider, and smaller, narrower, chairs.
The chairs were backed with stainless steel to reflect the environment and sky and attached to their swivelling bases before being installed at their final location.
Visit: www.ryderarchitecture.com