Sinton Windows - John Radford

By The Auckland Psychogeographer
The construction of State Highway 18 to connect the Northwestern Motorway (SH16) to the Upper Harbour Bridge saw the demolition of two heritage homesteads – Sinton House and Ockleston House. Four kauri windows from the former were salvaged by sculptor John Radford, reforging them into the work Sinton Windows, sited beside SH18 near the Clark’s Lane pedestrian and cycle bridge running over the highway. The windows seem to spin in space, drawing the eye through them.

“These windows were made a century ago, and now they sit in the sky encased in galvanised steel frames,” says Radford. “From the pedestrian footbridge that was built to span the motorway, viewers can align their eyes so they can see through all four of the windows to the horizon. Maybe the horizon represents the end or a new beginning.”

The work was commissioned by the Waitakere City Council Public Arts team.