Apprentice builders learnt new skills in putting up Fold-Up. © Colin Davison

A temporary public art installation is aiming to spark debate about construction and sustainability, while bringing further impetus to Sunderland’s £130m regeneration programme through the training of young builders.

Fold-Up is a facsimile of a Georgian building and was built in just ten days using innovative continental ‘clip and gluing’ construction techniques. As the structure went up, passers-by stopped to watch this mammoth public art installation unfold in Sunniside Gardens, the site of a £2.2m redevelopment.

The piece was devised by artist Wolfgang Weileder who is Professor of Contemporary Sculpture at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. A team of builders, including apprentices and trainees, used the new building methods for the first time, learning new skills on the job.

Fold-up in context demonstrates the evolution of building design and construction in Sunderland. © Colin Davison

The inspiration came from one of the buildings facing onto the square - 15 Norfolk Street - and Fold-Up is positioned just 200m from this house.

Fold-Up will be on display until August 3. Until then, people will have the chance to walk around the installation and explore issues currently being debated in the construction industry and beyond about design quality and sustainability. After this, the building will be recycled.

Weileder hopes that the structure will focus people’s minds beyond the piece itself: “I would like to think Fold-Up will inspire people to take ownership of where they live and be more critically aware of their built environment.”

Similarly Paul Webster, Director of R.Bau Ltd, the main sponsors of the piece, sees its influence as being beyond the aesthetic: “It was rewarding to see the progression being made by the apprentice builders in such a short space of time. The young apprentices can stand back and be proud of creating this high quality sustainable structure.”

Sunderland City Council Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Mel Speding, endorsed this view: “It’s wonderful the way the project has been designed by an artist and built by apprentice builders – transforming artistic creativity into a practical situation for apprentices to learn their trade.”