Old Street Lights Up With New Art Installation
Posted in: The Scheme on September 1, 2016
A new public art installation has been unveiled near Old Street tube, designed by renowned Dutch artists DeMakersVan.
The two brothers, whose past work has been exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum and Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), have created a facetted stainless steel and glass installation inspired by the industrial aesthetic commonly associated with Shoreditch.
The Art Wall which is visible from Old Street roundabout at the City Road entrance to The Bower, was commissioned by Helical, the developer of the scheme. The Bower, a new office and retail quarter for Old Street, has opened up new public space and access between Old Street, City Road and Baldwin Street.
The Art Wall formally entitled Windows Of Time, is a 21m-long public landmark to celebrate the area’s local heritage, reflecting the organic shift in design aesthetic in East London over recent years. DeMakersVan took the classic crittal window commonly found in the area and warped the geometric form to create a dynamic 3-dimensional faceted structure, lit from within by LED panels. Mirrors on the interior reflect the white haze glass windows and rainbow effect glass panels to create an iridescent light display.
The installation acts as a gateway to The Bower, an office and retail development with a range of restaurants, cafes bars including Bone Daddies, The Draft House, Enoteca da Luca, Honest Burger, Maki sushi bar, Good & Proper Tea and Franze & Evans.
Gerald Kaye, CEO of Helical commented; “The Bower is the perfect location for our Art Wall, which we believe encapsulates both the history of the area and the transformation of materials and aesthetics over time. We are proud to have it positioned in such a public and visible space by Old Street tube station, and hope the public enjoy this fantastic piece of art.”
DeMakersVan commented; “We are delighted to unveil our first installation in London, and believe the locations aesthetic complements the work and its philosophy perfectly.”