Tooley Street Triangle London Bridge Station, LFA Architecture Contest, Urban Design Photos
Tooley Street Triangle, London
28 July 2020
Tooley Street Triangle wayfinding beacon
Tooley Street Triangle by Charles Holland Architects
– a welcome back to London from the London Festival of Architecture and Team London Bridge
photo © Jim Stephenson & Luke Hayes
28th of July 2020 – The London Festival of Architecture (LFA) and Team London Bridge have unveiled The Tooley Street Triangle – a new wayfinding beacon designed by Charles Holland Architects outside London Bridge Station. The latest in the London Festival of Architecture’s ongoing series of public realm improvements across London, The Tooley Street Triangle is a symbol of celebration and welcome as London’s streets come to life once again with visitors, commuters and Londoners.
Charles Holland Architects won a design competition organised by the LFA and Team London Bridge in 2018 to help people to orientate themselves near London Bridge, and to transform a busy but dull traffic island opposite the main entrance to London Bridge station. Covid-19 restrictions prevented the planned installation of The Tooley Street Triangle in April: its installation now marks a turning point and a beacon of hope as London opens up following weeks of lockdown.
photo © Jim Stephenson & Luke Hayes
The Tooley Street Triangle is conceived as a map come to life, helping people who use London Bridge to find their way around the area, and transforming an overlooked piece of pavement into a local landmark and meeting point. It has three elements: a scale map of the area around London Bridge printed onto the pavement, complete with street names and major landmarks, a giant signpost with local directions and information on it, and a bench for passers-by to take a breather. The Tooley Street Triangle also draws people from the busier main roads and signposts quieter routes with cleaner air, away from noise and pollution.
photo © Jim Stephenson & Luke Hayes
Charles Holland said:
“We are very pleased to have completed the installation of our designs for the Tooley Street Triangle. The beacon and the map are intended as playful and enjoyable additions to the streetscape that will improve legibility and give identity to this small but important part of the public realm. The project has involved a large number of different partners and stakeholders and we would like to thank Team London Bridge and LFA for their commitment in realising the commission”.
The Tooley Street Triangle is the latest in a year-round series of public realm improvements curated by the London Festival of Architecture, procured via open call design competitions that give opportunities to and showcase an extraordinary range of creative talent. Future installations include a major piece of public art near St Paul’s Cathedral, produced by the LFA in partnership with the Cheapside Business Alliance and the City of London Corporation.
photo © Jim Stephenson & Luke Hayes
Tamsie Thomson, director of the London Festival of Architecture, said:
“The unveiling of The Tooley Street Trianglecould not have come at a better time. While so many of us are looking forward to getting to know London again, we won’t be getting lost outside London Bridge station any more. I’m delighted that people are beginning to enjoy London’s buildings, streets and spaces once again, and Charles Holland Architects’ joyful and quirky installation captures London’s spirit of welcome and creativity.”
photo © Jim Stephenson & Luke Hayes
Jack Skillen, Placeshaping Director at Team London Bridge, said,
“The Tooley Street Triangle is a beautiful object, a meeting point, a source of historical information and a map to explore some of our quieter routes to the river, Tower Bridge and Borough Market. Located adjacent to the site of the original London Bridge, this busy small space has been confusing and underwhelming for visitors over many years, but will now help people walking through this historic area. As the health crisis restrictions ease, we hope this beacon will be a symbol of renewal and recovery now London Bridge businesses are returning and open for business.”
The Tooley Street Triangle forms part of the Borough Business Low Emission Neighbourhood which was supported by the Mayor of London. Other improvements delivered locally include new zero emission deliveries and freight consolidation, innovative and beautiful greening installations, and a number of clear air routes that take pedestrians to their destination along quieter routes, including one to Guy’s Hospital, which reduces pollution exposure by around 50%.
Tooley Street Triangle wayfinding beacon – Design Information
Project credits
Architect: Charles Holland Architects
Client: Team London Bridge
Competition/project enabler: London Festival of Architecture
Beacon: Links Signs
Pavement map: Total Line Markings
Mirror ball: RASKL
Installation: T Loughman and Co Ltd
Structural engineer: Jenkins and Potter
Typography: THISWAY
Text: Rebekah Lattin-Rawsthorne
Photography: Jim Stephenson
Thanks also to Southwark Council for ongoing support as highway authority, and to the competition jury: Jonas Lencer (director, dRMM), Charlotte Ross (deputy editor, Evening Standard), Jack Skillen (placeshaping director, Team London Bridge), Tamsie Thomson (director, London Festival of Architecture) and Matthew Hill (head of highways, Southwark Council).
Images: Jim Stephenson & Luke Hayes
photo © Jim Stephenson & Luke Hayes
The London Festival of Architecture (LFA) is the world’s largest annual architecture festival and showcases London as a global architectural hub. The LFA’s mission is to support London’s architectural and design talent, enthuse and engage with the public, and find new ways to look at familiar places. In 2020 the LFA has celebrated innovation and design through LFA Digital – an online version of the festival conceived in response to the Covid-10 restrictions. The LFA’s year-round programme of design competitions, design charrettes, campaigns and other activities continues, championing London as the best place in the world to practice and enjoy architecture.
Twitter: @LFArchitecture
Instagram: @LondonFestivalofArchitecture
www.londonfestivalofarchitecture.org
Team London Bridge, a Business Improvement District (BID), is funded by the local business community to deliver projects for the London Bridge area. Their vision is to ensure London Bridge excels as one of the most sustainable, culturally innovative and responsible business districts in the world. Team London Bridge is leading a local, community-led approach to business recovery as a response to Covid-19.
Project tag: #tooleytriangle
Twitter: @teamlondonbdg
Instagram: @teamlondonbridge
www.teamlondonbridge.co.uk
Charles Holland Architects is an architecture, design and research practice based in Deal. Their work includes buildings, objects and spaces from the scale of the urban masterplan to the domestic interior. The practice is led by Charles Holland who is also Professor of Architecture at the University of Brighton.
Twitter: @CharlesHollArch
Instagram: @charleshollandarchitects
www.charleshollandarchitects.co.uk
The Mayor’s Air Quality Business Fund is supporting 12 Business Low Emission Neighbourhoods with almost £3m in funding. These projects provide a range of improvements to a number of busy and polluted high streets across London, making them safer for walking and cycling and supporting businesses to reduce their emissions and enhance the area for customers and staff.
Tooley Street Triangle images / information from LFA
Previously on e-architect:
22 July 2018
LFA London Bridge Public Realm Competition Winner
Charles Holland Architects win London Bridge public realm competition
The competition was open to architects, designers and artists, who were invited to produce design concepts for the transformation of the Tooley Street Triangle – a busy but dull traffic island opposite the main entrance to London Bridge station.
London Bridge Public Realm Competition Winner
London Bridge Public Realm Competition
London Festival of Architecture 2018
Location: Tooley Street, London Bridge Station, England, UK
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Comments / photos for the Tooley Street Triangle London Bridge Public Realm Competition page welcome