HEART OF LONDON
HOSTS THOUGHT
PROVOKING DISPLAY
ALONG PICCADDILLY, ST
JAMES’S TO CELEBRATE
LONDON FESTIVAL OF
ARCHITECTURE
LONDON FESTIVAL OF ARCHITECTURE
Debuting as a festival hub for the London Festival of Architecture,
Heart of London (representing St James’s, Piccadilly Circus, and
Leicester Square) plays host to a thought-provoking flag installation
on the famous street of Piccadilly, St James’s throughout June.
Designed by world renowned architecture firm Rogers Stirk Harbour
+ Partners, the vibrant and unique flag designs explore the London
Festival of Architecture 2019 theme ‘Boundaries’ and encourage
visitors to take the time to explore Greater London’s physical,
political, social and economic boundaries that exist in our modern
day lives.
“It is our hope that this series of banners above Piccadilly will
encourage all passers to contemplate some of the political,
physical, visual, spatial, social and boundaries that exist within the
city around us.
More importantly, our aim for this study is to effect a lively and
colourful intervention along Piccadilly for all to enjoy — a splash of
colour and the opportunity to provoke a thought, a smile, or even
just a nice photo opportunity.
We were delighted to be able to work with the Heart of London as
part of the London Festival of Architecture, and we hope that these
banners will brighten up a few days in the month of June, perhaps
generating some truly great Instagram moments.” Says John
McElgunn, Partner at Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Consisting of six designs, each row of banners explores the
limitations of London with themes including: greater London and
its boroughs, the river Thames and arterial routes, city-wide London
View.
Management Frameworks, London’s parks and squares, suburban
housing and large-scale interruptions and the private dwelling.
An accompanying exhibition will be hosted in the St James’s Church
gardens, where visitors can further appreciate each design and the
questions they pose. Exploring the London Festival of Architectures
theme ‘Boundaries’, the colourful and spirited flag installation and
exhibition also endorse the work of the Heart of London Business
Alliance’s mission to tackle homelessness in the West End.
For further information on events occurring in St James’s, Piccadilly
Circus and Leicester Square during the London Festival of
Architecture, visit hol-lfa2019.co.uk
Further information on the flag designs can be found below:
GREATER LONDON
The Boroughs That Divide Us
The pink row of banners down Piccadilly, St James’s showcases
the boundaries between different levels of local and municipal
governance; from the citywide strategic administration of the
Greater London Authority to the more focused administration
carried out by the 33 local authorities of each borough. These
authorities range from some of the wealthiest to the poorest in the
country, and there are some thought-provoking social boundaries
to note within each borough. Camden, for example, has a 10-year
difference in life expectancy from its southern edge (Euston Road)
to its northern edge (Highgate).