News archive
28 Jul 2008 |
A new perspective from Grontmij
Whitelaw Turkington, part of the Grontmij Group, created a ‘moveable landscape’ aimed at encouraging people to consider their surroundings in a different way as part of the London Festival of Architecture.
A ‘moveable landscape’ of trees, seating and art began its journey at the corner of Waterloo Road and The Cut before making its way up to the National Film Theatre. The landscape paused at various locations en route and temporarily transformed abandoned spaces into multi-functional environments for local residents to enjoy.
Looking beyond the obvious
‘The viewing frames are simply a way of encouraging people to think about their local environment in a different way’, Tim Spain, Landscape Architect of Whitelaw Turkington explains. ‘We are asking people to look beyond the obvious landscapes of London and consider their environment in a fresh way, by documenting their favourite views of London.’
At each stop along the way, the walking forest evolved with artists and performers entertaining the crowds. As the installation and performance moved on, temporary chalk designs were the only trace left behind.
Bringing communities together
James Munden, Senior Landscape Architect of Whitelaw Turkington added: ‘The London Festival of Architecture is a great way to bring communities together and appreciate the capital city. We want to challenge people’s pre-conceived perceptions of London and get them to open their eyes and view every day scenes in a new way. We hope the tour will highlight the importance of the public realm, and that people will enjoy the surreal moving landscape.’