Brick Lane Lighting

Tower Hamlets commissioned us, alongside lighting designers Michael Grubb Studio, to work with local schools to develop artwork for 48 new street lamps along Brick Lane. Drawing inspiration from four distinct cultural eras, we ran three co-design workshops with local schools to create patterns that were transformed into artworks. These designs were applied to the bases of the lamp posts and to five illuminated metal disks fitted at the top of each post. Our workshop approach used the history of Brick Lane across four different eras to create artwork reflecting both its past and present. Through research, we created a selection of miniature shop fronts representing these eras, each filled with objects that tell a historical narrative. For example, the Huguenot era included silk weaving, building, and gardening materials; the Jewish era case featured tailoring tools and mini bagels; the Bangladeshi case contained spices and cooking utensils; and coffee beans, musical instruments, and vintage clothing represented the present-day café and shopping culture. To further showcase the artwork, we also produced a Festive Advent Countdown Calendar featuring visual motifs drawn from Brick Lane’s rich history.