Parti were selected as winners of a London Festival of Architecture competition, in partnership with the City of London Corporation, to design a series of miniature landscaped spaces or ‘Parklets’, to be installed across the Square Mile for the Festival in June 2019.

Architects, landscape architects, designers and artists were invited to submit a design proposal for a parklet that will transform a kerbside area into a place to rest, relax and admire the City – a public space fit for a festival.

The installation consists of two flamboyant objects, whose sculptural form can be enjoyed by onlookers from neighbouring buildings as well as used by passers-by. One of the structures can be used as a bench, and the other appears as an oversized planter for a collection of low-maintenance, ornamental grasses that rustle and shake in the wind.

The bench and planter are both made from gabian construction – metal cages typically filled with rock and stone. In this instance, they are filled with construction rubble from the neighbouring building site.Parti wanted to give another life to a locally sourced material destined for landfill. The installation shows how the re-use of this simple material - that exists across London - can be re-purposed to create a joyful community asset.

The installation was generously built by Keltbray Construction, the builders working on the next door building site. As a result, it has become a cherished place for them to relax during the working day.

Steelwork: IOTA planting
Contractor: Keltbray Construction
Planting: Elizabeth Tyler