Suzanne Heath - Public Art Strategy
Stratford City Business District visual by Lend Lease

Public Art Strategy
Stratford, London

The Public Art Strategy developed for Stratford City Business District, one of the London 2012 Olympics Legacy projects, proposes to concentrate creative interventions in the development’s key open spaces, International Square and Carpenter’s Square, ensuring there is sufficient investment for each artwork.

Floorscape, the project proposed for International Square, will involve an artist working in collaboration with the landscape architects to incorporate a decorative element to the flooring of the square. This proposal takes account of the fact that there will be a high footfall in International Square – a large sculptural object is likely to be inappropriate for the space.

Respite, the project for Carpenter’s Square, a quieter, more contemplative space, will involve engaging an artist to work in partnership with the landscape architect, developing and influencing the choice of planting and designs of the space along the lines of a secret garden or urban oasis. This intervention may also include sculptural artwork elements, although the nature and scale of these will be developed to be integrated into the landscape designs, and in keeping with the budget.

An artist residency, On Location, is proposed to precede these two projects. The artist’s research gathered during this time should help to develop links with local residents, as well as explore the area and its history in more detail. The strategy took account of the strong creative history of the local East London area, where many artists and artist studios are based, as well as the context of other artworks being commissioned in and around the Olympics site. The strategy also advised a best practice approach, where artists are appointed early in the process to ensure that artworks are properly integrated into the development.

The strategy was required within a very tight timescale (three weeks) but the project was delivered by the deadline. The strategy was entirely researched, developed, written and designed by Suzanne, working on behalf of Ginkgo Projects.

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Landscape
Architect

Gillespies

Client

Ginkgo Projects / Lend Lease

Date

August 2011