Stepping Stones to Communication
A collaborative project working with Stephanie Romig andYookyeong Hong on the design and implementation of a permanent speakers corner inStoneydown Park Walthamstow. This is the first permanent Speakers’ Corner inLondon since the original in Hyde Park almost 150 years ago.
Waltham Forest Council secured funding to construct a permanent Speakers’Corner in Stoneydown Park Walthamstow. Central Saint Martins College of Art andDesign students were invited to submit innovative yet practical scheme designs.Our design was selected by the Stoneydown Speakers’ Corner Committee and wasinstalled in September 2010.
Waltham Forest Council secured funding to construct a permanent Speakers’Corner in Stoneydown Park Walthamstow. Central Saint Martins College of Art andDesign students were invited to submit innovative yet practical scheme designs.Our design was selected by the Stoneydown Speakers’ Corner Committee and wasinstalled in September 2010.
3D Visualization of design
The aim of our design proposal was to be multifunctional, involve the community and to reflect the area and celebrate local people.
Having carried out an in-depth public consultation we created a design proposal that included the following:
- Realize the full potential of the park by using disused space and to turn a space perceived as problematic in to a positive area.
- Keep noise that may be generated by Speakers Corner away from the main residential road.
- Compliment and utilize existing features of the park.
- Celebrating the work of William Morris who lived nearby and promote his legacy. To embrace the Arts and Craft movement and it’s avoidance of mass-produced items in favor of unique design.
- Make a connection between representations of nature in William Morris designs and the natural surroundings of Stoneydown Park.
- Inclusion of the local community in the design, which reflects the democratic nature of Speakers Corner and encourages future participation.
Having carried out an in-depth public consultation we created a design proposal that included the following:
- Realize the full potential of the park by using disused space and to turn a space perceived as problematic in to a positive area.
- Keep noise that may be generated by Speakers Corner away from the main residential road.
- Compliment and utilize existing features of the park.
- Celebrating the work of William Morris who lived nearby and promote his legacy. To embrace the Arts and Craft movement and it’s avoidance of mass-produced items in favor of unique design.
- Make a connection between representations of nature in William Morris designs and the natural surroundings of Stoneydown Park.
- Inclusion of the local community in the design, which reflects the democratic nature of Speakers Corner and encourages future participation.
Workshop with Speakers Corner Primary School
Workshop with Walthamstow Disability Resource Centre
Our design also included workshops within the local community:
- Stoneydown Primary School and Saint Patrick’s Primary School: A research workshop with students from 2 local schools to consult the students about what they would like speakers corner to be.
- Stoneydown Primary School, A workshop with 6 students that included a presentation to students about William Morris, inspiration and idea generation for their own designs and a workshop where the students made their own mosaics.
- Walthamstow Disability Resource Centre: A workshop with disabled residents who created a large mosaic.
- Stoneydown Primary School and Saint Patrick’s Primary School: A research workshop with students from 2 local schools to consult the students about what they would like speakers corner to be.
- Stoneydown Primary School, A workshop with 6 students that included a presentation to students about William Morris, inspiration and idea generation for their own designs and a workshop where the students made their own mosaics.
- Walthamstow Disability Resource Centre: A workshop with disabled residents who created a large mosaic.
Mosaics were created inspired by William Morris
We consulted on the construction of the design and the pigmenting of the cement that was used to form the 'stepping stones' as well as creating each mosaic and pouring the cement.
School children playing on the multifunctional Speakers' Corner
Opening ceremony of Stoneydown Park Speakers' Corner
