The Architecture Foundation is delighted to be working with The Crown Estate to commission two emerging designers to create bespoke artworks for the lobby spaces of two landmark buildings within the St James’s neighbourhood of central London.
Entitled The Ground Floor Project, this competitive process sees a shortlist of six designers propose ideas for new art commissions inspired by this unique part of central London. Celebrating St James’s’ links to high-end tailors, merchants and craftsmen, the designers will be asked to produce designs that highlight and draw from the traditions of making in this historic area. Selected through a nomination process the shortlisted creative practitioners are: Formafantasma, Simon Hasan, Lola Lely, Philippe Malouin, RCKa and Faye Toogood.
Taking place as part of the wider regeneration of St James’s, which is being carried out by The Crown Estate, this project marks a move to engage with new talent and create specially designed commissions that will add vibrancy and character to the entry spaces to these newly refurbished historic properties.
The winning designs will be selected in early 2014 by a prestigious jury including Wallpaper* Editor-in-Chief Tony Chambers; independent collector and St James’s resident Niall Hobhouse; Crafts CouncilExecutive Director Rosy Greenlees; and Hannah Parham, an Associate at Insall Architects, historic advisors to The Crown Estate.
The experts who nominated practices for consideration for this commission were: Drue Heinz Curator of Architecture at the Royal Academy Kate Goodwin; independent curator Jane Withers; Claire Catterall, Director of Exhibitions and Learning at Somerset House Trust; London Design Festival Deputy Director Max Fraser; and Eric Parry, Director of Eric Parry Architects, who is both a Trustee of The Architecture Foundation and architect of the critically acclaimed One Eagle Place on Piccadilly.
Image: Visualisation of 12 Charles II Street currently under construction.