Interview

    Why did you select Arnold Circus?

Arnold Circus is in the heart of the Boundary Estate – it’s a location Mother Design knows and loves, as our home is on a neighbouring street. This spot is an oasis of calm and set back from the hustle of Shoreditch. Many days have been spent pacing the boundary gardens searching for the next big idea, or bench chats with colleagues debating briefs. Then, in solo moments, you can sit and contemplate life, watching communities of people that enjoy the space daily; families, friends, lovers and individuals quietly enjoying this peaceful world, lovingly looked after by an organisation called The Friends of Arnold Circus.  

    How did you approach the space? What was the broad vision? 

Arnold Circus was initially created to be an oasis for people from hardship and persecution; built into the very fabric of the buildings and the physical space there are details which bring comfort and beauty to those who are looking. We wanted Arnold Circus to continue to offer that oasis today, even during COVID, so building on the existing use of the space we wanted to hero the bandstand by adding an enhanced audio element, creating a multisensory experience.  

A focus on sound seemed fitting for COVID times. Back in mid-March, the stories of Italian residents joining together in song flooded our social media. They offered some soothing relief through the bleakest hour. Similar scenes were shared from across the globe: communities around the world turning to music during this crisis. Music is the perfect method to build a sense of community spirit, which is something we could all benefit from these days. 

    How did you avoid cues of restriction, control or caution?  

We have used a warm and inviting colour palette to mark space, the tones reflect the colours in its surrounding environment. We have built on this and imagine a space that, instead of physical barriers that separate people, our ‘walls’ or marked out territories are defined by directional sound. So rather than it being restrictive, it is a multisensory experience that people want to be ‘contained’ within.   

    How might this approach, or space, evolve over time or be adaptable to different levels of needed distancing?  

As with all our projects, our intention is to create something that is enduring and relevant to the space beyond the here and now. In the first instance, our intention is to bring people together around virtual performances, which we can continue to do post-COVID, we could even evolve it into live performances as and when social distancing ends. 

    Did you aim for your work to be site-specific, or to offer a widely replicable solution?

For the purpose of this concept we focused on the bandstand in Arnold Circus, but having started this research we discovered the hundreds of bandstands still existing in the UK. It feels like there is an opportunity to reclaim them, especially given the challenges indoor music venues are facing during this time.  

    What were the greatest challenges or assets of this site? 

The greatest challenge is staying true to the surrounding space and the residents, finding the balance of making it non-imposing, but at the same time creating a space that feels optimistic, alive and playful. The Friends of Arnold Circus currently do an incredible job of preserving and celebrating the local area. There is always a balance in not imposing just a designer’s aesthetic point of view. 

    How do you think your approach might be applied to other spaces?

Our approach to any project is about striving to create something that feels distinctive – it should feel relevant to the audience that experiences it as well as staying true to its roots. This approach can be applied to any space. Creating a space that can endure is also paramount even in temporary pop-up spaces striving for a lasting idea, or something that can adapt and evolve over time. 

Throughout our branding work, we approach everything holistically – we know we experience the world through all the senses. The visual elements, the textures, the smells, the sounds. In designing experiences, we even consider the moment before you arrive at the space, the time during, and the lasting memory when you leave. This thinking should be applied as we begin to reoccupy public spaces. There is no reason we can’t create enjoyable and safe experiences void of caution tape.

Music has historically and continues to bring people together, which is why we are reclaiming the bandstand in Arnold Circus.

In Victorian Britain over 1,500 bandstands were installed to reinvigorate public spaces. Fast forward 187 years, and we need the bandstand to bring people safely back together once again, in shared sensory experiences.

Inspired by the architectural context to inform our graphic language, we will create areas where individuals or small groups can come together and listen to broadcasts through localised speakers. We’ll broadcast content from partners and live performers, connecting our community in East London to the community of performers worldwide. 

Interview

    Why did you select Arnold Circus?

Arnold Circus is in the heart of the Boundary Estate – it’s a location Mother Design knows and loves, as our home is on a neighbouring street. This spot is an oasis of calm and set back from the hustle of Shoreditch. Many days have been spent pacing the boundary gardens searching for the next big idea, or bench chats with colleagues debating briefs. Then, in solo moments, you can sit and contemplate life, watching communities of people that enjoy the space daily; families, friends, lovers and individuals quietly enjoying this peaceful world, lovingly looked after by an organisation called The Friends of Arnold Circus.  

    How did you approach the space? What was the broad vision? 

Arnold Circus was initially created to be an oasis for people from hardship and persecution; built into the very fabric of the buildings and the physical space there are details which bring comfort and beauty to those who are looking. We wanted Arnold Circus to continue to offer that oasis today, even during COVID, so building on the existing use of the space we wanted to hero the bandstand by adding an enhanced audio element, creating a multisensory experience.  

A focus on sound seemed fitting for COVID times. Back in mid-March, the stories of Italian residents joining together in song flooded our social media. They offered some soothing relief through the bleakest hour. Similar scenes were shared from across the globe: communities around the world turning to music during this crisis. Music is the perfect method to build a sense of community spirit, which is something we could all benefit from these days. 

    How did you avoid cues of restriction, control or caution?  

We have used a warm and inviting colour palette to mark space, the tones reflect the colours in its surrounding environment. We have built on this and imagine a space that, instead of physical barriers that separate people, our ‘walls’ or marked out territories are defined by directional sound. So rather than it being restrictive, it is a multisensory experience that people want to be ‘contained’ within.   

    How might this approach, or space, evolve over time or be adaptable to different levels of needed distancing?  

As with all our projects, our intention is to create something that is enduring and relevant to the space beyond the here and now. In the first instance, our intention is to bring people together around virtual performances, which we can continue to do post-COVID, we could even evolve it into live performances as and when social distancing ends. 

    Did you aim for your work to be site-specific, or to offer a widely replicable solution?

For the purpose of this concept we focused on the bandstand in Arnold Circus, but having started this research we discovered the hundreds of bandstands still existing in the UK. It feels like there is an opportunity to reclaim them, especially given the challenges indoor music venues are facing during this time.  

    What were the greatest challenges or assets of this site? 

The greatest challenge is staying true to the surrounding space and the residents, finding the balance of making it non-imposing, but at the same time creating a space that feels optimistic, alive and playful. The Friends of Arnold Circus currently do an incredible job of preserving and celebrating the local area. There is always a balance in not imposing just a designer’s aesthetic point of view. 

    How do you think your approach might be applied to other spaces?

Our approach to any project is about striving to create something that feels distinctive – it should feel relevant to the audience that experiences it as well as staying true to its roots. This approach can be applied to any space. Creating a space that can endure is also paramount even in temporary pop-up spaces striving for a lasting idea, or something that can adapt and evolve over time. 

Throughout our branding work, we approach everything holistically – we know we experience the world through all the senses. The visual elements, the textures, the smells, the sounds. In designing experiences, we even consider the moment before you arrive at the space, the time during, and the lasting memory when you leave. This thinking should be applied as we begin to reoccupy public spaces. There is no reason we can’t create enjoyable and safe experiences void of caution tape.