20 Gresham Street
A bespoke hanging installation at 20 Gresham Street in Central London, suspended in quiet motion.
- Location
- London, UK
- Architect
- JRA
Overview
Be Still
Informed by John Robertson Architect’s (JRA) original riverbed concept and the language of natural travertine formations, Cascade is a delicate, bespoke hanging installation at 20 Gresham Street in the City of London, that invites viewers to slow down. An entrance experience with immediate impact.
One hundred and eighty-eight asymmetrical, pebble-like forms are suspended at varying angles across the ceiling of the entrance lobby - clusters that drift and deepen, like stones caught mid-current in a meandering stream. The piece offers a sense of momentum, held perfectly still, and aligns seamlessly with the elegant shapes and materials that make up the rest of the space.
The Brief
Everything in Harmony
20 Gresham Street's entrance hall was already a considered space. JRA had set a clear architectural vision, and sculptor David Worthington's interventions - travertine benches rooting the space in natural materiality, a feature wall mimicking the pebble-like forms of Cascade - gave the lobby a refined, natural feel, as well as a strong sense of place and intention.
The brief called for a work that could unite these elements without competing with them: something that would activate the space above, draw attention upward, and create a genuine visual dialogue between the architecture, the environment, and the people moving through the space. Every element had to feel cohesive. Cascade was the missing piece.
Our Approach
The Connective Thread
Cascade was conceived as a connective thread, bringing the entire lobby into harmony. Its form responds directly to the space around it: the composition mirrors the concave alcoves of the travertine wall behind it, enhancing the feeling of balance between the installation and the surrounding architecture. Cascade introduces movement into the space, without disturbing its calm.
The work draws on themes of nature, prosperity, and balance: concepts that run through the entire design scheme. Hidden among the 188 pebbles are eight small golden pieces. The recurring number eight is not insignificant - often associated with wealth, success, and infinite possibility. These golden accents reward a closer inspection - offering a pause, and a moment of quiet discovery within a space designed to be dwelled in.
Credits
Photography
Connie Wright
