The Exchange

The Exchange, a new residential neighbourhood by Berkeley Homes, forms part of Watford’s wider regeneration. The ambition was to create a place with identity, rooted in the town’s industrial and cultural heritage - more than just a residential development, they are building a community. Drawing inspiration from Watford’s history as a hub for paper-making and printing, we developed a colourful programme of public artworks under the theme ‘Paper Craft’. 

A series of origami-inspired sculptures bring local stories to life, connecting residents with Watford’s past while celebrating its aviation industry, waterways and wildlife. The artworks transform the development into a neighbourhood with character, with moments of discovery and connection for those who live, work, and spend time there.

Berkeley Homes sought a distinctive identity for The Exchange, to provide a unique selling point for the new area - exciting, marketable, personal, and reflective of Watford’s heritage. The public realm needed to establish a sense of place, rather than simply serving as the backdrop to new buildings. 

Our creative response was to build a narrative around Watford’s paper-making history, with subtle nods to some of The Exchange’s key offerings; a sense of belonging, and accessibility to London. Paper is accessible and universal, and origami provided a nostalgic yet contemporary language through which to tell local stories.

Each sculpture was designed to embody a different aspect of Watford’s identity: a folded plane that nods to the town’s aviation heritage at Leavesden Aerodrome, a bright green boat that celebrates the Grand Union Canal’s role in powering industry and linking Watford to London, a series of native animals such as swans, hares, squirrels, and birds, and a stag, which features on the emblem of Hertfordshire.