Dispatches from London: The Kings Cross Picnic

An urban installation as part of the London Festival of Architecture. Text by Squire and Partners | Photography by James Jones.

In response to a brief set by the London Festival of Architecture to transform a forgotten corner of King's Cross into a space for people to enjoy, local architects Squire and Partners in collaboration with landscape designer Jeremy Rye and artist Anna Garforth transformed a neglected cut-through in King's Cross into an inviting picnic garden recently.


Around 500 visitors came to the picnic over the weekend of July 8th to sit on their deck chairs and grass beds constructed from recycled palettes, which were covered in real turf and topped with picnic baskets bursting with English flowers.


A large scale graphic moss installation on a railway wall by artist Anna Garforth provided a striking backdrop and was gradually added to during the weekend by children armed with buckets of chalk. By Sunday evening the chalk stretched over two streets creating a fantastic mural of pictures and messages for passers-by.

 
The inside space – Victorian warehouse restaurant/bar (6 St Chad's Place) was decked out in more turf, bespoke games tables and seating made from more recycled palettes, plus two swings hanging from the rafters. Youth dance groups from The Place did hourly performances providing a fantastic visual interaction in both the indoor and outdoor spaces.  And the lovely lades from The Poundshop brought their bespoke mobile kiosk as part of a summer tour, selling wonderful designer/maker items.

 

See more images at Squire and Partner's flickr pool here.
Squire and Partners

Jan Halvarson

3 comments:

Emily said...

That is really neat. I love the moss on the wall.

Emily
eageremily.blogspot.com

Kitchen fitter in Faversham said...

I would love to visit this place, the bar at least.

ukgglisab said...

Its really nice to see Kings Cross thriving.
I remember the darker times there
your photos show community spirit nicely which in its past were sadly hiding behind firmly shut doors.
Well done.