Local green transformed for Design Week

Clerkenwell Green is a rundown grey square that has been transformed for the week. ‘Agora on the Green‘, a vibrant installation for Clerkenwell Design Week, has added instant colour and life to the square.

RBM, the office furniture business, has installed the playful piece it hopes will “revitalise and reanimate” the Green which was once the heart of the Clerkenwell neighbourhood.

“The Green used to be a hive of politics, but it’s now forgotten. This project shows what can be done with good design to bring a space back to life,” says Matt Nicholls, a fundraising officer who works for architecture NGO Article 25 , who have teamed up with RBM to realise the project.

The project gets its inspiration from the Green’s history of hosting public assemblies and remembrance services, and its name ‘agora’ from the ancient Greek for ‘gathering space’. And that’s exactly what the designers Russ + Henshaw hope the space will be used for.

Members of the public can also interact with the installation by purchasing coloured stickers from Article 25 that they can stick to Agora.

Article 25 is a charity that builds, designs and manages projects providing essential buildings for vulnerable communities. They have over 70 projects in 25 countries which include schools and hospitals.

But the installation isn’t permanent. Today is the last chance to see a more lively Clerkenwell Green as the Design Week comes to a close. However, Session House, whose offices are based at Clerkenwell Green, hope to revitalise the square once again, but this time for good..

Tonight RBM and Article 25 with have a charity party and auction with drinks and canapés from 6.30pm at Scandinavian Business Seating Ltd. on Central Street, EC1V 3AF.