BERMONDSEY ECO-GARDEN
Creation of a peaceful and meditative haven… A great sense of achievement in the heart of London!
Commissioned by Southwark Council and in conjunction with Mouchel Architects, I created mosaics to fit four granite columns acting as gateposts on the walkway through the park in the London borough of Bermondsey.
Out of an abandoned and forgotten 19th century churchyard cemetery, Southwark Council and Mouchel Architects created a blissful eco-park for passers-by to stop by, to reflect…to commune with nature.
Having worked in the past with Mouchel Architects on a mosaic project in Oxford, they contacted me again to think out and conceive a few mosaic designs to install in the new eco-garden in Bermondsey.
I decided to work around words since words resonate and echo from within. I chose 4 short words with a strong meaning – FLOW, BREATHE, GROW and FLY.
Bearing in mind the free, open essence of these words or states, I sought to capture their airiness, their lightness by using contrasting materials cut into iridescent, gold and silver circles.
Materials: Hand cut circular iridescent glass tiles, gold and silver tiles.
Dimensions: 1 square metre
Year: 2010
Photo credit: Nathalie Vin
Client’s feedback
Nathalie’s mosaic columns enhanced the garden design and produced a wonderful final result in a timely manner and on budget. She totally understood what was required and was sensitive to the client's objectives in creating wonderfully imaginative and workable designs that fully achieved and exceeded all our expectations.
Her mosaics provide a huge sense of surprise and delight as you approach and get closer to them. They add a striking splash of colours and iridescence all year round, not only during the day but also in the evenings when buildings and outdoor lights are on and, if you are passing, on clear moonlit nights.
From the developing of the concept ideas to the more detailed aspects of the designs and up to the construction stage of the project, it would have been a real pleasure working with Nathalie.
Bermondsey Eco Garden, London - Stephen Ralph, Architect – Mouchel Architects, UK