Thomas Matthews – Stratford cultural placemaking – Part 2

Stratford cultural placemaking – Part 2

London Borough of Newham and Stratford Original

This project was part of the LB Newham’s two-year commitment to public realm improvements working in partnership with Stratford Original. We were asked to help make the town centre more welcoming and the large, brightly coloured murals on the Broadway shopfronts are part of a wider strategy delivered over two years.

What we did

Campaigns & Interventions Wayfinding & Environmental

Visual inspiration from Stratford’s past

We researched into the ‘original’ Stratford to guide our creative work – to its history and people. Our graphic approach was inspired by the grid-like aesthetic of Stratford’s Victorian shop fronts, where advertising and information were stacked above the crammed windows creating a riot of visual information. We also spent time with the poetry group in Stratford Library, talking and listening to locals which helped define our written language approach.

Mural Painting: Corin Kennington
Breadcrumb trail installation: LTD LTD
Photography: Dashti Jahfar / Peter Clarkson

Letterpressing, woodblocks and joy

We developed tactile printed elements (based on letterpress printing from original Victorian advertising woodblocks), alongside bright and crisp geometric patterns, delivering a design that is contemporary, engaging and optimistic. These interventions are designed to create focal points of interest and operate as highlighters for the shops below, bringing a sense of worth to the area.

Part of something bigger

As part of the borough’s two-year commitment to public realm improvements, we worked closely with Stratford locals to develop three key projects that knitted together: A ‘breadcrumb’ trail of temporary signage, an overall visual identity for the changes taking place, as well as these murals on the shopfronts.

See the temporary signage part of this project here.

The public realm enhancements for Stratford Town Centre, designed by Thomas.Matthews, have had a very positive impact on the local businesses and community spirit. TM’s research and understanding of the value of this area has directly influenced their design outcomes in a way that has created inclusive and sensitive design interventions

Gianluca Rizzo
Stratford Original Manager

020 7307 9292 / studio@thomasmatthews.com

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