Wharfingers Cottage Walsall : New Architecture

'Wharfingers' - Marketing Suite 2008- Feix&Merlin Architects Direct Appointment Location: Wharfingers Cottage, Walsall Waterfront, central England Client: Urban Splash Status: Stage H Tender Action Contract Value: £150,000 This project is for an office for the Urban Splash (Midlands) Ltd. and their development team but also to provide a landmark Marketing Suite for the Walsall Waterfront development. The East gable wall is such a prominent visible elevation to the main square and pedestrian approach that it seemed ideal for a large format installation signalling that the Cottage has been re-awakened and advertising the presence of the marketing suite. We propose to drape the elevation with a three-dimensional artwork made up from four thousands rubber rods, that together create a pixelated version of the Urban Splash logo. As you approach the building from an angle you will be able to identify the words, but as you get closer the elevation will appear to come alive and change in its appearance with every step you take. The rubber rods are fl exible so will waft about in the wind and running your hand across them will cause a flurry of movement across the facade. Inside we are proposing a full-height full-width super graphic on the West wall illustrating, what will be, the future view from that point as if looking out through a window onto the future development. This will be scaled to make it appear as if you could walk straight through the image. Wharfingers Cottage Walsall Waterfront images / information from Feix&Merlin Architects 291008