Putting art at their heart: the new London housing developments championing community art
Two new London housing developments have been making efforts to preserve and encourage local community art projects while building thousands of new homes.
Developers at Acton Gardens are saving part of a street art installation by popular graffiti artist Stik, which currently adorns an empty Sixties council tower block due to make way for new homes.
The two-metre by two-metre ‘Family Group’ painting is found at the foot of the socially-conscious painter’s famous 125ft-high artwork 'Big Mother', the tallest in the UK. It will be auctioned off to raise at least £150,000 for the ARTification charity, which works to transform neighbourhoods through art and “help people make their aspirations a reality”.
The entire 52-acre estate is being redeveloped, bringing 2,500 new homes with prices from £455,000 and rental flats from £1,375 a month. Call L&Q on 020 8853 6937.
Also yielding new homes nearby is The Old Town Hall, below, Acton’s handsome listed Art Deco former civic hub with its distinctive clocktower. One of the 71 flats is carved from the original council chamber. Prices from £400,000. Call 0344 800 8043.
To keep the cultural link alive, the scheme incorporates new showpiece premises for Matt’s Gallery, relocating from Bermondsey.
Wandsworth council likes to trumpet this fledgling district’s community arts programme, so to celebrate the occasion a tapestry has been unveiled, devised by artist Richard Grayson in collaboration with local people.
The cross-stitch work, below, comprises 43 A3-size sections, each designed by a member of the public or a neighbourhood amenity group.
Looming over the new US embassy, The Residence is less glitzy than nearby Battersea Power Station and the homes are a little cheaper, starting at £615,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.
There’s an on-site gym, cinema room, business suite, 24-hour concierge and underground parking. Call Bellway on 0845 548 803