'Acute and Obtuse' by Adrienne Lau © Raquel Diniz
As part of LFA2023, the Edgy Collective's winning installation 'Let's Meet on the Edge' emerged as a creative initiative to reconnect communities in Edgware, offering a space for social interaction and reflection. Created in collaboration with Barnet Council, this captivating installation transforming a section of Edgware town centre from the station to the high street, was a testament to innovative design with a community-first ethos. But the story didn’t end there. 'Acute and Obtuse', the outdoor furniture series designed by architect Adrienne Lau, integral to the installation, has found a new home where it continues to serve its purpose and enrich local communities.
The thoughtful reuse of materials is a core principle of the Festival, and 'Let's Meet on the Edge' embodies this through its 'afterlife' in two distinctive locations.
A New Home for Community Furniture
'Acute and Obtuse', characterised by reclaimed and sustainable materials, has now been rehomed in Abbey Gardens, Newham, in collaboration with Colindale Community Garden. Abbey Gardens, a vibrant open-access park and harvest garden, is known for its sustainable approach to food-growing and community engagement. It’s the perfect place for this furniture to continue its life, serving as flexible seating that enhances the garden's communal atmosphere.
'Acute and Obtuse' by Adrienne Lau © Raquel Diniz
Central to the design were steel corner sleeves salvaged from deconstructed trapezoid planters in Abbey Gardens. These steel components were ingeniously repurposed into furniture, offering new life to materials that would otherwise have been discarded, in collaboration with fabricator Rosie Strickland, Abbey Gardens and Newham Good Gym volunteers. The distinctive angles of the steel elements guided the construction of comfortable, community-centred seating, now utilised by visitors to Abbey Gardens.
'Acute and Obtuse' by Adrienne Lau © Raquel Diniz
The transition of the furniture back to its source reinforces the idea of material circularity and perfectly demonstrates how thoughtful design can extend beyond its original purpose, continually benefiting the local community.
"Instead of hiding them, imperfections should be embraced creatively to make material reuse more widely desirable, and making the collective material story evident inspires people to take good care of it. After all, objects are kept from waste when they are valued" says Adrienne Lau.
A New Beginning for the Timber Portal
The timber portal, a striking architectural feature of the installation, has found a new home at 2nd Edgware Scouts. The scouts, known for fostering community spirit and outdoor education, have rehomed this structure as the entrance archway to their meeting space. The portal now serves as a welcoming landmark, marking the entrance to a space that emphasises personal development, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. This move aligns perfectly with the scouts' values, as the repurposed timber portal embodies sustainability and ingenuity in design.
Second Edgware Scouts, Timber Portal © Edgy Collective
In both of these locations, the elements of 'Let's Meet on the Edge' continue to inspire and serve as examples of how design can positively impact communities, long after the initial installation is gone. Through reuse and relocation, these materials contribute to creating meaningful spaces for interaction, learning, and enjoyment.
Second Edgware Scouts, Timber Portal © Edgy Collective
The afterlife of 'Let's Meet on the Edge' is a shining example of how design can evolve, adapting to new contexts and continuing to enrich the lives of those who engage with it. By transforming materials from the past into functional, sustainable structures for the future, the installation has created a lasting impact on local communities.
"The true impact of the Festival unfolds beyond June — in the lasting connections, innovative experiments, and practical tools that individuals and organisations carry forward long after the month has ended. It has been a fantastic experience collaborating with Edgy Collective to bring the Festival to Barnet for the first time in 2023, and we eagerly look forward to seeing the installations thrive in their new settings" says Rosa Rogina, Director at London Festival of Architecture.
This project is a testament to the power of creative reuse, proving that design installations can continue to live on in new, exciting ways. Whether as seating for garden visitors or as a gateway for the scouts' outdoor adventures, the elements of 'Let's Meet on the Edge' remain true to their original purpose: fostering connection, creativity, and community.
