Material Walks is an exploration of the city, telling stories behind the surfaces we walk past every day.
This walk reveals the often-overlooked stories in the surfaces and materials that shape London. From bricks to bollards to balustrades, each carries the voice of a designer. Whether contemporary answers to design questions, or messages these are from many, many years ago, these are voices that are rarely heard, yet they speak to the city and most of its layered history.
We invite participants to see everything through a new lens; the history, culture, science, and design that shape the city. By inviting people to walk with us and almost listen to materials, we give voice to the silent contributors of our city and to the contemporary makers working with them today.
This walk is as much about storytelling as it is about surfaces — an invitation to slow down and notice, to engage with the city through texture, touch, and awareness. We want to encourage a more conscious relationship with the material world around us. By uncovering the lifecycle, sourcing, and social implications of everyday materials, we hope to empower participants to make more informed, responsible choices, be it professionals or just curious citizens.
We will highlight both traditional and emerging materials, focusing on reuse, circularity, and local production. We’ll also share material samples and present the pros and cons of using these materials— helping to demystify sustainability in design.
