The London Festival of Architecture and Wandsworth Council are delighted to reveal the shortlist for the ‘Transforming Falcon Road Bridge’ design competition. This exciting initiative will see one of London’s busiest transport hubs, the tunnel beneath Falcon Road Bridge, transformed into a creative and vibrant landmark for the local community and visitors alike.
Seven design teams have been shortlisted, each selected for their innovative approach to enhancing this essential link between Battersea, Balham, and Tooting. From lighting and public art to greening and unique footpath treatments, the shortlisted proposals aim to breathe new life into this underappreciated space while improving safety, promoting sustainable travel, and celebrating the rich character of the local area.
The shortlisted teams are:
Adams & Sutherland with Studio ANF, make:good and Artin Light
Adams & Sutherland is an experienced architectural practice who are passionate about the potential to be found within the process of repair, adjustment and/or transformation of existing buildings and the public realm, especially in difficult or unloved corners of London. We have delivered many renowned or award-winning public spaces and buildings across the city, all dealing with challenging sites and constraints. The practice was founded on a commitment to projects with genuine social relevance. We seek to create places which are meaningful and uplifting, and which resonate with the people who live, work and travel through them. Our well-matched team has a proven track record. Studio ANF, an artist and designer based in London, creates elegant, welcoming spaces that encourage free expression and creative wonder, playing with genres, cultural references, and materiality to craft immersive experiences rooted in history and pleasure. Artin Light and make:good bring innovation, expertise and creative energy to the process of lighting design and community-led engagement respectively.
“We look forward to a great opportunity to propose the lasting and positive transformation of an extraordinary, muscular and deceptively complex urban space.”
andre kong studio with ARUP and Kanda
The collaboration between andre kong studio, ARUP, and Kanda brings together a diverse skill set of creative design, technical expertise, and community-driven engagement. andre kong studio, an emerging architecture practice, is recognised for its imaginative approach to design and a strong commitment to sustainable story-telling and material circularity. With a focus on creating public spaces that hold deep community value, their work saw them shortlisted for the 2023 BD Young Architect of the Year. ARUP, a global leader in integrated engineering and design, brings invaluable expertise in delivering resilient, future-proof infrastructure. Their experience in working with rail infrastructure, combined with a focus on robust materials, lighting, and acoustics, ensures feasible and reliable solutions for the project. Kanda’s experience and dedication to public engagement ensures that the project will be rooted in local identity, developing strategies that strengthen social, economic, and environmental ties within the Battersea community. Together, they form a dynamic team committed to delivering positive, lasting change.
“We are thrilled to be shortlisted for the Falcon Road Bridge competition. This is an incredible opportunity to bring a much-needed improvement to the heart of Battersea, and we can’t wait to collaborate with the community to deliver a design that creates a safer, more inviting and connected space for everyone.”
Voice B4 Vision
Voice Before Vision is a collaboration of Artists/Architectural students/Architects/Academics and Engineers from within Wandsworth keen to use our experiences to improve the community in which we live. This project is an opportunity to harness the vibrant thinking of youth with the ability to deliver through experience. We will create a knowledge sharing between generations providing tangible built experience to the next generation of Architects from non-traditional backgrounds. daab design Architects is a Wandsworth-based practice impacting the borough on the micro and macro scale. HomeGrown Plus is a Wandsworth-based not-for-profit organisation providing opportunities to young creatives from non-traditional backgrounds within the built environment. Spiers Majors are an award-winning international design practice that uses light and darkness to enhance the visual environment. They balance imagination with realism, and passion with pragmatism. AKT II is a design-led interdisciplinary Engineering consultancy whose contributions to the art and science of design have been recognised by several RIBA Stirling Prizes. Caro is a creative communications agency that values the power of good design – specialising in architecture, property, lifestyle and culture.
“Assemble the voices, then collectively create the vision.”
Assemble, Samara Scott, Flock Together, Studio Dekka, Stinsensqueeze, Momentum
This team is united by their shared values and approaches: joyful, collaborative design informed by hands-on making; engaging with materials and crafts that foster a rich visual and material culture; connecting with and questioning the natural world; and enabling local transformation through the creation of inclusive spaces. They are well-equipped to deliver on these principles. The team is led by Assemble, a multi-disciplinary collective working across architecture, design, and art; Samara Scott, an artist known for vibrant, large-scale interventions often using found materials; and Flock Together, a collective leading a global outdoor movement focused on inclusive access to nature in urban environments. They are building on long-established and well-tested relationships with lighting designers Studio Dekka, graphic designers Stinsensqueeze, and transport consultants Momentum, with whom they have delivered successful public realm spaces that form the heart of communities.
“We think there is huge potential to uncover and celebrate the existing qualities of a currently overlooked space. This competition presents an important opportunity to reveal new community-led narratives and create a joyful, visually impactful, and welcoming space to move through and visit. We will deliver this through a collaborative process that engages with the local people, built and natural environment in Wandsworth, uncovering stories along the way that result in an intervention celebrating the complex ecosystems and communities which pass through, live under and exist around the bridge.”
Flanagan Lawrence with Social Space, ARUP, Expedition, Light Follows Behaviour, Mo Almedia, Mark and Theo Chaudoir
A multi-disciplinary team of architects, engineers, artists, acousticians, lighting designers, filmmakers, and specialists in stakeholder consultation. Many members of the team have lived in Wandsworth for most of their time in London and know the site well. They have successfully worked on similar projects before, involving extensive public consultation in the creation of public spaces. One example is the Samovar Space in Wembley, where Social Place, Flanagan Lawrence, Expedition, and Arup collaborated successfully. For this project, they have added a group of creatives and filmmakers who are local residents and eager to get involved in developing this exciting opportunity.
“We see the Falcon Road underpass as not only a site of urban renewal but a site where the senses and democratic thinking and design combine to form a place of communion that links communities through movement and delight.”
GPAD with POoR Collective + MRG Studio
Sharing a unified commitment to empowering people through community-driven design, the team is excited to collaborate once again, with the addition of some new faces. GPAD is a dynamic and thoughtful architecture practice dedicated to crafting spaces that resonate with a sense of place and purpose. Known for their practical and passionate approach, they enhance urban environments while promoting social value within communities. Power Out of Restriction (POoR) engages young people in design, elevating their voices to create impactful community projects through a participatory approach that fosters ownership and strengthens social bonds. MRG Studio delivers contextually sensitive landscape architecture and horticulture projects that promote community well-being and biodiversity in urban settings. Sutton-Vane Associates join as lighting experts with a focus on ecological and socially responsible design.
“We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Falcon Road Bridge competition. We know the area very well as the team have worked with local schools and has co-designed installations nearby. We are super excited to potentially co-design another project in Wandsworth and include local young people and residents throughout the process. This project gives opportunity for meaningful community engagement that will help shape the design. It is a fantastic opportunity to enrich the local environment for residents and visitors alike.”
Alvaro Barrington, Casswell Bank Architects, Aldo Rinaldi, Our Building Design, ARUP, and Stockdale
Alvaro Barrington is an artist based in London and New York with a wide-ranging practice including painting, exhibitions, performances, concerts, fashion and contributions to the Notting Hill Carnival. Casswell Bank is a London-based architectural practice delivering an eclectic range of schemes for cultural clients such as Hauser & Wirth. Aldo Rinaldi is a curator and producer based in London with over 20 years of experience commissioning artworks with a particular interest in the intersection of art and architecture. Our Building Design is an inter-disciplinary and collaborative design-led platform led by Tumpa Husna Yasmin Fellows (an architect), providing a unique opportunity for professionals to work with communities to co-create spatial, environmental and social change. Arup is a globally renowned collective of designers, engineers and technical experts headquartered in London with offices around the world. Stockdale is an independent quantity surveying and project management consultancy that was established over 30 years ago.
“We are delighted to be shortlisted for this project with a team that brings together art, architecture, curatorial practice, lighting, inclusive public realm design and public engagement. We are excited by the opportunity to work with local people and stakeholders to help shape a remarkable space for the community to enjoy”.
Each team has been awarded an honorarium of £1,500 + VAT to develop their initial concepts, which will be unveiled to the public in early November. The public will have the chance to view and vote on the designs, with the winning proposal set to be announced in December 2024. The final installation is expected to be completed by September 2025, coinciding with Wandsworth’s year as the Mayor of London’s Borough of Culture.
The panel tasked with choosing the final design brings together a distinguished group of professionals from the realms of art, architecture, and local governance, reflecting a broad range of perspectives and expertise. This diverse assembly includes Steve Riches, Wandsworth Council, Helen Cammock, Artist, Anthony Dewar, Network Rail, Youth Community Representative, Jagdip Jagpal, UP Projects, Satu Streatfield, Publica and Mayor Design Advocate, and Giulia Ascoli, Greater London Authority.
This project, which focuses on sustainability, durability, and community engagement, will create a lasting positive impact on Wandsworth’s architectural and cultural landscape.
Stay tuned for further updates and insights into this exciting project, as we work to transform Falcon Road Bridge into a vibrant and welcoming space that reflects the spirit and creativity of the local community.
