The London Cablet

London Festival of Architecture, UK

Services:

Architecture

 

Client:

London Festival of Architecture 2019

 

End User:

General public

 
Project Value:

N/A

 
Completion:

2019

 
RIBA Stages:

2-7

Fatkin’s proposal for the London Cablet was one of three winning entries in a competition organised by the London Festival of Architecture 2019 and the City of London Corporation.

Constructed from a series of plywood profiles, the material selection draws on historic car construction techniques of the timber body buck. The design played on ideas of permeability by blurring the boundaries between private car and public space, providing a firm boundary between pedestrians and passing traffic to create a haven from the ever-present context of traffic noise, air pollution and continual motion.

The Cablet seeks to blur the solid physicality of the cab with the openness of public realm by bisecting and extending an existing shell and inserting an organic installation. The bonnet, boot and wheel arch spaces were filled with planters full of bee-friendly colourful planting.

The Cablet proved to be very popular with visitors and passers-by, and the time frame for it to remain at its location was extended by over six months. Once removed from site, the Cablet was relocated to a primary school where it forms part of the nature garden.