He championed the simple, profound act of looking at the world and finding the beauty in everyday moments. His expression and soul has undoubtedly influenced how we think about crafting dynamic, multi-viewpoint terrains at Studio Egret West and our mantra of Shaping Everyday Wonder.
We remember being inspired by the colourful, bold style of “A Bigger Splash” (1967) whilst daydreaming about a competition to reimagine North Acton Station Square which at the time was dominated by a defunct filling station. Looking for a “sense of place” in North Acton, we discovered the somewhat peculiar penchant that multiple business owners had for planting palm trees in the adjacent industrial zones. Whilst alien species to the UK, they undoubtedly lifted the somewhat dreary scene.
We found surprising beauty in this everyday moment and wondered whether if we planted more palms, we might transport people to a more optimistic state of mind. But what about a pool? The budget definitely couldn’t afford a water feature, so we had to be inventive.
Hence our competition entry suggested painting the redundant filling station structure pink, contrasted with a blue “pool” floor and a yellow “diving board” stepping into the space, all framed by a lush grove of palm trees.
We wanted to create an immersive stage set, ready for human interaction. One that evoked holidays and escapism, inviting commuters and passers by to “dive in” to the space.
