KAFFEINE / Travel & Tourism

KALLAWAY INSPIRES UK’S FIRST CULTURAL CROSSING

4 October 2019

Kallaway has spearheaded the launch of the UK’s first ‘creative street crossing’ for a cultural attraction.

We devised the idea for a new Japanese art-inspired pedestrian crossing on Kensington High Street, directly outside our client Japan House London. Our aim was to create a talking point on the street, attract people into the building and support its mission to grow understanding of Japanese culture in the UK.

The idea was realised by renowned Japanese designer Hara Kenya, creative director for the global Japan House project. His red and white crossing influenced by the Japanese character for ‘one’ creates a new piece of public art and takes Japanese culture beyond the four walls of Japan House in a new and enriching way.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea recognised the potential of our creative-cultural crossing idea for other cultural organisations along Kensington High Street. This saw the Design Museum launch its own ‘Bauhaus re-written’ version on the High Street.  This crossing features the names of influential female students and teachers at the influential Bauhaus school, to celebrate the founding of the school’s 100^th anniversary.

The two crossings are the first in a series of six now planned for launch by the Kensington Business Forum, making High Street Kensington the first in the UK to boast multiple painted pedestrian crossings by local and international artists and designers.

Cllr Gerard Hargreaves, Culture, Leisure and Community Safety Lead at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea commented: “We’re always looking to support and encourage a vibrant high street and if we can inject a boost of creativity into our spaces, like with this bespoke artwork project, then we’re happy to champion great talent.”