WRIGHTSTYLE BRINGS
FARRINGDON ART TO LIFE
Wrightstyle, the advanced steel and aluminium glazing system
company, recently completed three elevations of structurally-
glazed curtain walling measuring over 50 metres as part of recent
work on the eastern ticket hall of Crossrail’s Farringdon station.
As part of Crossrail’s Art Programme, British artist Simon Periton
designed an artwork for the curtain walling featuring an intricate
pattern that reflects the elaborate Victorian metalwork of the
historic Smithfield Market directly opposite.
During the day, the artwork will allow passengers to see inside to
the coffered ceiling that echoes the Brutalist architecture of the
nearby Barbican, whilst changing shadows will be cast across the
interior space.
In the evening, the station lights will illuminate the design from
inside, offering a dramatic new perspective to those on the
nearby streets.
Wrightstyle’s glazing systems offer great durability and protection,
having live tested its systems against both car and lorry bomb
attack, using up to 500kg of TNT-equivalent high explosive.
“Crossrail is the largest construction project in Europe and
passenger safety is, of course, the paramount concern of
the design team,” said Wrightstyle contracts manager, John
Woodcock.
“That’s the reason why our systems have been specified across
several new stations on the Elizabeth Line. We have great
experience in the transportation sector, and our systems have
been subjected to international testing in Europe, the USA and
Asia,” he said.
www.wrightstyle.co.uk
Wrightstyle is currently working on seven out of the 40 stations
on the Elizabeth line, including Bond Street, Paddington,
Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel and Woolwich. The
new Farringdon station is expected to serve 82,000 passengers
every working day.
Specialist glass from Hero Glass was chosen for the project
“which pushed the capabilities of normal glass design, but which
also successfully fuses art and architecture in this remarkable
building,” according to Lee Coates, UK director, Hero Glass. The
glass panel artwork was created using a silk screen print process
in Hero’s factory which gave the visual result the artist was
looking for.