Dezeen Magazine

Fatkin, Patrick McEvoy and PARTI create city parklets in central London

A decommissioned black cab and curb-side art gallery are among the mini parks designed by the London-based architects and designers as part of this year's London Festival of Architecture.

The three miniature landscaped spaces, designed by architecture studios Fatkin and PARTI and artist Patrick McEvoy, are dotted across the capital's historic financial district.

The city parklets were created to address important questions about the boundaries between the individual and public realm within the city, which reflects this year's London Festival of Architecture (LFA) theme – boundaries.

The London Cablet by Fatkin
Fatkin has created a place for sitting, relaxing and playing within a decommissioned cab

London-based architecture practice Fatkin has transformed a decommissioned black cab into a playful public space for seating and relaxing.

Named The London Cablet, the project aims to address show how vehicles could be recycled to benefit the public spaces of cities as we are approaching the end of the fossil-fuel era.

Pollution-absorbing plants were planted around the cab to provide a habitat for insects and adding extra greenery to the street.

Fatkin, Patrick McEvoy and PATRI create city parklets in central London
The Pavement Gallery, by Patrick McEvoy, allows passers-by to draw

Artist Patrick McEvoy has transformed an unused space in St Martins le Grand into an open-air art gallery, which encourages passers-by to draw on pavement stones that are placed on a series of timber easels.

The york slabs on the easels are commonly used by pavement artists throughout the city, with their pieces of art existing for a limited amount of time.

The final project in the trio of parklets is Rocks and Reeds, a whimsical bench and planter designed by architecture studio PARTI.

The artwork mixes local landscape with ecological construction and playful architecture. Materials to realise the project were taken from nearby demolition works. Wild flowers and grasses add extra greenery whilst also tackling local pollution from the road and neighbouring construction sites.

Rocks and Reeds by PATRI
Rocks and Reeds by PARTI

"City Parklets not only showcases London's talented pool of emerging and established architects, but also highlights often forgotten, and overlooked kerbside space as a key opportunity to address the City's need for an increase in greenery and enhanced public realm," said Tamsie Thomson, director of the London Festival of Architecture.

"Each proposal has really delved deep into our 2019 theme of 'boundaries', creating a beautiful yet practical public space which will bring additional life to the Square Mile throughout the Festival."

Fatkin, Patrick McEvoy and PARTI create city parklets in central London
The parklets will remain in place until September

Architects, designers and artists were invited to submit a proposal for a custom public parklet, allowing for the transformation of an unused space into a place where people can relax, rest and enjoy the city.

The parklets aim to promote additional greenery, pedestrian amenity and additional life throughout the city's annual LFA event. They will remain in London until September.

A colourful pavilion at Dulwich Picture Gallery and an installation of paper architecture at the V&A are among the 10 best installations and talks to see during the festival picked by Dezeen.

Photography is by Luke O'Donovan.

More images

Fatkin, Patrick McEvoy and PARTI create city parklets in central London
Pavement Gallery by Patrick McEvoy
Fatkin, Patrick McEvoy and PARTI create city parklets in central London
Fatkin, Patrick McEvoy and PARTI create city parklets in central London
Fatkin, Patrick McEvoy and PARTI create city parklets in central London