St Paul's Cross

---

Paul's Cross by Reginald Blomfield, 1910
Statue of Saint Paul by Bertram Mackennal
St Paul's Churchyard
London, May 2023

“Between 1908 and 1910 a new structure was erected near the site of Paul's Cross, from funds provided by the will of the barrister Henry Charles Richards. Richards had hoped that the medieval preaching cross would be reconstructed, but the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral decided that this would be out of keeping with the architectural setting, Sir Christopher Wren having rebuilt the cathedral in the 17th century. The resulting monument is to a Baroque revival design by Sir Reginald Blomfield, with a statue of Saint Paul by Sir Bertram Mackennal standing on a Doric column of Portland stone. The cathedral authorities' use of Richards's funds aroused a short-lived controversy. In 1972 the monument was listed at Grade II.” (St Paul's Cross, Wikipedia)

HMS Belfast

---

HMS Belfast
The Queen's Walk
London, May 2023

“HMS Belfast is a Town-class light cruiser that was built for the Royal Navy. She is now permanently moored as a museum ship on the River Thames in London and is operated by the Imperial War Museum. Construction of ‘Belfast’, the first ship in the Royal Navy to be named after the capital city of Northern Ireland and one of ten Town-class cruisers, began in December 1936. She was launched on St Patrick's Day 1938. Commissioned in early August 1939 shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, ‘Belfast’ was initially part of the British naval blockade against Germany. In November 1939, ‘Belfast’ triggered a German mine and, in spite of fears that she would be scrapped, spent more than two years undergoing extensive repairs. ‘Belfast’ returned to action in November 1942 with improved firepower, radar equipment, and armour. ‘Belfast’ saw action escorting Arctic convoys to the Soviet Union during 1943 and in December 1943 played an important role in the Battle of North Cape, assisting in the destruction of the German warship Scharnhorst. In June 1944, ‘Belfast’ took part in Operation Overlord supporting the Normandy landings. In June 1945, she was redeployed to the Far East to join the British Pacific Fleet, arriving shortly before the end of the Second World War. ‘Belfast’ saw further combat action in 1950–52 during the Korean War and underwent an extensive modernisation between 1956 and 1959. A number of further overseas commissions followed before she entered reserve in 1963.” (HMS Belfast, Wikipedia)

Blueprint Event Space

---

Blueprint Event Space
Butler's Wharf
Shad Thames, Bermondsey
London, May 2023

“The newly renovated events space is a hidden gem that occupies the gloriously bright space on the first floor of what used to be London’s design museum. The perfect space for corporate and private events, as well as being an iconic spot to host wedding celebrations. During the warmer months, the venue’s glass doors open to create a sense of al fresco dining with an outdoor terrace, while during the winter months, the floor-to-ceiling windows offer unrivalled views of the Thames.” (Blueprint Event Space, D&D London)

Vinegar Yard

---

Vinegar Yard
St Thomas Street, Southwark
London, May 2023

“Within striking distance of London Bridge station, Vinegar Yard is a new eating, drinking, shopping and art space. Featuring art installations (including an unmissable train carriage!), pop-up shops, bars, street food traders and an open-air garden area with seating for hundreds of people, Vinegar Yard is a must-visit destination for after-work drinkers, weekend fun-seekers and anyone seeking fabulous street food.” (Vinegar Yard, Visit London)

Old Billingsgate

---

Old Billingsgate
Old Billingsgate Walk
Lower Thames Street, City of London
London, May 2023

“Old Billingsgate Market is the name given to what is now a hospitality and events venue in the City of London, based in the Victorian building that was originally Billingsgate Fish Market, the world's largest fish market in the 19th century. The first Billingsgate Market building was constructed on Lower Thames Street in 1850 by the builder John Jay, and the fish market was moved off the streets into its new riverside building. This was demolished in around 1873 and replaced by an arcaded market hall designed by City architect Horace Jones and built by John Mowlem & Co. in 1875, the building that still stands on the site today. In 1982, the fish market itself was relocated to a new site on the Isle of Dogs in east London. The 1875 building was then refurbished by architect Richard Rogers, originally to provide office accommodation. Now used as an events venue, it remains a major London landmark and a notable Grade II listed building.” (Old Billingsgate, Wikipedia)

Northern & Shell Building

---

The Northern & Shell Building
Lower Thames Street, City of London
London, May 2023

“The building at 10 Lower Thames Street was built in 1985 and has a distinctive blue glass facade. It was first built for Samuel Montagu & Co. It is now partly occupied by N&S and partly rented out as serviced offices.The building featured in the TV series Bergerac, Series 6 Episode 6 ‘A man of sorrows’, the building frontage badged as Insurance company Norman Deutscher Greenburg. Inside the building features some wonderful interior lifts with panoramic views overlooking the foyer.” (Northern & Shell, Wikipedia)

The trumpet

---

“Walls and Trumpets” by Ofra Zimbalista, 2008
Maya House
Borough High Street, Southwark
London, May 2023

“These three figures, with their vivid shade of blue and their musical instruments, add a splash of colour and joy to the drab façade of Maya House and they brightened up my rainy autumn day. The best-known Biblical encounter between ‘Walls and Trumpets’ is, of course, at the Siege of Jericho, when the priests marched around the city walls for seven days, blowing their trumpets until the walls came tumbling down (see Joshua 6: 1-20). ” (Walls and Trumpets, Patrick Comerford)

The bugle

---

“Walls and Trumpets” by Ofra Zimbalista, 2008
Maya House
Borough High Street, Southwark
London, May 2023

“These three figures, each a vivid shade of brilliant blue, appear to be clinging to and climbing the wall of Maya House; they might be window cleaners, they might even be absailing. Looking more closely, you see two climbing figures, one holding a trumpet, the other holding a bugle, and a third seated figure who seems to be marching triumphantly atop the others, playing a drum – perhaps celebrating the fact that he has reached the top place he was trying to get to.” (Walls and Trumpets, Patrick Comerford)

The drum

---

“Walls and Trumpets” by Ofra Zimbalista, 2008
Maya House
Borough High Street, Southwark
London, May 2023

“Her installation at Maya House, ‘Walls and Trumpets’, consists of three life casts. They were cast from real people who adopted their poses and then held them while they were covered in alginate and plaster. She created her initial moulds from these, and then shaped the final figures in blue fibreglass.” (Walls and Trumpets, Patrick Comerford)

Walls and Trumpets

---

“Walls and Trumpets” by Ofra Zimbalista, 2008
Maya House
Borough High Street, Southwark
London, May 2023

“Ofra Zimbalista was one of the most important female artists in Israel, where she was born, lived and worked. She studied lithography, etching and screen-print at the Kalisher Art Academy, in Tel Aviv. She exhibited throughout Europe and Israel, and her works are displayed in public spaces around the world. Her human-sized figures casted from aluminium and bronze were often engaged in acrobatic activities. A common feature of her public artworks was to show her groups of people in transitional situations: hanging and climbing as though trying to find their place. Blue figures are a recurring motif in Zimbalista’s work. The figures are created by moulding real people in fibreglass, coloured with a deep blue pigment she imported specially from Morocco where it is used in house paint. This Yves Klein-like deep blue is one of Ofra Zimbalista’s signature motifs.” (Walls and Trumpets, Patrick Comerford)

Mint Street Adventure Playground

---

Mint Street Adventure Playground
Southwark Bridge Road
London, May 2023

“Southwark’s adventure playgrounds are supervised by experienced and trained staff with facilities that cater primarily for children and young people of school age and ability. With a strong emphasis on free play, children and young people are encouraged to develop their ideas and choose their own activities. All playgrounds are free to use, registered and inspected annually.” (Mint Street Adventure Playground, One Hub)

Old Union Yard Arches

---

Old Union Yard Arches
Union Street, Southwark
London, May 2023

“Admittedly it’s our job to pick up on the excellent under the radar arrivals hitting the capital, but I’ll level with you: I only found out about this one because I happened to stroll past it on the way to Tate Modern. And to be fair, it is quite easy to miss Old Union Yard Arches, the entrance to which is squished between the railway line and a pub. But for a small street, the Yard packs in a hell of a lot of talent. Artwork across the entrance to Old Union Yard Arches encourages you to ‘Eat, Drink, See, Meet, Fly’ all of which you can do in this cute little side street (we’ll get to the flying part later). There’s also a groovy reflective sculpture courtesy of Rachel Wilberforce, which lets you know you’ve arrived. Whilst a variety of business fill the arches, the dominant forces here are food and theatre, which just so happen to be two things we love.” (Old Union Yard Arches, Secret London)

The Cut Bar & Restaurant

---

The Cut Bar & Restaurant
Young Vic theatre
The Cut, Southwark
London, May 2023

“The Cut is an all-day bar-café-restaurant housed in the Young Vic theatre in Southwark. It is a relaxing and inviting space – brick walls, wood, metal, New York Style lighting – and is always packed in the evenings before the show begins. I have visited countless times over the years as I frequent the Young Vic that promotes innovative productions. Usually, I have a drink at the bar or a quick bite or bar snack. Invited to review the restaurant, it was the first time I had sat down to a three-course meal. With simple wooden tables and chairs and some of the friendliest staff I have had the pleasure to be served by, The Cut is a great venue to meet up with friends after work or before a performance.” (The Cut, London Unattached)

The Hoxton, Southwark

---

The Hoxton, Southwark by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, 2019
Blackfriars Road, Southwark
London, May 2023

“The Hoxton, Southwark is a slender, 16-storey building, integrating 192 hotel rooms, restaurants, bars and function rooms alongside 4,000m2 of flexible co-working office space. Located on Blackfriars Road, the building is positioned between the tall, glazed buildings of the Southbank and the mid-height buildings that flank Blackfriars Road. The site sits adjacent to the 1950s, Grade-II listed Christ Church, Southwark and surrounding Paris Gardens churchyard. The project creates an active street frontage to Blackfriars Road with the ground and first floors housing a bustling home to the hotel reception, bars and restaurants, banqueting and conference suites. Above are six floors of hotel rooms with a further six floors of flexible workspace. Crowned on the top of the building are a winter garden, a restaurant and sky-bar with panoramic views over London.” (Hoxton Southwark, RIBA)

Great crested grebe

---

Great crested grebe
Round Pond, Kensington Gardens
London, May 2023

“The great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is a member of the grebe family of water birds. The bird is characterised by its distinctive appearance, featuring striking black and white plumage, and elaborate courtship display that involves synchronised dances and displays.” (Great crested grebe, Wikipedia)

The Whitechapel Threads

---

“The Whitechapel Threads” by Tim and Hattie Coppard, 1996
Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch
London, May 2023

“This sculpture by artists Tim and Hattie Coppard was erected in 1996 as part of the Bethnal Green City Challenge Regeneration Programme and marks one of the entrances to Brick Lane market. The threads are a reminder of the importance of the garment and textile industries in this part of London and of the many communities who have lived and worked in the area.” (Plaque)

Uncommon Liverpool Street

---

Uncommon Liverpool Street by Rolfe Judd, 2017
Crosspoint building
Bishopsgate, City of London
London, May 2023

“Uncommon Liverpool Street is an office building in the City of London EC2. The nine-storey building comprises 41,500 sq ft of Grade A offices and approximately 8,100 sq ft of retail space. The building has been rebranded ‘Uncommon Liverpool Street’. The offices benefit from 360-degree views over the City skyline and there are two roof terrace gardens. Adjacent to Liverpool Street station, the site offers excellent access to the London underground, mainline railway services and, from 2019, the new Elizabeth Line Crossrail station. Liverpool Street is Uncommon’s fourth and largest flexible workplace facility in London, with 850 workstations.Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group acquires The Crosspoint building from Amsprop in an off-market transaction. This investment adds to the Uncommon flexible office and co-working business that Carlyle and the Adir Group launched in June 2017. Liverpool Street is Uncommon’s fourth and largest flexible workplace facility in London, adding 850 workstations to the existing 1500-desk portfolio, which comprises operational assets in Islington and Borough, as well as a 26,000 sq ft facility in Fulham that is scheduled to open this summer.” (Uncommon Liverpool Street, Buildington)

Camellia House

---

Camellia House, Vista Chelsea Bridge by Scott Brownrigg, 2018
Queenstown Road, Nine Elms
London, May 2023

“Vista is the key stepping stone linking the main Nine Elms development area with Battersea Park via a pedestrian route through the site. The innovative design approach responds to the views across the park, embracing them and incorporating soft landscape wherever possible within the design. The unique design ensures that with increased height the buildings step back to create an organic and curvilinear built form, sensitive in scale and massing to the setting. This helps minimise their bulk and mass particularly when viewed from Battersea Park and responds to the conservation area setting. This stepped articulation allows for generous terraces and private amenity spaces, rarely found within London; challenging the ubiquitous nature of London residential developments, where residents benefit from spectacular views over Battersea Park and towards the River Thames. Each private terrace incorporates an infinity style planted edge treatment, creating a strong connection with the park.” (Vista Chelsea Bridge, Scott Brownrigg)

Angel of London

---

“Angel of London” by Christopher Shellis
Battersea Power Station
Circus Road West, Nine Elms
London, May 2023

“The angel is constructed out of the very best pure 318 marine grade stainless steel that is used on all sea going vessels and super yachts this guarantees that the angel will never rust or deteriorate in any way ensuring it can be installed permanently outdoors and remain beautiful for all time plus the very robust construction the angel sculpture can withstand the strongest wind and weather without damage or deterioration.” (Angel of London steel sculpture, Angel of London)

Mural by Mr. Brainwash

---

Mural by Mr. Brainwash, 2021
Battersea Power Station
Circus Road West, Nine Elms
London, May 2023

“To commemorate the opening of London’s new Battersea Power Station underground subway station, Mr Brainwash unveils a giant outdoor mural located on the river walk, in front of the iconic building. The mural is accompanied by a classic, ‘Life Is Beautiful’ sculpture, displayed in the main piazza water feature. The project concluded with an awe-inspiring, large-scale lightshow projected on the Power Station itself.” (Battersea Power Station, Mr. Brainwash)