Is this jewelled bike station the last gasp of bling?

This scene may look like Amsterdam at twilight, except those aren鈥檛 tramlines, but a canopy of lights in East-designed Bermondsey Square.

And the geometric structure on the right is a bicycle station for 76 bikes designed by eco-architects Sarah Wigglesworth. The triangles are stainless steel cladding panels. The structure itself is made from 13 Douglas fir portal frames clad on the internal face with translucent glass-reinforced plastic sheeting to provide natural, diffused light. The interior houses a double-stacked bike rack system by Josta.

Other elements of the Igloo regeneration scheme 鈥� a petanque pitch, benches, bollards and cycle hoops 鈥� are conceived as 鈥渁n array of jewels which are scattered on the carpet of the square鈥�. A local antiques market inspired the design.

Topics