The must-see installation

Rotterdam-based designer Sabine Marcelis will bring ‘Swivel’, a colourful seating installation, to central London’s St Giles Square. We talked about the project, her inspiration and why she loves LDF...

Tell us more about ‘Swivel’: what’s the intention of the installation, and what do you hope visitors will take away from it? ‘Swivel’ is a large-scale outdoor public seating scheme for Londoners to enjoy throughout the seasons. There will be 10 unique seats that will swivel, the aim being to inject St Giles Square with a bit of fun and colour. It’s a space of transition, with different entrance and exit points. I wanted to keep that feeling of movement, while simultaneously allowing people a moment of rest. I hope it surprises visitors and gives a moment of joy and pause in this busy city.

What gave you the idea for ‘Swivel’? Ben Evans (LDF’s director) and I had been talking for a while about doing a project together, and I love the festival’s public-spirit ethos. When the St Giles Square location presented itself, it felt such a great fit. The site is actually very significant, as the installation will be in dialogue with the local architecture including the brutalist, Grade II-listed Centre Point, one of the city’s first skyscrapers. The form of the swivel chairs definitely is a nod to brutalist architecture, but with a colourful twist.

How do you choose materials for an installation like this? I love to work with natural stone, and chose travertine, quartzite and marble as it would offer a surprising juxtaposition to the surrounding concrete and glass buildings. Each seat will have a distinct colour and will feature unexpected hues and patterns. I’ve used harder, less porous stones so that they can live outside for a long period of time. sabinemarcelis.com