4 November 2009
Building a bridge at the Lord Mayor’s Show
This year’s Lord Mayor’s Show, on Saturday 14 November, will
include a first: a scale model of a 100 metre long opening bridge
designed by one of the UK’s leading designers, Thomas
Heatherwick.
The float design has been commissioned by The City Bridge Trust,
whose sole trustee is the City of London Corporation. The
project has been led by the Building Exploratory, experts in
community engagement, and includes pupils from Sebright Primary
School in Hackney who have been following its design and
build. The float celebrates the 800th anniversary of the
first stone crossing over the Thames and will form one of the
highlights of this year’s Show.
The bridge design is an evolution of Heatherwick Studio’s
renowned Rolling Bridge at Paddington Basin and has been designed
to span a water way the size of The Thames. The scale model,
made from a laser-cut aluminium and timber, consists of 40 moving
segments which will roll and unroll dozens of times during the
procession. In its closed position, the bridge looks like an
unassuming structure. When opened, it forms two heart-like
shapes sitting on piers over the water.
The City Bridge Trust is the charity funded from ancient tolls
over London Bridge. In 1209, six years before the first ever
Lord Mayor’s Show, the last stone was laid to complete Old London
Bridge. Astute financial administration of the bridge many
centuries ago by medieval monks has enabled the latter day City
Bridge Trust to make over 5,800 grants totalling more than £230
million to causes across wider London since 1995 alone. The
bridge-themed float references this financial heritage of the trust
and the anniversary of linking London’s communities.
Clare Thomas, Chief Grants Officer, City Bridge Trust, said:
“2009 is a landmark year for the City Bridge Trust but
despite its long history this is the first time we are
participating in the Lord Mayor’s Show. We wanted a
bridge theme to illustrate how both the bridge itself and our grant
making are helping to make connections between communities.
The Building Exploratory and Heatherwick Studio were the natural
partners for us and have created an unforgettable project and a
unique structure.”
Thomas Heatherwick, Heatherwick Studio, said:
“The City Bridge Trust and the Building Exploratory have
introduced us to a new generation of potential bridge builders and
engineers in the guise of pupils from Sebright Primary
School. We had an incredible response from the children and
it’s been exciting to see this large mechanical bridge taking shape
in our workshop.
“In the past we have tended to have new design ideas shown in
white galleries and quiet museums, but to have a serious proposal
for a new bridge exhibited and celebrated through the streets of
London is something completely different.”
Project partners, including year six students from Sebright
Primary School, will accompany the float on its journey through the
City. Wearing themed T-shirts, they will perform a routine
choreographed by Candoco dance company.
Ends
Notes for editors
About the City of London Corporation:
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation.
It supports and promotes the City as the world leader in
international finance and business services and provides local
services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting
the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to London and the
nation. These include the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School
of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and
London Metropolitan Archive; a range of education provision
(including three City Academies); five Thames bridges (including
Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court
at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including
Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food
markets. It is also London’s Port Health Authority and runs the
Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. It works in partnership with
neighbouring boroughs on the regeneration of surrounding areas and
the City Bridge Trust, which it oversees, donates more than £15m to
charity annually.
About the City Bridge Trust:
The City Bridge Trust is London’s largest independent grant-making
trust, and its sole trustee is the City of London Corporation.
Through grant-making and strategic initiatives, the City Bridge
Trust works closely with voluntary groups and charities to reduce
disadvantage in London. The City Bridge Trust was set up in 1995 as
the grant making arm of Bridge House Estates whose original purpose
was to maintain the first stone bridge across the River Thames –
London Bridge. Its funds date from the 12th century when tolls were
first charged.
www.citybridgetrust.org.uk
About the Building Explority:
Launched in 1996 and based in Hackney, East London, the Building
Exploratory helps people discover the secrets of their local area,
particularly the buildings and spaces that surround them. The
Building Exploratory delivers an inspiring programme of creative
cross-curricular activities, workshops and careers sessions for
primary and secondary pupils, as well as a wide range of lifelong
learning opportunities. Recognised as one of East London’s key
cultural organisations and as a replicable model of national
significance, the Building Exploratory is also widely known for
its innovative demonstration projects engaging communities
with their heritage and changes taking place in their local
environment.
www.buildingexploratory.org.uk
About the Heatherwick Studio:
Thomas Heatherwick is one of the UK’s leading creative talents.
Since establishing his studio in 1994 Heatherwick and his
colleagues have refused to be categorised within traditional
boundaries and their work extends across art, architecture, product
design and beyond. Today, a highly talented team of architects,
designers and makers operate from a studio and workshop in King’s
Cross, London – a unique environment where project management and
implementation take place in parallel with experimentation with
ideas, materials and manufacturing processes. Completed projects
include the RIBA National award-winning East Beach Café;
Longchamp’s La Maison Unique flagship store in New York and the
internationally renowned Rolling Bridge in London. In
addition to the UK Pavilion for the Shanghai Expo, Heatherwick
Studio is currently working on a major redevelopment of Pacific
Place (one of Hong Kong’s most established and well respected
shopping malls) and is working with a dynamic community of monks on
the design for a new monastery.
Press enquiries
Kristina Blissett, Press Office, City of London
Corporation
Tel: 020 7332 3451 / Mobile: 07795 290040
Email:
kristina.blissett@cityoflondon.gov.uk