Creative team appointed for Springfield Village public art and seating commissions
A team of creative practitioners has been appointed to deliver new public art and outdoor seating at Springfield Village in Wandsworth - helping to shape the identity of this growing community and support wellbeing of residents, staff, patients and visitors across the site.
The commissions, led by Barratt London and AND London as part of the final residential phase of the development, will contribute to a wider Cultural Strategy designed to embed creativity, community voice and a strong sense of place across Springfield Village.
As a key partner based at the heart of the village, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is supporting this work through its Better Communities programme, ensuring that local people, service users and staff have opportunities to be involved in shaping the environment around them.
Public art rooted in community and wellbeing
POoR Collective, working alongside fabrication studio Raskl, has been commissioned to create a series of permanent, site-specific artworks.
Their proposal, Five Ways of Being, will form a walking trail through the village, made up of five interactive installations inspired by the senses – sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. The artworks are designed to encourage people to slow down, reflect and connect with their surroundings, supporting mental wellbeing through everyday movement and interaction.
The work will also acknowledge Springfield’s long history as a centre for mental health care, creating space for reflection while looking ahead to the future of the site.
Central to the project is a co-design approach. POoR Collective will work closely with local communities – including people connected to our Trust – through workshops and engagement activity to help shape the final designs.
“We are honoured to have been awarded the Springfield Village Public Art commission. This project is especially meaningful to us as a collective. Three of our members grew up locally, with one member’s mother having previously worked at Springfield Hospital. Through this commission, we aim to engage meaningfully with the site’s history while collaborating closely with local communities to create something that feels rooted, welcoming, and relevant to the area. For us, this commission is about creating work that supports connection, reflects shared stories, and contributes meaningfully to the everyday life of the neighbourhood” - Co-Founder of POoR, Larry Botchway
New seating designed with accessibility in mind
Orakel Workshop has been appointed to design and deliver bespoke outdoor seating for key locations within The Lanes development.
The seating will combine practical function with artistic design, enhancing the public spaces across the village while ensuring accessibility for a wide range of users. Designs are expected to incorporate durable materials such as concrete or stone, alongside detailed artistic elements.
As with the public art, the seating will be developed through a co-design process, giving local people the opportunity to influence how these shared spaces look and feel.
“I am really delighted to have been selected to create the artistic seating for Springfield Village and am looking forward to working with the Springfield Team, St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust and the Local Community to create a design that draws from and celebrates the local area, its history, natural environment and people.” - Founder of Orakel Workshop, Jac Seifert.
Supporting a shared sense of place
These commissions form part of a broader programme of cultural activity across Springfield Village, including plans for a landmark southern gateway connecting the development with Springfield Park and the surrounding area.
For the Trust, this work reflects our commitment to creating environments that support people’s recovery and wellbeing, and helps to tackle mental health stigma by fostering a welcoming and inclusive space around Springfield Hospital.
What happens next
The design and community engagement phase will run through to summer 2026, with final designs expected later in the year. Fabrication will then begin, with installation planned for early 2027.
Further opportunities for local people to get involved in workshops and co-design sessions will be shared as the projects progress.
