Acrylicize, the visionary design studio known for pushing creative boundaries, announces their much-anticipated latest installation, “London is a Forest,” in the beating-heart of Soho. The giant steel, permanent public artwork seamlessly blends art, nature, and technology redefining the visual landscape of Soho.

Commissioned by Landsec, owners of the Lucent building, Acrylicize were asked to create a site-specific artwork that could provide a sense of placemaking and cultural character, whilst delivering on the need for the building to be experienced as an ‘oasis of calm’ in the busy city centre.

‘London is a Forest’ marks the connection between the Capital’s official status as a forest, with 8.4 million trees, and the digital network embedded within the heart of the city. The intricate steel branches symbolise the connection to natural rhythms within the city, embodying the London’s network of technology and data, prompting viewers to reflect on their place within the cityscape. It is this complex dichotomy between technology and nature which underpins the artwork – instead of opposing each other they work together to create an organic form that feels alive.

The artwork gracefully ‘floats’ above the critically acclaimed Devonshire pub, appearing as light as a feather drifting in the breeze – yet dominating the north-west wall of the new Lucent Building. Spanning an impressive 7m x 11m x 2.5m and coated in a white ceramic material, the branches interact with the space and adjacent walls, creating a dynamic interplay between nature and technology.

“‘London is a Forest’ acts as a metaphor for the convergence of the city’s digital and natural networks, which are becoming intertwined into a singular symbiotic system.”

“We utilised algorithmic particle systems to emulate organic fractal growth, creating the intricate natural branch systems on an architectural scale, in order to determine the fundamental form of the sculpture. This helped us to transcend traditional design and aesthetic decision-making processes and brings humans and machines into creative collaboration.” explains Sean Bendall-Whittaker, Design, and Innovation Lead at Acrylicize.

By utilising algorithmic particle systems, Acrylicize has achieved organic fractal growth on an architectural scale, resulting in an authentic representation of natural forms.