Seven shortlisted concepts have been selected for the final stage of the competition. Now the local community and residents are asked to give feedback that will be used to guide the selection of the winning design team. The final design will be installed in Autumn 2025
The London Festival of Architecture and Wandsworth Council have launched an exciting design competition seeking proposals to transform the Falcon Road Bridge underpass at Clapham Junction. Architects, designers and artists were invited to submit concepts for permanent improvements to create a more vibrant and welcoming space beneath the railway bridge, with particular focus on enhancing the public realm, improving wayfinding and reflecting the area’s distinct character.
- Read our previous article: Design competition launched to transform Falcon Bridge underpass in Clapham Junction
Seven innovative designs have now been shortlisted and are being exhibited for public consideration. Local residents and community members are encouraged to share their feedback on each concept, which will help inform the final selection of the winning design team.
All seven shortlisted designs are on show from 13-24 November at Battersea Library, during opening hours, and Falcon Glade outdoor green space, next to Falcon Terrace and the rail bridge.
The winning team will be announced in December 2024 and once appointed, will continue to develop the presented ideas with local residents based on their outline engagement approach into the final design that will be installed in Autumn 2025.
Residents are invited to submit feedback HERE. When considering the designs, they are asked to reflect not only on their aesthetic appeal but also their long-term sustainability and durability, ensuring the chosen scheme will withstand the test of time and remain practical to maintain.
We present below the seven projects below, by alphabetical order (you can also find all information and download a PDF description for each project on the LFA website with additional photos). Each proposal prioritises community engagement, improved lighting, and practical solutions to current issues with water ingress and noise. All designs aim to transform this unloved tunnel into a welcoming space that celebrates Battersea’s diverse community.
A Gift to the Passer-By
Design team: Alvaro Barrington, Casswell Bank Architects, Aldo Rinaldi, Our Building Design, ARUP, Stockdale
The project aims to transform Falcon Road Bridge tunnel into an uplifting space, drawing inspiration from local architecture and cultural elements. Artist Alvaro Barrington’s design incorporates influences from the net curtains of nearby estates and cultural symbols like the hibiscus flower.
The design consists of three main layers:
- Lower Level:
- Colourful mosaic made from salvaged local ceramics
- Design based on yarn paintings
- Created in collaboration with local community and RCA students
- Upper Level:
- Landscape painting overlaid with perforated metal screening
- Hibiscus flower pattern with integrated lighting
- Sound-absorbing qualities to reduce tunnel echo
- Overhead Features:
- Orange globe lights providing warm illumination
- Protective corrugated metal canopy
- Integrated speaker system for ambient sound
New facilities such as community information points at entrances, a new community space within the arches and a sunny planted area with a bench provided at both ends of the tunnel to create a place for people to meet.
Assemble the Voices Then Create the Change
Design team: Voice b4 Vision – daab, HomeGrown+, AKT II, Speirs Major, Noris Obijiaku, Caro Communications
Voice b4 Vision is a Wandsworth-based collective bringing together local professionals and youth to improve their community. The team combines established firms including daab design Architects, Speirs Majors lighting designers, and AKT II engineers with HomeGrown Plus, a non-profit supporting young people from non-traditional backgrounds.
Their proposal for Falcon Road Bridge includes practical improvements such as:
- Reconfiguration of the northern bus stop
- Creation of a protected “cocoon” passageway
- Installation of acoustic panels and warm lighting
- Addition of green walls at both bridge ends
The project emphasises knowledge sharing between generations, with local students from Graveney School and St. John Bosco College actively participating in the design process.
This approach views the bridge as part of the larger “Battersea Tangle” of elevated railways, seeking to reconnect divided communities through thoughtful design and local engagement.
Beyond the Bridge
Design team: GPAD + POoR + MRG Studio + Sutton Vane Associates
Beyond the Bridge proposal emphasises community partnership in transforming Falcon Road Bridge into a cultural landmark.
The design addresses key community concerns through several features:
- A ‘Memories of Wandsworth’ wayfinding wall showcasing local stories and artwork
- Thoughtfully placed seating areas surrounded by pollinator-friendly plants
- Smart lighting that adapts for different occasions and celebrations
- Sound-absorbing panels to reduce noise from trains and traffic
The lighting scheme combines practical safety features with artistic elements, including dynamic lighting that can change for cultural celebrations like Diwali and St. Patrick’s Day. Natural elements feature prominently, with plantings chosen to improve air quality and support local biodiversity whilst reflecting Wandsworth’s natural character.
The overall aim is to create a welcoming, accessible space that truly belongs to the local community and celebrates Wandsworth’s diverse identity.
River of Words
Design team: Flanagan Lawrence, Social Place, Expedition, ARUP, Light Follows Behaviour, Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Mo Almedia, Mark & Theo Chaudoir
The River of Words proposal transforms Falcon Road tunnel by drawing inspiration from the historic Falcon Brook that once flowed beneath it. The design features a typographic installation that flows through the tunnel, displaying community stories and memories in wave-like patterns of text.
Key aspects include:
- A paid work programme for 10-15 local young people interested in arts and architecture
- Solutions to address existing problems with water, dirt and safety
- Text displays that expand and contract like water, creating a sense of movement
- Themed sections featuring stories gathered from local residents
The project aims to bridge the divide between neighbouring communities by celebrating their diverse histories through a unified artistic approach. The design combines practical improvements with artistic expression, creating a space where maintenance concerns are addressed whilst celebrating local heritage.
Tales of Our Tracks
Design team: andre kong studio, ARUP and Kanda
Key features include:
- Restoration of original architectural elements, including riveted steel beams and brick vaulting
- Innovative use of recycled railway tracks to support protective screening and murals
- A sophisticated lighting scheme designed by Arup, featuring ambient lighting and interactive elements that respond to passing trains
- Vitreous enamel steel panels displaying community-created artwork and stories
The community engagement aspect is central to the project, with local young people working alongside older residents through Katherine Low Settlement to create stories and patterns reflecting Battersea’s identity. These narratives will be transformed into vibrant, durable designs along the tunnel walls.
The scheme addresses practical concerns such as water ingress and pest control whilst creating a welcoming, safe passage that connects both sides of Battersea. The design emphasises longevity and easy maintenance, using hard-wearing materials suited to this busy urban environment.
The Battersea Frieze
Design team: Adams & Sutherland with Atelier ANF, make:good and Artin Light
The design incorporates three layers of intervention:
- Decorative ceramic tiling along pedestrian walkways
- Enamelled panels with large-scale patterns wrapping around service fixtures
- Painted designs on bridge approaches to mark the space within Battersea
The scheme will feature patterns developed through community engagement, including paid opportunities for young local designers. New lighting will be installed at different levels to create more welcoming spaces, with highway lighting integrated into the frieze and coloured lighting highlighting architectural features.
The project embraces a modern interpretation of Arts & Crafts principles, creating a robust yet beautiful urban space that reflects the area’s multicultural heritage whilst remaining practical and low-maintenance.
Understories
Design team: Assemble, Samara Scott, Flock Together, Studio Dekka, Stinsensqueeze, Momentum
This project draws inspiration from forest ecology, specifically the understory layer that exists between canopy and forest floor, to reimagine the Falcon Road Bridge underpass. The design aims to celebrate both human and natural elements of Wandsworth’s heritage and present-day community.
Key elements include:
- Community engagement through nature walks and workshops led by Flock Together and artist Samara Scott
- Collection of local natural and human-made objects to create artistic impressions
- Creation of large-scale cyanotype panels for permanent installation
- A public gallery approach that transforms collected stories and objects into overhead artistic installations
- Lighting design that creates an interplay between light and the artwork panels
The result aims to create an engaging passage that reveals new details with each visit, whilst celebrating the area’s natural and cultural heritage.
You can submit feedback HERE. You will be asked to rank your three preferred designs, specify which design do you think would help strengthen the identity of the local area, you opinion on the improvement to the route and a few other comments.
The process is set to move quickly. Seven teams have been shortlisted (one more than originally announced) and the judging panel will award an honorarium of £1,500 + VAT to develop their design proposals. The winning team will be confirmed in December 2024 and, subject to procurement and governance procedures, will be awarded a design fee to consult on and develop a fully costed, feasible design, to be installed by the end of September 2025
This initiative comes as part of Wandsworth’s preparations for its role as London Borough of Culture 2025, with a substantial budget of £2 million allocated for the project. The transformation aims to address long-standing concerns about the 100-metre tunnel that currently divides Clapham Junction into its southern section – home to Arding and Hobbs, Northcote Road and Victorian terraces – and its northern area characterised by towers and estates.
The project follows the successful renovation of nearby Thessaly Road Bridge, which underwent a similar transformation six years ago.
For Thessaly Road Bridge, the Council received 258 responses to the consultation and competition results are HERE. Yinka Ilori’s proposal was the favourite among local residents and it was chosen as the winner in September 2018.
The total budget for the Thessaly Road Bridge transformation was £200,000, significantly less than the £2 million allocated for Falcon Bridge. It should offer many more possibilities for a major rework. Once chosen, Yinka Ilori’s team received £20,000 to develop their design before the refurbishing happened.
This redevelopment forms part of a broader masterplan to improve connectivity around Clapham Junction station, working in partnership with Network Rail, the Greater London Authority, and Transport for London.
Wandsworth Council launched an ambitious 18-month Clapham Junction Masterplan in March 2024, focusing on station interchange improvements and local development.
Weston Williamson and Partners are leading the design team, tasked with enhancing connectivity between the station’s northern side (Grant Road/Winstanley Estate) and southern areas (Lavender Hill/Northcote Road). This redevelopment forms part of a broader masterplan to improve connectivity around Clapham Junction station, working in partnership with Network Rail, the Greater London Authority, and Transport for London.
However, early community consultations at Battersea Library were met with criticism due to limited detail and what residents perceived as insufficient meaningful engagement with local knowledge.
- Read our article: Clapham Junction Masterplan: initial presentation focusing on vague options for overpass bridges
You can submit feedback HERE. You will be asked to rank your three preferred designs, specify which design do you think would help strengthen the identity of the local area, you opinion on the improvement to the route and a few other comments.
