National Trust, Hafod y Bwch Woodland

We were commissioned to work alongside Hanan Issa, the National Poet of Wales, to design a public artwork using her words within a newly established National Trust site – a commemorative woodland serving as a site of reflection for the lives lost to COVID-19. Responding to the poem, as well as the rich history of brick production and the distinctive colour of the clay close to the site, we designed a series of custom bricks to be embedded into the soil running alongside the path for visitors to read and discover on their walks around the woodland.

By grounding the piece in the history and materiality of the location, we ensured it will not look out of place but rather become embedded in the fabric of the existing environment. The design leaves space for inevitable change, embracing and celebrating nature as it evolves around it.