Falcon Bridge

Turning an unloved underpass into a local landmark.

2025

Commissioned by Wandsworth Council as part of the London Festival of Architecture, Falcon Bridge is a major redesign of the Falcon Road railway underpass, transforming it from a dark, uninviting space into a vibrant landmark shaped directly by local voices. We worked closely with the winning design team, including GPAD, POoR Collective, Sutton Vane Associates, MRG Studio, Cundall and AJ Wells.

What we did

Illustration Placemaking Design Direction

Architects
GPAD

Engagement
POoR Collective

Production
AJ Wells

A woman walks through a brick archway past Falcon Bridge's orange, yellow and blue illustrated wall panels
Close-up of a mural panel showing a stylised domed tower, with a passer-by's shadow across it
Cyclist passing under the blue Falcon Bridge, its underpass lit purple and lined with colourful illustrated panels
Close-up of the mural's angled blue, yellow and orange shapes with arches and stripes
A person walks out of an arched passage beside blue and orange panels and a Clapham Junction rail sign
Falcon Bridge at night, its illuminated lettering above an underpass glowing with murals and light trails
Night-lit mural panels showing a pagoda among blossom trees, a tall chimney and daffodils in orange and pink
Long curving run of illustrated panels lining the underpass walkway under blue lighting

Illustration style

Through community engagement and co-design sessions we developed a distinctive isometric illustration style that captures the area’s history and iconic landmarks. The six designs adorn more than 400 vitreous enamel panels that run the length of the underpass. The panels were designed to be remixed in different arrangements, creating new and unexpected visual connections.

Six illustrated panels of buildings, a bridge, a chimney and flowers in navy, orange, yellow and lilac
Detail of the illustrated domed tower in yellow, orange and lilac
Detail of an illustrated navy pagoda beside white blossom on yellow and lilac

Produced by hand

Vitreous enamel specialists AJ Wells produced the panels, manufacturing, screenprinting and casting each one by hand.