Aberrant Architecture's latest offering takes the form of a Roaming Market

Following up the success of The Small Coal Man’s Tiny Travelling Theatre which parked up at Clerkenwell Design Week last year, Aberrant Architecture’s latest offering takes the form of a roaming market mobile structure. Inspired by London’s rich street market-orientated culture, the moveable stall essentially plays the part of a spectacularly elaborate signpost, acting principally as an information point for passers-by. This is not its only function however; its built in chessboard, covered seating area and pop-up stage all ensure the multi-functionality characteristic of Aberrant Architecture’s design approach.

Totem structures found in Hugh Alley’s 16th century Caveatt for the City of London were one of the key influences for the designers – historically, the signposts acted as beacons around which traders would assemble, indicating sources of various kinds of produce. Similarly, the chicken sign which teeters above the structure is a nod towards the ‘chicken fortune-telling’ which was a popular form of mysticism in 16th Century Lambeth.

“We really wanted to challenge the idea of how a sign could become a physical experience,” co-founder Kevin Haley said of the project, “and weave together the richness of the area’s past with the street’s current character. By re-imagining historic market structures to reflect the unique character, noise, and atmosphere of the present day market the new stall marks the next step in Lower Marsh’s story.”

The Roaming Market stall will be making its next appearance at the Waterloo Quarter Food Festival June 27 to July 31.