Camilla Walala creates squishy new installation in Broadgate for LDF

Currently hidden away in the City of London’s landscape of glass and concrete is a vibrant and squishy celebration of playfulness in the form of Villa Walala. The latest creation by textile-designer turned installation artist Camilla Walala opened on Saturday as LDF’s Landmark Project, and will remain open until 24 September.

Visitors to the installation in Broadgate, will be greeted by a “boisterously colourful and invitingly soft-touch structure made from ‘blocks’ of vinyl, sealed PVC inners and high-strength nylon, adorned with Walala’s characteristic digitally printed patterns.” Each of these blocks is inflated by a fan, turning them from flat shapes into three-dimensional and dynamic forms. With the aim of stopping passers-by in their tracks, Villa Walala provides a striking contrast to the typical colours and textures of its surroundings. “I wanted to create something that played to this idea of escaping the office and letting off steam, but which was also a surprising contrast to the architectural context – something colourful and playful that would make the people of Broadgate stop and smile,” says Walala in a recent press release.

Walala was chosen by London Design Festival’s headline partner British Land to create this year’s Landmark Project to celebrate the 15th anniversary of London Design Festival.