Signs for the times

Abstract

The City of London, UK, combines striking modern buildings and a medieval street plan. The Mapping the City project is part of the Street Scene Challenge initiative set up by the City of London Corporation in 2002 to manage the appearance of the streets, improve pedestrian areas and facilitate the flow of pedestrians and traffic around the City. Environmental design and communication company, Placemarque, was awarded the contract to develop a scheme to make the city equally accessible to tourists and city workers. Exterior lighting and street furniture company Woodhouse was appointed to manufacture the new designs. The initiative aimed to reduce clutter and install clearer signs and to mark out footpaths. Following completion of the new map of the whole City area, smaller part maps were developed for more localised directions. Each map is displayed 'heads up' rather than in the north-south orientation. The maps are displayed on a series of nodal monoliths. Secondary information is displayed on finger post signs. Mapping is produced in vitreous enamel. The final scheme will have 260 information nodes, fingerposts, wall-mounted signs and maps and will halve the number of signs around the City. (A)