Vibrant street art expressing emotions
In the heart of Reading, a new public artwork has become a captivating focal point, adding a touch of culture and charm to the £850 million Station Hill development. The HIMACS solid surface mural, named "Royals, Residents & a Rock Festival", is the brainchild of designer Stuart Melrose and artist Kev Munday.
This backlit, colourful public artwork is part of a £1.5 million series of artworks commissioned by Lincoln MGT JV and devised by the cultural placemaking agency Futurecity. The series aims to reflect and enhance Reading’s cultural legacy, creating a public realm art trail linking the station with the town centre.
The creation process was a collaborative effort, involving historians, local art groups, and schoolchildren. Kev Munday's joyful, graffiti-style artwork was chosen to embody the town’s spirit with a fun and lively style. For durability in the outdoor, high-traffic environment, HIMACS solid surface material (specifically HIMACS Opal S302) was selected. The mural's outer shell and black lines are made of powder-coated aluminium.
The mural, a giant, complicated light box, is formed of a material that can be repaired if necessary, and its choice was the ideal way to get the eye-catching yet diffuse translucency the designers were after. The LED colours are diffused evenly, allowing for clarity of colour, and the magic lies in the way over 100,000 individually addressable LEDs fill the space between the lines, glowing from pastel tones to deeper shades as it gets darker outside.
The mural's design allows for animated effects, including the eyes of the characters giving a cheeky wink and full-scale colour changes. Fabrication was carried out by AGS System Ltd, ensuring the solid surface material was expertly formed for this high-profile public art installation. The lighting was supplied and installed by Earlsmann Lighting, and the programming of the lighting effect was managed by Lee Savage to enhance the mural’s visual impact.
The mural is a prominent public realm feature within the Station Hill development, designed both to celebrate Reading’s identity and to create a vibrant connection between the town and its transport hub. Councillor Liz Terry, leader of Reading Borough Council, has praised the project, stating that it will quickly become a destination in its own right. The Station Hill project, including the creation of an attractive green space and accompanying public square, is now effectively the town's new front door, serving as a destination in its own right.
The mural acknowledges the area’s cultural heritage, including famous faces associated with the town and local landmarks such as the Hexagon Theatre, the Oracle, and ONE Station Hill. It is located at a pedestrian gateway to the town, welcoming arrivals from the train station. The mural is structurally strong and durable enough to withstand life in a public space and an extremely high traffic area.
In conclusion, the HIMACS solid surface mural has become a popular and captivating success, working as an urban regeneration project to engage townspeople and visitors alike. It serves as a testament to the power of public art in transforming spaces and creating a sense of community identity.
In the heart of Reading, the HIMACS solid surface mural has become more than just a public artwork; it's a lifestyle statement that blends seamlessly with the bustling Station Hill development. This vibrant piece, complemented by the lasting durability of HIMACS Opal S302, offers a home-and-garden-like comfort in the public realm, mirroring Reading's rich cultural heritage and embracing its lively spirit.
