METAL BASHING AS AN ODE TO THE BUILDINGS PAST AS A FIREMAN’S ACCOMMODATION

On April 9th, we hosted a fun, family-friendly metal bashing and sculpture workshop that brought creativity and community spirit together.

As a highlight of the day, participants helped create a striking aluminium fireman’s hose sculpture, now installed in the courtyard. This collaborative piece celebrates the building’s history as fireman’s accommodation and was constructed using silver strips and cable to form a dynamic, flowing design.

Attendees also had the chance to try their hand at "metal bashing" — a hands-on process where people transformed their own drawings into embossed aluminium art. Using soft aluminium wire to trace their designs, then securing them with tape, participants hammered the wire with rubber mallets until the artwork was embossed into the surface.

These individual artworks will soon be attached to the main hose sculpture, becoming a lasting part of this community-created installation for everyone to admire.

The workshop was led by local talent Darcy Turner — a Newham-based designer, sculptor, and inventor — whose passion for creative making inspired participants of all ages.

“Such a warm and welcoming team. Very well organised and worth the travel for over an hour. Thank you for organising a workshop that teaches a skill that is not easily done at home! We loved Darcy and his amazing inventions”

Parent, home educator, 44

“Fun workshop, amazing space. Darcy was an amazing facilitator who taught us in a fun way. We loved seeing his inventions “
 Child participant, 12,

Photos by Monika Szolle Photography