Pride in Bruce Grove

Office S&M Architects were appointed by Haringey Council to deliver Pride in Bruce Grove, a series of permanent public realm installations designed to enliven public spaces in Bruce Grove town centre. The project’s aims were to celebrate the area’s rich history, vibrant community, and unique identity, while also creating safer spaces to rest and play.

From the outset, collaboration was at the heart of the project, with over 300 community members taking part, two local artists employed and five co-design workshops delivered. Young people from Bruce Grove Youth Space were central to the process, helping to shape ideas from early concept design stage through to prototyping and delivery of the final installations. To us delivering social value means more than just the final result, by creating opportunities for training and participation, we enabled young people to take an active role in shaping their neighbourhood.

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Photo showing the wayfinding lamp post on the street. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

A group of youth in front of the main mural. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

The workshops brought creativity and energy into the process, from collage and storytelling to participatory budgeting and hands-on skill building workshops in mural painting, mosaic making and photography. In total, 29 young people gained training and went on to help install the final artworks. Their names and contributions are now woven into the fabric of Bruce Grove, leaving a colourful and lasting legacy that celebrates both place and community.

Office S&M used community wealth building techniques to ensure that project spending directly benefited local people. Food for events and materials for the installations were purchased from local businesses, and the mural materials were sourced entirely within the area. This approach kept funding in the community, ensuring lasting social and economic value.

The Bruce Grove Mosaic, created in collaboration with local artist, Anna Nicolo and The Mosaic Studio, celebrates the stories and people of Bruce Grove. Envisaged as a tapestry of local history and identity, its horizontal mosaic lines evoke a sense of movement and speed, as if glimpsed from a car passing by.

Young people played a central role, with ten creating their own mosaic pieces that are now permanently part of the installation. Seen by over two million people each year, the mosaic artwork shares the history and identity of Bruce Grove with all who pass beneath the bridge.

Working closely with Haringey Council, Network Rail and TFL, the mosaic was designed as a modular system, constructed off site and installed in a single day, minimising disruption to traffic and the station.

Zoomed in photo showing the wayfinding lamp posts. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

Woman in a high vis jacket installing the mural. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

A couple of people admiring the mural. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

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‘Our Pride in Bruce Grove project, is empowering local communities to create public artworks in the Bruce Grove area. It’s such a wonderful example of how we can work together with our residents to improve our public spaces.’

Councillor Ruth Gordon, Cabinet Member for Council House building, Placemaking in Haringey

Main mosaic mural with a person walking in front of it. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

The Scotland Green Lighting installation improves wayfinding while celebrating the green spaces and rich history of Bruce Grove, including the hidden River Moselle that runs beneath the street. Artistic lamp posts use gobo lights to project patterns onto the pavement, bringing the underground river to life. A series of planters, painted in the pink of the famous Tottenham Cake, double as wayfinding markers, pointing towards nearby green spaces and commemorating the legacy of Luke Howard, the “namer of clouds”. Together with an interactive map, the planters and lighting create a welcoming space to pause, rest and connect with local stories.

Holcombe Market Wall Mural, developed by local artists Anna Nicolo and installed with Matt Dosa, brings colour and greater safety to a key pedestrian route. The design, based on artwork by young people from Bruce Grove Youth Space, weaves together local landmarks and symbolic imagery in a vibrant composition.

Nineteen young people, alongside residents aged 5 to 75, took part in painting the final installation, gaining new skills and leaving their mark on a piece of art seen daily by visitors to the market. The names of the young participants are permanently incorporated into the mural, ensuring their contribution is celebrated for years to come.

You can download the full report here.

Co-design workshop, photo of the table from above. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

A young person helping with painting a mural on the wall. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

A young person and a professional painter working on a mural. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

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Through deep engagement and creative collaboration, Pride in Bruce Grove demonstrates how design can celebrate place, empower communities, and deliver meaningful social value to an area. It shows how public realm installations can be successfully delivered on time and on budget on highly complex sites.

Social Value Achievements:

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