'Void', London Road Sexfoil, Southampton

As part of the London Road project team the artist, Chris Tipping created a concept for a simple, elegant and uncluttered public realm, which uses quality materials, and paving patterns to emphasize existing focal points, meeting places, thresholds, makers and gateways. A key feature is a series of striking black terrazzo seats, which include two, 3m diameter seats in the form of the rose or sexfoil window of the former St. Paul's Church. Destroyed overnight, along with much of the surrounding area during the bombing of November 1940, the church had stood at the heart of London Road, opposite Vernon Walk and was the focus of religious and social life in the community. Each seat is inlaid with extracts from the historical records of many of the varied clubs and societies that would regularly meet in the church hall. The contemporary street scene of Estate Agents, Bars and Clubs is youthful and student-led. Some of the inlaid texts still have a resonance today. Bespoke terrazzo benches by Pallam Precast Ltd.