Futurecity was appointed by Barratt London to develop a Public Art Strategy and commission a high-quality contemporary artwork to be embedded into the architecture of Rochester Row as an integral part of the building’s design. Artist Oliver Marsden collaborated with Assael Architects to create a façade artwork that would sit naturally within the architectural concept.

Radial Etch explores visual pleasure through what Marsden describes as “visual harmonics.” Each metal panel was individually developed as a fragment of a larger composition which, when viewed together, forms a field of hundreds of fine concentric circles - suggesting the grooves of a vinyl record or the broad ripples created by water.

The artwork is designed to remain in constant flux, shifting with the viewer’s position and the changing light throughout the day. The ultra-fine etched lines interact with natural daylight and, later, artificial illumination to produce an ever-changing play of reflections across the façade. As light moves across the surface, the building comes alive with subtle variations, creating a dynamic and continually evolving visual experience.