Stages
by Nathan Coley, commissioned by Tideway
Artist Nathan Coley was commissioned by Tideway to create an artwork for the new public space at Bazalgette Embankment in response to Tideway’s historical Heritage Interpretation Strategy. Collaborating with the design team, he developed a bold approach that responded to the site’s scale and setting. His work, Stages, is comprised of a series of sculptural forms positioned throughout the space, creating dynamic areas for sitting, gathering, and viewing the river.
The sculptures function collectively, like a family, forming a playful and interactive assembly that can be experienced from multiple vantage points, including the foreshore, Blackfriars Bridge, and the South Bank. Stages was the first artwork in London to be fully integrated into a public space, potentially serving as a venue for cultural programming. The project aims to create a lasting, meaningful, and romantic addition to the city.
Coley’s work reflects Bazalgette’s legacy, particularly his role in shaping London’s infrastructure for public benefit. The sculptures, conceived as a series of objects in conversation with one another, echo the themes of engineering, innovation, and civic ambition. They align with the Heritage Interpretation Strategy’s focus on Bazalgette’s achievements, transforming his massive feat of engineering into an accessible and inclusive artistic statement.
Stages is comprised of five sculptural forms:
- Stage: Framing views to the west, this structure provides both seating and a visual focal point.
- Zig Zag: An angled form designed for sitting, performing, and shelter, connecting the western end of the site to the road level.
- Waterwall: The tallest piece, incorporating a cascading water feature with a ribbed surface to enhance movement and visual interest.
- Twins: Two integrated stages within the river wall, framing views from both the north and south banks.
- Kicker: A sculptural element linking the upper terrace to Fleet Path, serving as both a balustrade and transition point.
The sculptures, made from Techcrete limestone concrete with black basalt and quartz aggregate, reference the hidden yet heroic engineering of Bazalgette’s Victorian sewer system. Their textured surfaces celebrate the material’s significance, echoing Bazalgette’s pioneering use of Portland cement – superior in strength and durability to Roman cement – a decision that revolutionised 19th-century infrastructure.
Coley’s artwork also complements the broader landscape narrative of the River Fleet’s journey from Hampstead to the Thames, represented by the shifting plant life from woodland to marsh. Through these interventions, Stages honours both the history of London’s built environment and the evolving relationship between public space, engineering, and artistic expression.
We saw Bazalgette Embankment as an opportunity to work at a scale that echoes the site's surroundings. The sculptures create personal moments to pause and linger and introduce the idea of abstraction into the public realm. – Nathan Coley
