Wonderwood
On Friday 29 May 2009, residents of Holbeck Urban Village woke to find that a Wonderwood had appeared on their doorstep.
Previously the un-used and overgrown site of a planned development on hold as a result of the recession, it transformed overnight into a temporary public art installation. Initially Wonderwood was created by The Culture Company working in association with architects Amenity Space, as a three month temporary space to picnic and potter enjoying the great british weather.
The current economic climate has taken its toll on our urban landscape; once rushed, building work in our cities has now retreated to a snail’s pace or simply stopped. As developers use this time to take stock of developments and re-assess their portfolio, green space is becoming an increasingly important consideration for future investors.
This previously desolate building plot has been transformed from gravel to grass, creating a beautiful and practical solution to a halted building site. Wonderwood is a temporary hybrid of art and park, which aims to inspire futrue development and encourage communtiy spirit in the urban village.
After three months of yoga classes, events, picnics and parties, land-owner Igloo Regeneration agreed to let the Wonderwood remain until development could be brought forward, creating a vibrant, green space for all to sit and watch the world go by.
The Culture Company’s director, Nicola Stephenson says, “It is fantastic to see people really enjoying the Wonderwood experience. It just shows that with imagination, there are some real opportunities to take currently suspended sites in our city centres and turn them into something that enhances our experience of inner city living.”
