Hackney Bridge brings independent businesses, food, workspaces and creative activity together in East London. Its central courtyard needed a ground design with enough colour and character to match the people using it.
In 2020, Make Shift approached Thermmark with a concept for the space. We worked with their supplied design to develop a practical thermoplastic solution, manufacture the individual pieces and install the finished scheme.
A bold design for a busy shared space
The brief centred on the yard between the buildings: a shared outdoor area that would help give Hackney Bridge its identity. Make Shift had a clear direction for the colours and patterns, and wanted a finish suited to a long-term project rather than a short-lived decoration.
That made the ground surface an important part of the wider setting. The design needed to look striking, work at the scale of the courtyard and stand up to regular use.
Watch the completed project
Turning the concept into a manufacturing plan
Our design team took Make Shift’s plans and prepared the shapes for production. Working from the supplied DWG file helped us establish the dimensions of the design and calculate the amount of thermoplastic required in each colour.
The initial design came in above the customer’s expected budget. We worked with them to adapt the scheme and reduce the material requirement, bringing the cost down while retaining the overall design direction.
This is an important part of bespoke work: helping a concept fit the practical requirements of the project, as well as making it possible to manufacture.
Precision-cut shapes and a bespoke silver colour
We manufactured the design in preformed thermoplastic and cut the individual shapes using our in-house waterjet equipment. Preparing the pieces before they reached the site allowed the pattern to be assembled from defined components.
Alongside the chosen colours, the project included a bespoke silver mix made specifically for the scheme. It is a useful example of how custom colour options can support an original design rather than limit it to a standard palette.
Coordinating manufacture and installation
Make Shift shared its required timeframe early in the process. Our sales, design, production and installation teams coordinated the work, from reviewing and pricing the design through CAD preparation, manufacture and site planning.
The installation took around two weeks, in line with the time allowed for the project. That was specific to this scheme: the area, complexity, site conditions and weather all affect the programme for a thermoplastic installation.
A distinctive finish for Hackney Bridge
The completed courtyard brought the bold patterns and colour palette from the original brief into the physical space. The result shows how bespoke thermoplastic markings can form part of an outdoor destination’s identity, with applications well beyond traditional playground games or functional line markings.
Have a bespoke project in mind?
Whether you have supplied artwork, a detailed plan or an early concept, our team can help you explore how it could work in thermoplastic. See our bespoke thermoplastic markings or tell us about your project.
