Cowbridge Road East Environmental Improvements
Introduction
Cardiff Council is proposing improvements to the street environment of a section of Cowbridge Road East which is home to a range of local shops and services which are valued by the community. The project forms part of the Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal Schemes Programme, and aims to deliver pedestrian improvements including footway widening and resurfacing, rain gardens/planting and street furniture.
What's Happening Now?
During the public consultation earlier this year we received some excellent suggestions for improvements and we have updated the plans to include:
• Tactile blister paving at every continuous footway crossing point
• Two new trees
• Cycle stands
• Improved signage
• Additional rain garden space
Work has now begun on Cowbridge Road East and will last approximately 12 weeks. During this time, a certain amount of disruption is likely to occur, however every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum
In September 2020 Cardiff Council and Chapter Arts Centre put a call out for local artists to submit examples of their work and proposals for a bespoke designed crossing on Cowbridge Road East as part of the wider environmental improvements for the area. We received over 50 applications, with each applicant showing their individual creativity.
In October 2020, Cardiff Council, Chapter and Jude Lau (Co-founder and Workshop manager of the Printhaus) assessed all of the submissions to identify 3 designs that would be of high quality and incorporate the history and built form of Canton.
The final 3 artists chosen were:
MARCA Design:
“Marcus Smith graduated in Product Design from Manchester Metropolitan University and set up MARCA Design as a means to showcase his work and share it with the world.
The Aim for MARCA Design is simple: to create work that transcends genres, and to apply this in a range of design-based disciplines.
MARCA Design recently delivered the branding and menu design for 297 Bar (including Labyrinth Records and Academy Junction) at the Goodsheds development in Barry. Outside of design his ongoing photographic project ‘The New Abnormal’ was recently featured in Lomography Magazine.”
https://www.marcadesign.co.uk/
Trin Brierley:
“Trin Brierley is a mural artist and sign painter whose background is in textile design and screen printing. She fell into painting murals around Cardiff after returning from a few months travelling around India, with a sketchbook full of inspiration. This turned into co-founding TLWPC with a good friend; a small mural painting business specialising in colourful, eye-catching murals, festival art and decor, and other diverse painting projects. Painting murals and lettering naturally led into discovering sign painting which has, in recent years, turned into one of the main focuses of her work.”
Steffan Dafydd:
“Steffan Dafydd combines found imagery, textures, graphic elements and drawings to create abstract, fluid and striking imagery.
Steffan’s background is in graphic design where he started by creating gig posters and record sleeves for artists, promoters and labels before studying graphic design at Brighton University, where he fell in love with screenprinting.
More recently, Steffan has been creating a body of personal projects under the name Penglog, which is his platform for all of his creative output.”
All three artists were asked to submit their design for the crossing.
You can view the entrant's proposed designs by clicking the buttons to the right.
In March 2021, the three designs were put on to the Council’s social media pages and website to allow the public to vote for their favourite. There were over 1000 votes, with Steffan Dafydd receiving the majority and winning the competition with his design which can be seen below as a mock up in place on Cowbridge Road East.
Steffan Dafydd’s design will be implemented later this year.
Congratulations Steffan!
Contact Details
Click here to share your thoughts with us.
If you would prefer to respond via email,
you can email us at neighbourhoodregeneration@cardiff.gov.uk
Nicky Scott, 07790 333958
Work has now begun on Cowbridge Road East
