Fung+Bedford’s Origami Installation Brings Poetic Movement to 5 New Street Square
Suspended within the reimagined ground floor of 5 New Street Square, CONFLUENCE – a monumental origami-inspired installation by Fung+Bedford – transforms the building’s reception into a moment of quiet wonder amidst the energy of the City of London.
Fung+Bedford create origami-inspired, large-scale installations and faceted sculptures for architectural and interior environments. Working from their Sussex studio, they combine architectural insight with the precision of origami folding to craft bespoke Tyvek and metal structures that challenge perceptions of paper, space, and light.
Their work is recognised for its balance of technical mastery and emotional resonance, transforming commercial spaces into sites of contemplation and connection.
Commanding attention the moment one enters the 8.9-metre-high reception, CONFLUENCE appears to float effortlessly above the lobby. The sculptural centrepiece is composed of more than 14,000 hand-folded elements in paper, Tyvek, extruded aluminium arcs, stainless steel cables and fixings, and zinc-coated base metals – materials typically associated with motion, reimagined here in a state of suspended stillness.
The installation embodies the swirling momentum of the City, captured in a rare moment of contemplative calm.
“CONFLUENCE explores the point where movement meets stillness – where energy gathers and releases,” says Angela Fung, co-founder of Fung+Bedford.
“Our intention was to connect the lively rhythm of the square outside with the tranquillity of the lobby inside – a bridge between the public and the personal, the architectural and the human,” she adds.”
At 12m x 6m x 3m, CONFLUENCE is both technically ambitious and deeply crafted. Its aluminium arcs were manufactured by a blacksmith, who developed a bespoke jig to twist each rod with precise control – an illustration of the project’s commitment to craftsmanship and material integrity.
For Fung+Bedford, the Sussex-based design studio renowned for large-scale origami installations and faceted sculptural works, CONFLUENCE represents a culmination of architectural precision and mastery of form.
Drawing from backgrounds in both architecture and origami, the duo translate paper’s ephemerality into powerful, architectural-scale experiences that challenge conventions of material and space. Their installations are recognised for precision, craftsmanship, and their ability to alter atmosphere, perception, and emotional engagement within built environments.
A Centrepiece Within a Sustainability-Led Retrofit
The installation forms the centrepiece of the ground floor transformation led by Basha-Franklin, part of a broader sustainability-driven retrofit at 5 New Street Square. Working closely with base build architects Bennetts Associates and developer Landsec, Basha-Franklin reimagined the lobby and lounge to support the building’s BREEAM and WELL targets – creating a human-centred, hospitality-led environment.
“Art has the subtle power to shape behaviour and mood,” says Rachel Basha, Founder of Basha-Franklin.
“In the reception at 5 New Street Square, Fung+Bedford’s work creates a moment of calm sophistication that sets the tone for the entire building. Visible from the moment you enter the square, the piece extends its presence beyond the interior, connecting the building to its surroundings”, Basha adds.
Art as Architecture, Architecture as Art
Fung+Bedford’s previous collaborations include works for the Saatchi Gallery, Somerset House, and Ligne Roset – each exploring the tension between structure and softness through the language of folded geometry. At 5 New Street Square, CONFLUENCE becomes not only a centrepiece but a defining statement: art as architecture, architecture as art.