We designed a comprehensive package of interpretation signage and wayfinding material for the magnificent Chiswick House Gardens, which formally re-opened on June 17th, 2010 after a long period of restoration.
William Kent's naturalistic design for Chiswick House Gardens marked the beginning of the English Landscape Movement, a style that propagated worldwide.
DOT were appointed as designers to the interpretation and wayfinding project at the end of December 2009 after an open tender followed by a creative pitch. English Heritage were particularly looking for designers to produce original interpretation, echoing William Kent’s wit and inventiveness, and our original treatment helped win us the job.
The English Heritage interpretation team had the idea to place paintings around the park in the positions they were originally painted from, along with interpretation for each – Pictures in the Landscape. Our idea was to mount empty picture frames on easels, framing today’s landscape against the original painting or photograph. Our series of ten sculptural easels with cast bronze-aluminium picture frames are designed to be elegant, robust, to discourage climbing, and to pique visitors’ curiosity.
We worked very closely throughout with the English Heritage interpretation team, also designing the garden's wayfinding and orientation signage, developing a bold, modern signage format that complements the buildings and landscape.
We also designed leaflets and posters, education materials for informal learning and table coverings for the café, reverse-engineering from this work a graphic style guide for the house and gardens. Our colour palette referenced the interior decoration of the house, which Kent designed to be an integral part of the gardens. Illustrations from Eleanor Rudge are used extensively along with a park plan by Neil Gower.
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