Fleet Below Feet, is a dynamic sculptural installation which evokes an experience of the mysterious River Fleet.

The Fleet was once a significant river, formative in London’s trade, shipping routes, definition of geographical features and elements of wellbeing for Londoners until the 18thC. Nearby wells and natural spa waters in Clerkenwell ran as tributaries into the Fleet. A remnant of the Fleet still flows below the site of St.John’s Gate today, relegated to a polluted storm sewer network running from Hampstead Heath to the Thames.

This installation provides a portal with which to experience a memory of the great Fleet, celebrating the positive qualities of the once fresh running waters of the historic river. The installation also provokes a conversation about the under-appreciated water networks of our cities, including the logistics involved in providing clean, drinking water to communities. London’s new supersewer looks to tackle sewage issues in the Thames and the Fleet once suffered a similar fate. ‘Fleet Below Feet’ inspires and encourages us to question: In what shape do we want our future rivers to be?

The installation works from both afar and up-close, offering new layers of experience as one approaches. At a distance, one first glimpses a glistening, facated wing, framed ergonomically by the gate’s archway. The facets are mirrored and reflect both the illuminated caustic water below and secondary reflections of the sculptural roof above. This structure is suspended delicately from its frame, rising like the shell of a freshwater clam which has opened to reveal its secrets within.

An opal reflecting pool is filled with rippling water, drawing the eyes upon closer inspection to this abstract representation of the Fleet’s undercurrents below. An ambient soundscape crafted by the musician Slow Moon, incorporates audio samples of the River Fleet, creating an ethereal environment which echoes around the arched ceiling above. These curves are reminiscent of a church roof, designed to perfectly amplify acoustics within. The sounds and visuals of the water invite visitors to pause, relax and breathe a little slower in this typical thoroughfare, whilst learning a little more about the Fleet and appreciating the qualities of St John’s Gate.

The majority of the installation is constructed from a turquoise stained timber frame, ensuring high levels of sustainability and low embodied carbon. Individual segments can tesselate and flat pack for storage, providing ease of transportation and assembly. Construction can be undertaken by SHJoinery, fantastic carpenters who bring their architectural background into the detailing and standards of their work.

The pool is built in two modules for transportation; the waterproof lining can be made from recycled plastic waste. This further contributes to carbon reductions and the installation’s message, aiming to shape our waters as clean, inspiring places of well-being.