Creating the wayfinding signage for this residential ‘build-to-rent’ community, situated in the historic industrial centre of Walthamstow
Project: Equipment Works
Location: Walthamstow
Sector: Residential
Client: Telford Homes
Partners: HTA Design
Relaxed easy-going residential living connected by peaceful green social spaces.
Completed in 2021, Equipment Works is an exceptional rental experience built on the legacy of Walthamstow’s industrial history. Bespoke interiors, luxurious modern features and six social spaces connected by an abundantly green courtyard, it offers residents a stunning lifestyle in a delightful neighbourhood.
Characteristic industrial inspired brass signage
As Equipment Works was originally the site for Associated Equipment Company Factory, the makers of motorised London buses, all the signage designed by HTA Designs has been inspired by this legacy. The vision for Equipment Works was to reinvent this Industrial site and build homes and space for local enterprises and start-ups. Hence, the brass signage that has been created is modern and industrial inspired by the heritage of the building. As brass signage specialists, we were able to create and install quality brass signage using laser cut fabricated brass with powder coated lettering that clearly represents the vision of HTA
Working with HTA Design, a leading practice building homes and residential neighbourhoods
After a thorough tender process, we were delighted that HTA Design, contracting for Telford Homes, selected us to build and install a variety of signage for this quality residential space.
Equipment Works is a great residential space providing wonderful homes for its growing neighbourhood and understandably HTA Design’s tender proposal was extremely comprehensive. Their specification documentation stipulated their expectations for the whole project, outlining exact requirements for design and material, to construction and installation.
We are pleased to say that we were consulted on and met all elements of this brief. For some insight of how we dealt with some of the specification’s most significant challenges, please see the Equipment Works: Spec challenges below.
A content client and a thriving business partnership
Overall, we are proud to have produced and installed Equipment Works signage to HTA Designs specifications, on time and within budget.
We continue to have a good business partnership with HTA Design and are presently working on several ambitious projects with them.
Equipment Works: Spec challenges
In this section, we provide insight of how we dealt with some of this project spec’s most significant challenges.
Consultation
Quality Assurance
HTA Design work on meaningful residential neighbourhood projects which require quality wayfinding and signage. To maintain the utmost quality control, their specification requirements are very demanding, stipulating high standards across every aspect of the signage project.
To ensure that our signage principles met HTA Design’s comprehensive requirements, we followed a rigorous quality assurance process.
Before constructing any signage:
- we used a professional art worker to visualise HTA Design’s creative vision
- we prototyped a range of HTA Design’s more challenging sign finish requests
- we welcomed HTA Design’s to visit the workshop to review the signs
When installing the signage:
- we used software called Sightworx to send HTA Design’s monthly progress reports
- conducted an on-site review
Procurement
From reviewing HTA Design’s brief, it was clear that their design proposal required a vast quantity of brass. Due to global trade issues caused by Brexit and Covid-19, brass is currently very expensive and difficult to procure. Our solid network of suppliers we were able to source brass from a mill based in Germany. Due to lead time issues, this was involved and time-consuming process.