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'welcome Home'

Date uploaded: October 22, 2014

Scott Farlow has completed a commission for Lindon Homes' in the Clifton area of Bristol. Farlow’s project, ‘welcome Home’ was based upon the idea of the 'gift’ and involved the creation of a suite of specially made Ottoman’s which were created for and gifted to each of the 12 new households. Each Ottoman is a unique work made in collaboration with a furniture maker and an upholsterer.

Linden Homes’ scheme comprises twelve new houses that were built at Chantry Road in Bristol, construction was completed in June 2014, after eighteen months of significant transformation. In the absence of notable public space within or in close proximity to the new housing the artist focused on a socially-engaged approach based on the future occupiers of the new homes rather than the physical buildings or spaces.

It was recognised early on that, with the occupation of Chantry Villas, the local community would change and grow. 'welcome Home' therefore provided an opportunity to activate dialogue and interaction between residents. To this end, existing residents of Chantry Road were also invited to contribute to the project by offering personal reflections of what it is like to live on the street, in the locality and in Bristol. Their thoughts, advice, anecdotes and experiences were captured on postcards and combined with research findings and photographic images into a special booklet. The booklet provides a brief snapshot of a rich and enriching process that began with the idea of a gift. These have been presented to all of the residents – old and new – of Chantry Road.

For full details for this story click here.