Haberdashery transforms London Bridge rush hour noise into sculptural lighting installation

Design studio Haberdashery has transformed the frenetic sounds of London into a sculptural lighting centrepiece for the lobby of Shard Place at London Bridge, as captured in this video produced by Dezeen.

Described by Haberdashery co-founder Ben Rigby as a "three-dimensional soundwave", the light sculpture is a 10-metre-long lighting installation that is hung from the roof.

Titled Moment, the installation converts an audio recording from the surrounding streets into an undulating aluminium form illuminated by layers of light and shadow.

"The sculpture is based upon a sound recording taken during rush hour in the London Bridge area," said Rigby in Dezeen's video interview with the studio.

"We took the sound recording, which is usually represented by an undulating 2D waveform, and turned a specific segment of this into a three-dimensional sculpture," added Michael O'Donovan, senior designer at Haberdashery.

The installation comprises more than 500 CNC laser-punched aluminium rings, each representing a cross-section of the soundwave.

The rings contain hundreds of thousands of tiny perforations that filter light through the form, creating an ever-shifting pattern of shadows across the surrounding stone and timber surfaces of the lobby.

To generate the sculpture's form, Haberdashery began by recording morning rush hour at a nearby riverbank.

The resulting waveform – a mix of cars, buses, trains, chatter, sirens and birds – was digitally "smoothed out" before being revolved 360 degrees to create a flowing tubular structure.

"Our work is most successful when it intelligently references the language of its surroundings," Rigby said.

"The frenetic noise and activity of central London is brought inside and transformed into a delicate, serene lighting centrepiece."

Haberdashery developed two distinct lighting systems for the piece: a wash light that emphasises the sculpture's metallic contours, and a projection light that shines through it to cast textured shadows across the back wall.

Depending on the viewer's position, the installation changes character, appearing solid when approached from one direction and almost weightless when seen from below or from the street outside.

Rigby explained that this duality creates both a focal point for passersby and a calming experience for residents.

"For us, a successful sculpture appeals to the outside viewer looking in, but more importantly, creates a relaxing threshold experience for residents," Rigby said.

"It brings down the pace and allows them to immerse themselves in the shape and form of light."

The installation was commissioned by State of Craft, the design studio behind Shard Place's interiors, which conceived the lobby as a calm, light-responsive environment in contrast to the busy city outside.

The building sits beside The Shard as part of the wider Shard Quarter development at London Bridge.

According to Rigby, the installation captures Haberdashery's wider design philosophy, which uses light to create "layers of narrative-informed engagement" between object, space and viewer.

"Light binds the story together," he said.

Founded in 2008, the London design studio bases its work on the "appeal of light," specialising in lighting sculptures, installations and product collections.

Partnership content

This video was produced by Dezeen in partnership with Shard Place. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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