Tom Faulkner’s Dreaming Spires in Chelsea Barracks

 

 

Chelsea Barracks has long been a sentinel of our neighbourhood. Our brand has a considerable history in Chelsea, but the Barracks’ stretches back over 150 years. It’s had many lives, though its latest incarnation stands out as one of particular interest from a design perspective. It’s now home to top-tier residential offerings surrounded by future-facing facilities and gorgeous grounds.

 

We are so proud to be a part of this new chapter, with a selection of Tom Faulkner designs adorning the gardens. We’re delighted that, after months in the making, we can now shed some light on our part of the project.

 

 

The Chelsea Barracks garden scheme features a selection of our new furniture, alongside one sculpture design which has had a place in our collection for some time. We make each piece in our own workshop in Wiltshire, giving us full flexibility in the production process.

 

Each design is made by hand. We took a bespoke approach for Chelsea Barracks, adapting as needed to ensure all our contributions will hold up to the elements beautifully in their new al fresco settings.

 

 

All of us at Tom Faulkner (including the man, himself) like to take a hands-on approach. When it came to installation day, it was a team effort to ensure that each piece was presented to perfection.

 

There are several sculptures throughout the courtyard. The geometrically striking Arizona needles are made of stainless steel and finished in a bespoke ‘TF Navy’, before being polished at the edges to add a spark of definition, even on cloudy London days.

 

 

From a more functional perspective, our new Wave benches anchor clusters of seating throughout the scheme. While they work wonderfully as garden furniture, they also sit very well in the context of a contemporary interior. Each one takes on a snaking form of rolled stainless steel fitted to a robust framework to ensure consistency and durability. In some cases, we’ve kept them firmly rooted to the ground. In others, we’ve tipped the bench on its side for an undulating effect befitting of the design’s name. Each one is dull polished to produce a ‘Satin’ finish which emanates light and produces a hazy reflection of the surrounding splendour.

 

 

Flanking the Wave benches are our organically shaped stools. The Lily shape is a Tom Faulkner signature, which extends across a collection of interior and garden furniture. This smooth, nature-inspired design fits harmoniously into an outdoor setting, recalling the aqueous silhouette of a lily pad. For Chelsea Barracks, we crafted the stools in stainless steel and dull polished them to a ‘Satin’ finish, creating a cohesive seating scheme alongside the benches. Their curves are hugged by the curling ‘crests’ of the Waves, creating a soft yet crisp effect.

 

 

The Lily stool is accompanied by a matching planter, which is finished in ‘Bronze’ for a dash of variety. These new designs are made to thrive indoors and out, with a robust composition that can be crafted in either steel or Corten, which presents potential for natural patination. These designer garden planters bring a sharpness to outdoor environments, while pairing beautifully with our metal furniture collection.

 

 

It’s been our distinct pleasure to have a hand in the reimagining of Chelsea Barracks. With our London showroom just down the Pimlico Road, it’s heartening to see our work integrated in the fabric of our neighbourhood. We’ll find great pleasure in taking the scenic route as we make our way through the area – and hope to encounter many of you doing the same!

 

 

 

Text by Annabel Colterjohn