London studio Flea Folly Architects has partnered with Hakwood to create an installation of stacked wood that references the monastic past of London’s St John’s Gate. The 4.5-metre-tall structure, titled HakFolly, has been constructed from Dutch flooring company Hakwood’s finished planks, as well as leftover timber elements created during the manufacture of floorboards.
The installation creates a wooden tunnel within the arch of St John’s Gate – a former priory entrance and one of the last architectural remnants of Clerkenwell’s monastic history. Flea Folly Architects decided to use stacked wood after a visit to Hakwood’s factory in the Netherlands, where timber is often stored in “unusual tiered structures” that wouldn’t typically be seen by the public.
Described as a “high temple”, the Hakfolly installation tapers into a peaked roof, which contrasts with the rounded shape of the surrounding arch. According to the architects, the structure aims to create a “fleeting moment of peace and tranquility” that links back to the area’s monastic past. The HakFolly installation will remain in place for the duration of Clerkenwell Design Week, which takes place from 24 to 26 May.