From Wednesday 18th March, Borough Yards in London’s Bankside will play host to an intriguing pop-up light and sound installation for all ages, designed to inspire curiosity, play and sensory connection. The In Bloom immersive sculpture has been brought to the area by Business Improvement District (BID) Better Bankside and will be situated Soap Yard in Borough Yards until 31st March.
The vibrant piece of urban art is just one of Better Bankside’s placemaking approaches to amplify and reflect Bankside’s unique identity as “London’s Other Side.”
In Bloom has been created by Kumquat Lab to depict a luminous plant. Touching each of the sculpture’s colourful glowing spheres (representing the plant’s flowers) produces musical notes: an interaction inspired by the flight of pollinators as they move from flower to flower in search of nectar. The sculpture provides “an invitation to play, listen, and reflect,” and also offers a collaborative approach to music-making as visitors explore rhythm and melody together.
The sculpture is part of Better Bankside’s ongoing placemaking strategy which seeks to amplify Bankside’s special character and rich heritage. As a new, interesting piece of public art, In Bloom helps bring to life how the neighbourhood stands apart, and its pollination-theme reflects a key pillar in Better Bankside’s greening strategy.
Gideon Taylor, Director of Place at Better Bankside said: “Go and visit Borough Yards and experience In Bloom. It’s a playful way of activating public space. We are custodians of a unique neighbourhood in London, and surprising and interesting art installations are just one of the ways we are preventing Bankside from becoming just another homogenous city centre.
“We are also committed to allowing nature to flourish in Bankside, and this piece asks you to pause and think about one of the most important natural lifecycles on earth. Nature is often the best solution to the impacts of climate change, especially in cities, and we know it improves the life of those who live and work here.”
Sébastien Guillen of Kumquat Lab said: “We’re delighted to bring In Bloom to Bankside. Inspired by the process of pollination, the installation transforms public space into a shared musical experience, where each interaction contributes to a collective composition. Just as pollinators sustain ecosystems through small and interconnected actions, visitors become part of a living network of light and sound. Through play, we hope the work sparks moments of connection while highlighting the importance of nurturing our environment.”
Rebeca Guzmán Vidal, Co-Founder of Curate Real Estate, managers of Borough Yards, said: “Shaping places that invite people to linger and connect is at the heart of our work at Curate Real Estate. In Bloom brings all of that to Borough Yards: it’s an experience that makes you pause, interact and reconsider how art can activate the spaces we move through every day. Better Bankside’s commitment to imaginative placemaking mirrors our own belief that vibrant neighbourhoods are built through creativity and collaboration.”
To find out more about Bankside’s 5-Year Strategy to amplify the spirit of Bankside, please visit: https://betterbankside.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/BB-Strategy-2025-30.pdf
