Kaleidosteeple
The designer’s intention for this public artwork was to form an accessible Observation Device, inspired by the central geometry of a kaleidoscope’s changing patterns. This attracts people to enter the artwork’s shade and observe with it. The vertical structure protects and supports the steeple, encouraging vines to grow on it, creating a seasonal, living artwork.
Kaleidosteeple is a permanent public artwork for St Michael’s Square, Croydon, commissioned by London Square. Inspired by the verticality of a church steeple and the shifting geometries of a kaleidoscope, it creates a landmark that invites both reflection and interaction. Suspended within a modular steel frame, the lightweight “steeple” structure is clad in mirrored surfaces, open to the sky and viewed from beneath, transforming the square into an ever-changing observatory. Both poetic and precise, Kaleidosteeple reframes the urban experience—encouraging visitors to pause, gather, and rediscover their city through kaleidoscopic perspectives while reinforcing a strong sense of place and identity.
A simple, lightweight, external frame was constructed from modular steel tubing, within which the viewing ‘steeple’ was suspended via steel cables. The steeple itself is formed from a lightweight mild steel frame, clad in mirrored material on both inner and outer surfaces, open to the sky for viewing from beneath.
Team
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Public Art Commission
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Client: London Square and London Croydon Councils Culture Team
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Project Leadership and Design Direction: Cristina Morbi (Maetherea)
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Collaborators: Aurora Destro (project management, initial stages), Giorgia Mazzetti, Beliz Gurmen, Lola Artilles (assistants)
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Artist/Architectural Design: Maetherea
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Horticulture: Patricia Stadler
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Structural Engineering: Cake Engineering
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Fabrication & Installation: Cake Industries
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Community Engagement Workshops: Turf Projects
- Photography: Maetherea Cristina Morbi, Kristina Chan & Cake Industries
