© Wandsworth Council
The transformation of the Falcon Road Rail Bridge underpass has been unveiled in Clapham Junction this week. Commissioned through a design competition between the London Festival of Architecture – powered by NLA, and Wandsworth Council, this intervention will now form a permanent part of Clapham Junction’s landscape.
The design competition launched in August 2024 and invited architects, designers, and artists to share proposals to undertake the transformation of this previously unwelcoming area. After a total of 82 entries, the collaborative design team of GPAD, POoR Collective, MRG Studio, Sutton Vane Associates, Cundall and MDA Consulting won the competition with their innovative design addressing key community concerns whilst leaning into local landmarks and retaining environmental consciousness.
The underpass was previously a sore spot for the area, with residents’ complaints of safety and a disjointed navigation experience. The bridge runs under Clapham Junction, one of the UK’s busiest train stations, which added a complication as works had to work around railway maintenance schedules.
The Winning Design
Titled ‘Beyond the Bridge’, the winning design sought to transform Falcon Road Bridge into an inclusive, community-owned landmark sitting at the heart of Clapham Junction. Since being notified of the competition win, the creative team embarked on an extensive process of community engagement, including over 1,000 survey responses, local walking tours and a community design review panel.
Senior Architect at GPAD, Alice Cutter said “At GPAD, we’re proud to lead the Beyond the Bridge team in reimagining Falcon Road Bridge as a safer, brighter and more welcoming gateway for Wandsworth. Guided by the stories and input of local residents, the design transforms a long-neglected underpass into a vibrant community landmark that celebrates Wandsworth’s identity. This project shows the power of collaborative, community-led design, and we’re excited to help deliver a meaningful new space for the borough as it enters its year as London Borough of Culture 2025.”
Beyond the visual design work, incorporating both built and natural icons across Wandsworth, the physical improvements include new responsive lighting for safety, new public seating alongside pollinator-friendly planting to create a welcoming aura to the area, extensive pigeon-proofing to help with the cleanliness of the area, and pairing with the artwork adorning both sides of the walls.
Before the installation © Wandsworth Council
The Future of Falcon Road
Construction on the project started in July 2025, and the public unveiling took place on December 15th, with a ceremony attended by the Council Leader and local MP. The installation of this project is set to be permanent, with resilient metal adorning both walls and plans for future maintenance organised by Wandsworth Council. Beyond the Bridge is set to leave a lasting legacy on the local area, contributing towards a safer Wandsworth while celebrating the local community.
The design was completed during Wandsworth Council’s year as the London Borough of Culture, feeding into a wider programme which sets to transform the landscape around the entire area of Wandsworth, aligning with future projects.
Rosa Rogina, Associate Director of Place at NLA said, “This project has exemplified the collaborative nature of LFA, from the inspiring design team at GPAD and POoR Collective, to the local communities whose input shaped the final design, and the Wandsworth Council teams who made it happen in record time. Building on the Borough of Culture legacy, the Falcon Road Bridge is transforming the area and creating a lasting, tangible impact where it is most needed in people’s day-to-day lives, showing what’s possible when commissioning processes focus on collaboration, support emerging practices, and value the process as much as the final outcome.”
The completion of this project also aligns with the London Festival of Architecture’s 2026 theme of #Belonging, exemplifying how built installations can lean into local communities to create safer and more accessible spaces.
You can see more on the background of this design competition and the winning team via the winners announcement here. See more on Wandsworth’s wider programme and work on this project here.
