Native Places
Case study
Native Places
A festive aparthotel brand installation.
Client
Native Places
Where
Native Bankside, London
What it was
Twelve feet of recycled steel
In London, it’s become a celebrated tradition for hotels to showcase their annual Christmas tree designs, with the season truly kicking off only when the media begins ranking their favourites. Our creation for Native Places Bankside captured widespread attention, praised for its originality, creativity, and unmistakable uniqueness. In the shake of a jingle bell, Christmas party planners became Christmas tree designers.
The Events Mill’s creation stood out as a bold reimagining of festive design, setting the standard for the magic and artistry the season inspires. Transporting guests back in time, unveiling ‘A Nostalgic Tapestry of the Thames’; a captivating festive installation that transcends traditional decorations and transports viewers into a bygone era of charm and nostalgia. This tree was a huge departure from the usual tinsel-decked, heavy branded “fashion house” designed counterpart seen in most lobbies.
Native Places continued its annual tradition by transforming Native Bankside into a showcase of sustainable festive innovation. In a city renowned for its hotel Christmas tree displays, Native Bankside stood out with London’s only “Christmas time-hop” ...
The brief
Blending creativity, with eco-consciousness, highlighting the history of Bankside, and becoming a must-see addition to the capital’s holiday spirit was the brief set by Native Places. To capture the attention of passers-by and to create a bold installation within the window of Native Bankside, to stand 12ft, and be brought to life through exciting characterful storytelling.
Why does Native exist and what makes a Native aparthotel special?
Native exists for interesting people. Native isn’t quirky or kooky, but it does shine a spotlight on different. A different way to stay and savour a city. Each Native site has its own history and heritage and has ECOsmart accreditation and a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’ (BREEAM is a world-leading third-party sustainability assessment). All of these unique qualities would contribute to the brief and our solution for this sustainable, creative tree.
‘That’s because you want something a bit more. A bit more different, exciting, and imaginative. A bit more you. And frankly just a bit more... Enter ‘A Nostalgic Tapestry of The Thames’ at Native Bankside ...
What we did
A festive installation that defied contemporary decorations and whisked viewers into a bygone era of charm and nostalgia, the ultimate time-hop, a Victorian TARDIS of festive joy.
Picture this: a design that’s an uproarious mishmash of evocative memories, a symphony of historical Christmases thrown together in a celebration of epic proportions. Throughout the curation we considered Christmas memories — the cherished objects, the special ornaments loved at this time of year — so our response was to honour these objects as a time capsule.
To be eco-conscious it was important that sustainability took centre stage in the construction of this towering spectacle. The core of the tree? Recycled steel, standing tall at a whopping 12 feet, adorned with plasma-cut, hand-engraved snow wings for extra magical detail. Adorning the tree were handpicked items, treasures, each with a story to tell. This unique design could easily be described as an “Heirloom Christmas Museum” on a tree.
The summit and the base
At the tree’s summit, the Golden Hind sails proudly, guided by a searchlight, its rope cascading down like a waterfall. A Victorian anchor holds court at the base, guarding a treasure chest filled with golden coins for any lucky explorer. The Lion’s Head of the River Thames, keeper of safety folklore, graces the tree’s branches, reminding us about the perils of thirsty lions and London’s potential sinkage.
Bankside and Borough Market
Shakespeare stands proud, a hand-carved figure from the 1890s celebrating the illustrious Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Paying homage to Bankside and Borough Market, antique food cans take centre stage — ginger, cornflour, Marmite cubes, Cadbury Milk Tray, and Harrogate Toffee — all surviving the test of time, much like the quality of these bygone days. A Tate and Lyle Food Van, a nod to the Tate Modern Gallery’s delicious origins before it got all artsy, shows our attention to immersive detail.
The installation showcases The Events Mill’s signature style of immersive, multi-sensory experiences and ability to transport audiences away from the ordinary
The teddy bear
And for the sweetest touch, a cuddly rabbit teddy bear with metal cymbals from 1895 makes an appearance, still in working order. Because nothing says Christmas joy like the nostalgia and comfort of a simple teddy bear. Who knew Christmas trees could be such a riotous adventure through time and taste buds?
We built this one in-house, from the steel frame to the last painted tin.
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