THE JUNCTION - London Festival of Architecture 2025 (Fitz&Sits) in collaboration with Studio Oleo

Inspired by Augustus John’s reflection on Fitzrovia, The Junction reimagines the idea of encounter: “everyone meets on the bench sooner or later.” This piece, designed by Yaobin Wang and Zixin Ye of Studio Oleo, is both functional furniture and social sculpture—designed for connection, conversation, and community.

121 Collective worked closely with Studio Oleo to transform the concept into a fully realised object. The team at 121 was responsible for the technical development, prototyping, and complete fabrication of the bench at their workshop, the Farm of Futures. Every aspect—from material testing to structural resolution—was developed in-house to faithfully deliver the design vision and support its sustainable ethos.

The bench explores tension and unity through form: rigid squares—cast from recycled glass, reclaimed plastic, and concrete—interlock and evolve into a circular platform. This interplay symbolises diversity and dialogue, echoing Fitzrovia’s creative and bohemian legacy. Each material used in The Junction tells part of the Fitzrovia story; recycled glass evokes its creative energy, reclaimed construction waste nods to its industrial past, and recycled plastic represents the everyday lives and voices of its residents.

Together, these materials reflect a commitment to a sustainable, closed-loop approach—celebrating reuse, transformation, and the layering of history through materials.

Photos: 121 Collective, Studio OleO, Luke O'Donovan.