Reconstructing value at LDF25: Surface Matter recycles £2.5M in banknotes with the Bank of England.
In a striking collaboration, the Bank of England, Plasticiet and Surface Matter unveil a new exhibition for London Design Festival...
A sculptural installation made from £2.5 million reclaimed, recycled and reconstructed British banknotes.
Cast into bespoke curved forms and arranged to create the iconic pound symbol (£), the pieces debut in the Stock room of the Bank of England Museum — the historic home of Britain’s currency.
Once a symbol of economic permanence, as banknotes are removed from circulation they are shredded, reconstituted and reinvented into architectural, functional and symbolic forms. Inspired by nature and aspiring to co-create a post-waste world, the installation examines how value can be transformed through design.
Drawing loosely from the gravitas of the neoclassical and baroque architecture that forms the heritage of the Bank of England — the forms are playful, sculptural and monumental. They embrace the aesthetics of raw material, creating a visual dialogue between past and present, order and improvisation. The result is a new language of reuse — one that redefines legacy through material transformation.
The exhibit complements the Building of the Bank exhibition, which explores the evolution of the Bank of England’s design — from Sir John Soane’s original architecture to its present-day structure and materials.
To accompany the furniture installation, Surface Matter presents a curated series of recycled material palettes. These recycled surfaces reinterpret the colour, texture and materiality of the Bank’s historic interiors — from roman mosaic tiles and Portland stone, to timber joinery, patinated brass and bronze detailing — alongside colourways referencing the colours of British Banknotes.
Redefining the Meaning of Money takes place 15-21 Sep at the Bank of England Museum, EC2R 8AH. More details here.
Lunchtime talks are scheduled for 16 and 17 Sep 12:30–1:30, Bank of England Museum Theatre, comprising ticketed sessions from Surface Matter exploring the transformation of reclaimed British banknotes - once a symbol of economic permanence - into crafted furniture. Book tickets here.
Each session will offer a deeper look into the innovative use of reclaimed, recycled, and reconstructed materials, shedding light on the collaborative processes that make circular design possible, highlighting how discarded materials can be given new life through craftsmanship and innovation
