Home » Work Programmes » 2. ESG » London Festival of Architecture / LFA2025
Middlesex Hospital is our design inspiration. Founded in 1745, The Middlesex grew in importance: by 1747 it was one of London’s earliest maternity facilities, and one of its earliest research institutions, specialising since 1792 in the care and treatment of cancer. From the outset, it was also a medical school. Its nursing school became renowned.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first UK doctor, trained here, and Florence Nightingale practised here.
Up until its closure in 2008, Middlesex hospital was a big part of the community. Middlesex Speaks bench seeks to give a memorial to the lost hospital and influential figures in Fitzrovia.
About Us
Hackney Mosaic Project was set up 15 years ago, helping people with addiction and mental health problems. They engage volunteers recruited from both the Hackney Recovery Services and the local community. Making large mosaics in Hackney Parks and other locations.
Led by Tessa Hunkin, her many projects sit in several high-profile locations such as Regents Park and Westminster Cathedral, where she has worked for 10 years creating and restoring mosaics. She likes to combine historical mosaic with contemporary architecture.
The Hackney Mosaic Project will work with Studio Ply to produce an original artwork that reflects the chapel, the hospital’s history and area.
James Shackleton qualified as an architect in 2021 and has extensive hands-on experience, including renovating a ruined building in Portugal. He was part of IDK, a studio that has worked on a faceted climbing wall, using construction methods that will be adapted for the proposed bench. His expertise in self-build projects ensures a strong understanding of materials and fabrication. As a member of Blackhorse Road Workshops, he has access to high-quality tools and a skilled community, reinforcing the feasibility of his proposal. His blend of architectural knowledge and practical construction skills aligns well with the competition’s requirements, making him a strong candidate.
"I have great respect for the Hackney Mosaic Project and was excited by the opportunity to collaborate on this initiative. London is a city that is always on the move, yet it lacks sufficient public seating outside of parks. I strongly believe in the importance of creating spaces of pause..."
About The Newman
The Newman is your new old friend. It welcomes you in no uncertain terms. It looks after you as though you were its own. It lives and breathes what it is to be full of love for London.
Opening Summer 2025, The Newman is the first hotel from Fitzrovia-born management company, Kinsfolk & Co. Designed by Lind + Almond, its interiors blend contemporary Art Deco with nods to the area’s bohemian past. The hotel features a modern European brasserie with all-day dining, an underground cocktail bar and two private dining rooms. An entire floor is dedicated to wellness, offering treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, ice lounge, halotherapy room, experience showers, a 24/7 Technogym, and a salt-walled fitness studio. Upon the rooftop, the penthouse suite boasts a spacious terrace with a private sauna and ice bath, offering sweeping views over Fitzrovia.
What are we sponsoring a Fitz&Sits seat?
We’re sponsoring a Fitz&Sits seat because we love Fitzrovia, as our home, we’re committed to celebrating its character, connecting with its people, and contributing meaningfully to the local community. The Newman draws deep inspiration from the character and history of Fitzrovia. Every detail of the hotel is infused with the neighbourhood’s creative energy and layered history. Our design pays homage to iconic local figures like Nancy Cunard – the bohemian queen whose bold bangles and playful polka dots subtly echo throughout the space. Bathroom sinks take their cue from the Art Deco lines of Shropshire House, while the tiling nods to the nearby gem Langham Court Hotel. A seamless blend of old and new, The Newman is deeply connected to its neighbourhood – reflecting the history, character, and dynamic spirit of the Fitzrovia community.
What does it mean to us?
This sponsorship is a celebration of the people and places that make Fitzrovia so unique. As a historic hub for artists, creatives and thinkers, the neighbourhood continues to inspire, and The Newman is proud to be part of that ongoing story. Our sponsored bench reflects this spirit. It draws on the design language of the former Middlesex Hospital Chapel, now the Fitzrovia Chapel, and features figures like Nancy Cunard, whose presence still resonates in the area. It’s our way of giving something back to the streets that inspired us. We are delighted to play a small part in celebrating this neighbourhood, setting the tone on how we will run the hotel – conscientiously, and to always add and never detract.
Fitzrovia is a Destination for the 2025 Festival which will be a Fitzrovia-wide celebration with more than 20 events throughout June.
From exhibitions to workshops to talks to trails to installations to performances, there are many exciting events to enjoy.
Fitzrovia Lates takes place on Thursday 26 June from 6pm – 9pm and is a diverse and inclusive evening of events, workshops and exhibitions for Londoners and visitors to explore architectural practices in the district.
Developed collaboratively with local stakeholders, these events bring together creativity and community and city-making practices that reflect the unique identities of people and the area.
View all the events which are part of Fitzrovia Destination.
The Fitzrovia Partnership provides a cohesive approach to help businesses achieve shared objectives and as an area we are making great strides to achieve a more economic and environmentally sustainable district. 
Fiona Clark, Board Member
Practice Director and Co-owner, David Miller Architects
