WEST LONDON
Elephant West is a repurposed petrol station adjacent to the BBC’s former headquarters on Wood Lane in West London. It is the physical manifestation of the print and online visual culture publication Elephant magazine. In keeping with the tagline, Life Through Art, this build aims to turn ordinary life into cutting-edge art, bringing together makers of all stripes to carry out temporary projects and environmental takeovers. As well as the main exhibition space, there is a café-bar, a workstation hub and a shop.
This 4,123 sqft adaptable build is a cultural platform that speaks to today’s makers and audiences, one that adapts and responds to the changing creative environment. The design engages the latent architectural potential of a derelict, utilitarian building, and resurrects the foundation myth of White City, which gained its name from dozens of white-painted temporary pavilion structures built for the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition.
Elephant West launched its ongoing programme in November 2018 with an immersive photography installation by the young British artist, Maisie Cousins.
Photography: Dirk Linder & Jo Wills · Model Photos: Sam Grady
