Nestled between the Moelwynion mountains, Blaenau Ffestiniog is a place intrinsically linked to the blue slate peaks which tower over the town. At the height of the slate industry, the town was the second largest in North Wales but today the town relies heavily on tourists coming to visit the Ffestiniog Railway and Llechwedd Slate Caverns.
Our work at ‘Stiniog’ looked to boost the town’s presence as a visitor destination by drawing out the special sense of place which exists here, really capturing the essence of the town’s heritage and unique surroundings.
Traces of the town’s former industry are strewn across the landscape, with the sun bouncing brightly off the rocky mountainsides which surround the town and climbers scrambling down broken slate screes.
Working closely with local artist Howard Bowcott, we sought to weave these distinctive colours, textures and views of the surrounding mountains and slate quarries into new public spaces in the heart of the town.
40 foot tall slate structures engraved with poetry and local sayings visually echo the surrounding slate hills and the traditional skills of the slate quarrymen and the new areas of public realm encourage visitors to sit back and enjoy the breath-taking views of the mountains that tower over the town.
Finalist – RTPI Awards 2013
Commended – RTPI Cymru
Winner – Towns Alive National Awards: Environment & Culture
