New moon gate and urban garden will celebrate communities across Sutton

A new moon gate and urban garden will open this September in Trinity Square, Sutton town centre to celebrate the harvest and moon festivals of different communities in the borough.

The temporary installation is inspired by the stories of people from across Sutton - sharing what their traditional festivals mean to them and their experiences celebrating locally.

A moon gate is a circular opening that acts as a gateway - it is a traditional architectural
element in Eastern gardens. Visitors will be able to walk through the striking structure,
explore the garden and learn about the experiences of people that call Sutton home. The significance of migration is celebrated through this installation, showing off the rich diversity in the borough.

Sutton Council is working with the London Festival of Architecture (LFA), Successful Sutton Business Improvement District and designer Adrienne Lau from Edgy Collective to create the interactive installation.

Engagement events have been taking place in July to help inspire the design of the moon gate. During the events people were asked to draw and write down their experiences on a large canvas, which is now being used to create the final design. Construction of the moon gate and garden started on 8 August.

The moon gate will launch at the Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival Celebrations on 21
September, celebrating harvest in Asian culture. It will be in-place for at least one month before moving to a permanent location at a community garden in Sutton.

Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Sutton Council, said:

“The moon gate and garden is the latest part of our plans to transform Sutton Town Centre and closely follows the successful London Festival of Architecture events, which attracted more than 10,000 visitors to Sutton, putting us on the map and supporting local businesses.

“Sutton’s communities are thriving. We’re proud to welcome new residents to our amazing borough and want to celebrate it with this striking art feature reflecting local communities and supporting the local environment.”

Adrienne Lau, Edgy Collective said:

“The design will reflect the culture and heritage of Sutton’s diverse communities to foster a sense of belonging and connection.

“Working with local stakeholders, alongside the LFA and the Council, our team will be
supported in developing a design that is relevant to Sutton’s people and places.”

Patricia Park, Chief Executive Officer of Sutton Town Centre’s Business Improvement
District, said:

“It is wonderful that Sutton recognises its growing communities, its heritage and culture
through what we are sure will be a striking art installation in this part of the High Street.

“It will be a real point of interest for visitors to enjoy.”

Rosa Rogina, Director at London Festival of Architecture said:

“We are thrilled to continue our work with Sutton Council following a successful
Neighbourhood programme this June, marking the first time we have brought the London Festival of Architecture to this part of London.

“This new design installation highlights how the public realm can be transformed into an inclusive space, championing diversity and inclusion through innovative design. We are particularly excited to commission Adrienne Lau for this project, supporting young design talent discovered through our competitions, who possess exactly the right skills to bring this vision to life.

“The development of Sutton High Street is extremely exciting, and we are delighted to
support the council on another fantastic scheme that infuses creativity into the town centre.”