andre kong studio and Wayward Turn Old Lampposts into Solar-Powered Waylamps in Barnet

Four disused lampposts in north London have been reborn as colourful landmarks. the Waylamps of Barnet, designed by andre kong studio with landscape practice Wayward, have been installed as sculptural public artworks combining lighting, wayfinding and seating along the 125 bus route between Colindale and North Finchley, The Architects’ Journal reports.

The project was commissioned by Barnet Council and presented by Art in Barnet as part of Light + Flight, the borough’s 2026 cultural programme. It was completed in August 2026, with structural engineering by London Structures Lab.

Lampposts, boulders and solar panels

Each Waylamp is built around a repurposed lamppost, carries a photovoltaic panel that powers its light and stands on a heavy boulder base that doubles as a seat. Together the four pieces act as beacons, route markers, resting points and places to meet, and a free map, field guide and activity book invite people to explore the borough between them.

The designs came out of local walks, talks with residents, workshops and time in the archives. Their visual language borrows from two figures with Barnet connections: silhouette animator Lotte Reiniger, whose films were built from cut paper, colour and shadow, and the illustrator W Heath Robinson, famous for playful lamppost drawings and improbable machines. Puppets made by residents during workshops became permanent silhouettes on the lamps.

Named after local figures

Each lamp honours someone linked to the borough. One is named after Reiniger, the others after suffragist Muriel Matters, comedian and writer Spike Milligan, and Agnes Slocombe, who became Barnet’s first Black mayor. The designers say they wanted pieces residents would use, recognise and feel some ownership of: places to sit, get their bearings and follow their curiosity.

The commission came from an open call shaped by resident feedback that Barnet’s heritage is often hidden and that people identify with their neighbourhood more than with the borough as a whole. The project was funded through a Cultural Impact Award from the Mayor of London’s Borough of Culture scheme, together with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.