Decades is a major public artwork by Louise Giovanelli, developed with David Chipperfield Architects and commissioned by Create London for Westminster City Council, transforming the Grade I listed St Mary le Strand church at Strand Aldwych. KitMapper was invited to bring the work to life at night by developing and implementing its façade lighting.
A bespoke lighting scheme
Working closely with the artist and team, KitMapper designed a bespoke LED scheme that grazes the length of the printed fabric, picking up its folds and textures so the trompe l'œil effect reads clearly from across Strand Aldwych. Carefully tuned colour temperatures and beam angles let the artwork glow without flattening the subtleties of the image, while keeping spill light away from neighbouring buildings and the night sky. The result is an energy-efficient, robust system built to run outdoors through winter — installed sensitively within a Grade I listed church in a newly pedestrianised public space.
Writing in the Evening Standard, Martin Robinson called it public art of great stillness and mystery, which is sure to create a devoted following of its own. Projects like this sit exactly where KitMapper likes to work — between art, architecture and public space. Decades was on view at St Mary le Strand until 18 January 2026.
