Queensway Streams

Artist: Milika Muritu
Location: Queensway Estate, Southend

"Queensway Streams aims to change local perceptions of the Queensway Estate for both its residents and the local community" Milika Muritu.

Muritu's project draws attention to the monumental architecture of the 'tower block'. The four towers of the Queensway Estate were named after four famous British hills, Quantock, Chiltern, Pennine and Malvern, reflecting the initial optimism of the 1960's. In creating Queensway Streams, Muritu attempted to resurrect some of this original optimism found during the estate's construction by creating a continuous band or ribbon of colour; by day flooding the laundry drying rooms on each floor with a warm glow of light, while at night creating a 150ft stream cascading down the towers.

The modular sculpture was created from transparent and translucent Perspex acrylic panels with the expertise of engineers Mike Chapman and Paul Hartley, and local Southend companies Alljay Plastics and Jarons Precision.