Dalston Square becomes magnet for artists

Barratt’s stunning new Dalston Square development in Hackney, East London, is becoming a focal point for some of the capital’s most promising new artists.

The spacious marketing centre at Dalston Square – a very large, naturally-lit area that could almost have been made for hanging artworks – has already been used to showcase art and photographic work provided by top art students and graduates.

As a result of that show, held earlier this year, Barratt East London commissioned one of the artists, oil painter Sara Sherwood, to produce limited-edition mounted prints of her striking London scenes. These are now given as welcome gifts to buyers at Dalston Square as they move in.

The latest art event at Dalston Square is the first week-long exhibition by Dalston Square’s ‘resident’ artist Alexandra Blum, staged in a commercial building adjacent to the marketing suite on the new development.

Alexandra – who is based on site at Dalston Square - is fascinated by construction and all that goes with it, from the changing skyline of cranes and scaffolding to the steady evolution of the buildings that result. Entitled ‘Phenomena of Change’ the show featured a series of sketches of the site from different areas of the development. Alexandra worked side by side with the contractors whilst construction was in full swing.

Local film-maker Suki Chan is also shooting scenes at Dalston Square for an arthouse film under the auspices of London-based support group Film and Video Umbrella. The film will be out later this summer.

Alastair Baird, managing director of Barratt London, said: “We’ve know from the moment we started work that Dalston and the wider area around it absolutely buzzes with creativity, and is home to lots of new and established artists.

“We’re glad to be working in co-operation with artists who actually care a great deal about East London generally and about Dalston in particular, and who want to part of the change that is taking place there. It is entirely in the spirit of the Dalston Square regeneration.”

Dalston Square is not only one of London’s key strategic regeneration schemes; it offers some of the best value new homes in the capital, with one-bedroom apartments starting at under £256,000.

The £160m project is providing over 550 new homes, shops, a library and archive, plus a brand new station for the East London line extension at Dalston Junction. At the heart of the scheme is a major new town centre space around which the new homes and amenities are being built. Barratt is developing the scheme in partnership with the London Borough of Hackney, Transport for London and the London Development Agency.

The marketing suite and show apartments are open off Roseberry Place, Dalston (E8) – visit barratthomes.co.uk/dalston for more information.