Conversation Corner
Conversation Corner is a collaborative public furniture project developed during a six-week residency at Stockwell Community Centre. Working alongside fellow designers Sarah Marles, Mia Valecce, and Mercedes Plazola Díaz, Barrington was invited—through tutors Fabianne Lee-Perrella and Rachael Hutchinson—to work closely with local community members to reimagine the plaza’s underused and uninviting public space.
Rather than starting from scratch, the team focused on a ‘hack’ approach—building onto existing infrastructure to create something more inviting and reflective of the centre’s warmth and social energy. Central to the project was a co-design process with Tino and Matthew, two frequent members of the centre, whose insights, stories, and feedback helped shape the outcome.
The result was Conversation Corner, a modular seating installation designed to encourage gathering, connection, and spontaneous exchange. Located in the heart of Stockwell Plaza, the piece echoes the spirit of the community centre itself—open, informal, and grounded in relationship. It invites passersby, residents, and centre members alike to pause, sit, and engage with one another.
By embedding co-design into every step of the process, the project challenges traditional ideas of authorship and public design. Conversation Corner stands not only as a piece of furniture, but as a quiet celebration of the everyday relationships that make a place feel like home.
Following the exhibition, Conversation Corner was chosen by public vote to become a permanent installation in Stockwell Plaza. It was officially installed in April 2024, continuing to serve as a gathering point for the community it was built with and for.