Landmark Mural
Letters in the Landscape: Typographic Echoes of Bristol’s Creative Past
EQ stands on a site steeped in Bristol’s industrial and creative history. Once home to the printing firm Mardon, Son and Hall, the location inspired a design language that pays tribute to its past. The building’s façade echoes the geometry of typesetter trays, while the interiors reflect the textures of a traditional printworks through materials like ink, metal, wood and glass.
We scoped and commissioned a large-scale mural to provide a new visual anchor for Redcliffe and support placemaking for the EQ development. We advised on site, scale, spend, schedule and creative approach, working closely with Bristol City Council to secure planning permission and creative sign-off from the culture team.
On behalf of CEG, we commissioned Molly Hawkins to create a landmark mural that celebrated Bristol’s rich printing heritage and the cultural significance of the site. The mural responded directly to the building’s architecture, with its façade reflecting the grid-like forms of traditional typesetter trays.
“The mural is a striking addition to EQ, connecting past and present while enhancing pride of place. It’s become a cultural anchor for the neighbourhood and a lasting celebration of Bristol’s heritage.”
At its heart is a layered visual tapestry, a mural shaped by collage, printmaking, and poetic storytelling, born from local voices, historic echoes, and Bristol’s creative pulse. Woven into the architecture, it transforms the building into a living canvas that connects past and present. It invites passersby to engage with Bristol’s story through a contemporary lens
Molly explored a wide range of inspirations, developing design concepts using collage and print-making techniques. In collaboration with Bristol-based writer Malaika Kegode, she spent time uncovering local stories and motifs drawn from the site’s heritage and the thematic richness of printing and letterpress. This creative journey sparked poetic responses from Malaika, which Molly translated into layered visual motifs that celebrate Bristol’s spirit of innovation, inclusivity and cultural depth.
Expanding on the themes and aesthetics of the exterior mural, Molly also created a series of interior artworks for EQ. These pieces echo the historical narratives and visual language of the mural, creating a cohesive artistic thread throughout the building and enriching the space with a sense of place and creative continuity.