Banner Wrap Solutions at Somerset House: Concealing Scaffolding Without Compromising Heritage
London is a city where history and modern life coexist side by side. Few places demonstrate this balance better than Somerset House—one of the capital’s most important cultural landmarks. As a thriving centre for art, film, fashion, and public events, Somerset House attracts thousands of visitors, particularly during the summer months when its open-air courtyard becomes a celebrated cinema venue.
However, maintaining a historic building of this scale and age is no small task. Ongoing conservation and repair works are essential, and with that comes an unavoidable challenge: scaffolding. Large, highly visible scaffolding structures, combined with construction activity and high-visibility workwear, can detract from the visitor experience and disrupt the visual harmony of such a prestigious setting.
This is where Project Print Management was asked to step in — with a brief that required sensitivity, speed, and technical precision.
The Challenge: Hiding Scaffolding at a World-Class Cultural Venue
Somerset House is under almost constant repair due to its historic fabric and architectural significance. While this is necessary to preserve the building for future generations, the resulting scaffolding is visually intrusive—especially during major public events.
The management team needed a solution that would:
- Conceal scaffolding and construction activity
- Preserve the visual integrity of the building
- Avoid disrupting public events and visitor experience
- Be delivered quickly, with minimal on-site disruption
Traditional approaches such as temporary fencing or mesh screens were not suitable for a site of this stature. The solution had to blend seamlessly into the building’s architecture while remaining robust and safe.
Our recommendation was a banner wrap designed to replicate existing architectural details — specifically, the iconic chimneys that form part of Somerset House’s roofline.
Why a Banner Wrap Was the Right Solution
A banner wrap offers a unique combination of flexibility, scale, and visual impact. When designed correctly, it can effectively disguise construction works while maintaining the aesthetic continuity of a building.
For Somerset House, the banner wrap needed to do more than simply hide scaffolding. It had to become part of the building visually — something that would not draw attention to itself, but rather allow the architecture to speak uninterrupted.
We proposed a solid PVC banner wrap, digitally printed with high-resolution imagery of the existing chimneys. This approach allowed the scaffolding to virtually disappear from ground-level viewpoints.
Capturing the Perfect Imagery
One of the most technically demanding aspects of this project was the photography.
To create a convincing illusion, the images needed to be:
- Taken head-on, with no perspective distortion
- High-resolution enough for large-format printing
- Accurate in colour, texture, and scale
Accessing the correct vantage point proved challenging. To photograph the chimneys properly, our team had to gain access to the roof on the opposite side of Somerset House. This allowed us to capture the architectural details straight on, avoiding angled shots that would distort when printed at scale.
Perspective is critical in projects like this. If a photograph is taken at an angle, the perspective becomes exaggerated once printed and installed at height — effectively doubling the distortion and making the image look unnatural. By photographing head-on, we ensured that the final banner wrap would align visually when viewed from the courtyard below.
Artwork and Digital Manipulation for the Banner wrap
Complicating matters further, the scaffolding had already been erected by the time photography was completed. This meant the scaffolding itself appeared in the original images and had to be carefully removed during the artwork stage.
Our design team meticulously retouched the images, removing all traces of scaffolding while preserving architectural details such as brickwork, shadows, and weathering. The final artwork was then scaled precisely to match the dimensions of the scaffolding structure it would cover.
This level of digital preparation is essential for architectural banner wraps. Small inaccuracies become highly visible at large scale, particularly on historic buildings where visitors are familiar with the details.
Material Selection: Solid PVC Over Mesh
In many scaffolding projects, mesh PVC is the preferred material due to its lighter weight and reduced wind loading. However, this project required a different approach.
A mesh banner wrap was not suitable for two key reasons:
- Transparency in Backlighting
When the sun drops behind a mesh banner, it becomes semi-transparent. In this case, that would have revealed the construction workforce and scaffolding behind — completely undermining the purpose of the wrap. - Visual Integrity
The aim was to create a convincing architectural illusion. Mesh material would have softened the image and reduced clarity, especially when viewed up close.
For these reasons, we specified a solid PVC banner wrap, despite the increased wind loading considerations. While solid PVC requires careful assessment and secure fixing, it was the only material capable of delivering the visual result Somerset House required.
Managing Wind Load and Safety
Installing a solid PVC banner wrap at height is not without challenges. Solid material catches significantly more wind than mesh, increasing the load on the scaffolding structure.
To mitigate this, we worked closely with the site team to ensure:
- Fixing points were correctly specified and distributed
- The banner was tensioned evenly to avoid sail effects
- Installation followed strict safety procedures
While not ideal in all scenarios, the solid PVC banner wrap was essential for achieving the desired outcome — and with proper planning, it was installed safely and securely.
Speed Was Critical for the Banner wrap
One of the most impressive aspects of this project was the turnaround time.
Somerset House management had not initially anticipated just how visually disruptive the scaffolding would be, particularly during event season. Once the decision was made to proceed, time was extremely limited.
From start to finish, Project Print Management completed:
- Site survey
- Roof-access photography
- Image retouching and artwork
- Scaling and pre-production
- Digital printing
- Delivery to site
All within seven days.
This rapid turnaround was only possible due to our in-house capabilities and experience managing complex, time-sensitive projects in central London.
The Final Result
Once installed, the banner wrap achieved exactly what it was designed to do.
From ground level, the scaffolding virtually disappeared. The printed chimneys blended seamlessly into the existing architecture, allowing visitors to focus on the cultural experience rather than the construction works above.
For Somerset House, this meant:
- An uninterrupted visual backdrop for outdoor cinema events
- Improved visitor experience
- Reduced visual impact during essential maintenance works
- A solution that respected the building’s historic status
Feedback from the client was extremely positive, with many visitors unaware that a banner wrap had been installed at all — the ultimate compliment for this type of project.
Banner Wraps for Heritage and Cultural Sites
This project highlights how banner wrap solutions can be used sensitively and effectively in heritage environments.
While banner wraps are often associated with advertising or commercial messaging, they can also be powerful tools for:
- Concealing renovation works
- Preserving visual continuity
- Enhancing visitor experience
- Protecting brand and cultural identity
When designed and installed correctly, a banner wrap doesn’t compete with architecture — it supports it.
Why Choose Project Print Management for Banner wrap?
Projects like Somerset House require more than just printing capability. They demand experience, technical knowledge, and a deep understanding of how materials, imagery, and environments interact.
At Project Print Management, we offer:
- Specialist large-format banner wrap production
- High-resolution photography and artwork services
- Expertise in scaffolding and wind-load considerations
- Fast turnaround for time-critical projects
- Experience working with heritage and high-profile sites
From cultural landmarks to commercial developments, we deliver banner wrap solutions that solve real-world problems without compromising quality or safety.
Talk to Us About Your Banner Wrap Project
If you’re managing a site where scaffolding or construction is unavoidable — but visual impact matters — a banner wrap could be the ideal solution.
Whether you need to hide works, protect a brand, or preserve a historic setting, Project Print Management can help you achieve the right balance between practicality and presentation.
Get in touch today to discuss your project or explore what’s possible with large-scale banner wrap solutions.
For more information on how to hide obtrusive scaffolding or for large building wraps please call us. Or for our latest work please visit our blog page
