Large-scale printed scaffold wraps are often used to conceal renovation works — but they can also become powerful cultural statements. When thoughtfully commissioned and expertly produced, building wrap artwork can transform construction sites into public canvases that communicate identity, creativity and purpose.
Project Print Management was proud to support a major building wrap artwork installation at Somerset House on the Strand in central London. Commissioned by the Somerset House Trust, this project invited artists from Somerset House Studios to create original work that would cover the scaffolded façade while refurbishment works were underway.
Rather than simply disguising construction, the wrap became an opportunity to express the cultural mission of Somerset House to the wider public.
Turning Scaffolding into a Cultural Canvas with Building wrap artwork
Somerset House is a Grade I listed neoclassical building with a long and complex history. Today it operates as a vibrant cultural hub, hosting exhibitions, performances, creative residencies and public events throughout the year.
When refurbishment works required scaffolding along the Strand façade, the Trust saw an opportunity. Instead of a standard printed cover, they commissioned new artwork that would:
Conceal the scaffold structure
Reflect the identity of Somerset House Studios
Showcase resident artists
Engage passers-by on the Strand
Reinforce the organisation’s creative mission
The result was a building wrap artwork that elevated a practical requirement into a public-facing cultural installation.
The Concept Behind the Artwork for the Building wrap artwork
Artists Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard were commissioned to create new works as part of their ongoing photographic series known as Multigraphs.
Their practice often explores themes of reflection, refraction and portraiture. The Multigraphs series uses a Victorian mirror device to capture five simultaneous views of a subject in a single photographic exposure.
This resurrected optical technique creates the illusion entirely in-camera — no digital manipulation required. The result is a striking composite portrait that feels both historic and contemporary.
For the building wrap artwork at Somerset House, Forsyth and Pollard photographed fellow artists resident at Somerset House Studios. The wrap therefore became a collective portrait of the creative community housed within the building itself.
Communicating the Mission of Somerset House
Somerset House Studios is home to artists, filmmakers, musicians, designers and thinkers working across disciplines. By featuring these residents within the building wrap artwork, the Trust achieved several objectives:
Showcasing the diversity of its creative community
Making the internal artistic activity visible externally
Reinforcing its cultural leadership
Engaging a broad public audience
The Strand is one of London’s busiest thoroughfares. Thousands of pedestrians, commuters and tourists pass Somerset House daily. The building wrap artwork ensured that, even during refurbishment, the façade remained dynamic and relevant.
About the Artists
Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard are internationally recognised artists and filmmakers. Working across installation, performance, sound, film and television drama, their collaborative practice spans multiple media.
Their work has been exhibited globally and collected by institutions including Tate and the British Government Art Collection.
Their feature film 20,000 Days on Earth won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival, where the jury described it as “arguably the most exciting film in competition.” The film was also nominated at the Spirit Awards and BAFTA. In 2015, they received the Best Debut Director award at the British Independent Film Awards.
Commissioning artists of this calibre ensured the building wrap artwork was not merely decorative but culturally significant.
The Role of Building Wrap Artwork in Public Space
Building wrap artwork sits at the intersection of architecture, print technology and contemporary art. It must satisfy multiple criteria:
Visual impact at scale
Structural safety
Print clarity
Weather resistance
Sensitive integration with heritage architecture
On a landmark site such as Somerset House, the wrap had to respect the historic façade while clearly communicating a contemporary creative voice.
Large-format artwork of this scale becomes part of the urban landscape. It is viewed from varying distances and angles — up close by pedestrians and from afar by traffic crossing Waterloo Bridge or moving along the Strand.
Structural Considerations for Installation
As with all well-managed scaffold wraps, a sub-frame system was installed onto the primary scaffolding structure. This ensures:
Even tension across the surface
Reduced wind load stress
Secure fixing points
Long-term durability
Collaboration with the scaffolding contractor and main contractor was essential. Before installation, structural checks confirmed that the scaffold framework could safely support the weight and wind resistance of the printed wrap.
Health and safety compliance is critical on heritage and public-facing buildings. Every fixing method must be secure without compromising the underlying structure.
Choosing the Right Print Material
For this building wrap artwork, we selected high-quality mesh PVC material.
Mesh PVC is often preferred for scaffold installations because it:
Allows wind to pass through
Reduces strain on the scaffold
Is lighter than solid PVC
Maintains excellent print clarity at distance
Given the scale of the Strand façade, managing wind loading was particularly important. The mesh substrate provided the necessary balance between durability and structural safety.
High-Resolution Digital Printing
Artwork of this nature demands exceptional print quality. Large-scale portraits must retain detail, tonal depth and clarity even when enlarged across many metres.
The building wrap artwork was digitally printed using high-resolution large-format printers to ensure:
Crisp image reproduction
Accurate colour balance
Seamless panel joins
Consistent finish across the façade
Because pedestrians could approach the wrap closely, fine detail was especially important. At the same time, the imagery needed to remain impactful when viewed from across the street.
Finishing and Fabrication
To assemble the large panels, we used high-frequency welding — a specialist process designed specifically for welding PVC and mesh materials.
High-frequency welding provides:
Strong, clean seams
Weather-resistant joins
Long-term structural integrity
Reinforced edges for fixing
This fabrication method ensures that even large-format wraps maintain their shape and tension throughout the installation period.
Edge reinforcement and eyelets were added to allow secure attachment to the scaffold sub-frame.
Managing Scale and Perspective
One of the most challenging aspects of building wrap artwork is managing scale.
Artwork that works beautifully in a studio environment must translate effectively to a façade spanning multiple storeys.
Key considerations included:
Cropping and composition
Viewing distance
Alignment with architectural lines
Avoiding distortion
Test sections and scaled proofs ensured the final artwork would perform visually once installed.
The Impact on the Public Realm
During refurbishment, construction sites can feel disruptive. A thoughtfully designed building wrap artwork changes that perception.
At Somerset House, the wrap achieved several outcomes:
Concealed scaffolding in a refined way
Added cultural value during works
Engaged the public visually
Highlighted resident artists
Maintained the building’s prestige
Instead of appearing dormant during refurbishment, the façade remained active and communicative.
Why Building Wrap Artwork Matters for Cultural Institutions
For arts organisations and heritage trusts, presentation matters. Even during maintenance, public engagement should not pause.
Building wrap artwork provides a way to:
Continue storytelling
Celebrate creative communities
Enhance urban environments
Strengthen brand identity
Rather than treating scaffolding as an inconvenience, institutions can view it as an opportunity.
Expertise in Print and Project Management
Delivering a project of this scale requires more than printing capability. It demands careful coordination between:
Artists
Curators
Scaffold contractors
Engineers
Installation teams
Project Print Management oversees each stage, from artwork preparation and material selection through to fabrication and installation.
Our experience with large-scale cultural and heritage sites ensures that building wrap artwork is delivered safely, on time and to specification.
The building wrap artwork at Somerset House demonstrates how scaffold covers can become meaningful public art installations.
By commissioning Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard to create new works featuring resident artists, Somerset House transformed a period of refurbishment into a moment of creative visibility.
Printed at high resolution on mesh PVC, fabricated using high-frequency welding and installed onto a purpose-built sub-frame, the wrap combined artistic ambition with technical precision.
For cultural institutions, developers and heritage organisations, building wrap artwork offers an opportunity to communicate identity, engage audiences and enhance the public realm — even while renovation works continue behind the scenes.
If you are planning a scaffold wrap that goes beyond concealment and becomes a statement piece, Project Print Management can guide you through design, print and installation with expertise and care.
