Es Devil 'Giant Oak Tree'

BST, Hyde Park, London 2022-24

The Great Oak Stage at Hyde Park's British Summertime Festival is built around an iconic oak tree sculpture designed by Es Devlin.

This project involved collaboration with Star Live to ensure this towering installation could function as a self-supporting structure, anchored around a central mast designed and installed by Star Live.

My Role Technical Designer & Installation Supervising

The Project

In this project, I led the technical design for the pelmet and two major branches of the Great Oak Stage. My role covered all aspects of the build, from selecting materials and designing fixing details to overseeing manufacturing processes, transportation logistics, and on-site installation. I also developed a detailed manual to guide future installations.

Collaborating closely with a structural trussing manufacturer, we designed and produced custom internal trussing to support the substantial load of the tree structure. We then created secondary cladding frames to hold the sculptural tree panels, which were hard-coated and meticulously painted to achieve the scenic look.

Working alongside Es Devlin, I ensured her creative vision remained intact while accommodating necessary adjustments for structural integrity and installation constraints. With just five weeks from design to installation, efficient design and precision execution were critical to meeting the challenging timeline and delivering a high-quality result.

INSTALLATION - HYDE PARK