St David’s
The opening of St David’s 2, has elevated Cardiff to one of the top five shopping destinations in the UK and the Centre is expected to see an annual foot fall of 33 million. The City Council felt it was important that this project, which included the new Central Library, linked seamlessly with the existing City Centre.
Wood&Wood worked with Cardiff City Council and the Main Contractors over a period of 2 years to ensure that the 2D design concepts translated into fully specified, engineered signs that were fit for purpose and in a medium that would deliver the design intent, enhancing the City Centre. The evolution of the designs culminated in the manufacture of a range of prototypes so the client had complete confidence the end product would marry with their existing sign family.
The external signage sited around the City Centre features monoliths in striking black granite with etched lettering and location maps, streamlined directional fingerposts, and totems in black and orange toughened glass. All carry dual language text in English and Welsh.
Within the Centre translucent vinyl on glass was used to create the fluid “D” logo for St David’s, suspended fret cut signs provide directional information along with sign directories and white icons specially bonded to grey slate provide a tactile dimension.
The complete sign system helps, what is now one of the busiest shopping centres in the European Union, to sit comfortably within this evolving City Centre.