Green is the new Black

 In our third post about areas of Shoreditch, we turn our attention to Hoxton Square. It is one of London’s oldest squares and dates back to 1683. Once home to industrial premises, in the 1990s it became the central focus of the East London new wave of art and media. The White Cube Gallery, champion of the Young British Artists, set up its home here. @_WhiteCube

The development of Hoxton Square since then has become something of a thorny issue. Some see it is a short-hand for the increased commercialisation of the area and it is true that many chains have taken up residence here, but look a bit further and you will find that some smaller, independent places still exist. If it is an example of the inevitable progression and gentrification of Shoreditch, then it is also a successful paradigm of independents and chains living side by side. 
 
Art is not dead in Hoxton Square, although FUMI Gallery is not somewhere that is extensively promoted, or easy to find. Tucked in a corner, this is 'by-appointment only' space serves a dual purpose as owners’ living room and exhibition space.
 
Owners Valerio Cap and Sam Pratt bought the house after leaving jobs in media and the city. In 2008 they turned their collective interest in art and design into a commercial enterprise. They now have a gallery that represents some of the most cutting-edge designers for interiors.
 

One of the artists, Rowan Mersh, is a local. He uses hard objects to achieve a soft aesthetic. A wall installation, from a distance, looks like sea anemones swaying in the waves. Up close it is made from thousands of, there’s not a more prosaic way of saying it, kebab skewers covered in marble dust. His ability to make mundane objects beautiful and endow them with a movement they didn’t know they had is extraordinary.

 

Of course, this kind of individual design comes with a hefty price tag and at £25,000 is not something you might want to buy with your burger from Byron, but for anyone interested in design and interiors the gallery is a real treat. The gallery is very approachable and would be happy to let you in and show you round. @Galleryfumi

Daniel Blau Gallery specialises in vintage photography. With galleries in London and Munich, it also publishes photography books and puts on a varied programme of events. The current exhibition is ‘APOLLO 8 x 10, an exhibition showcasing pictures taken on pioneering NASA explorations beyond the earth’s boundaries’. They are taken on both manned and unmanned NASA missions and depict something other-worldly, on what is a very human endeavour. Having said that, you will have to squint through the glass at the moment, as the owners have clearly got their priorities right and are closed for the month of August. Whatever exhibition is on here there is always something worth a look, as it can provide a little vintage counterpoint to your hectic 21^st Century day. @DanielBlauLtd


Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen is a bar, restaurant and music venue all in one. During the day there is a large outside terrace serving all-day brunches, burgers and pizza. In the evening, however, it is a gig venue mostly showcasing newer, smaller bands - with the occasional high profile name warming up for a tour. The people in charge know what they are doing when it comes to music. Mama and Company own and operate some of the best-known live music venues and festivals in the country. From The Jazz Café to Barfly, Lovebox to GlobalGathering, they understand their musical audiences. Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen is the perfect, intimate venue to discover some of the UK’s best fledgling bands. @HoxtonHQ @MAMAPresents
 
Bill’s started its life as a tiny greengrocers and café in Lewes, East Sussex in 2000. After a little organic growth it was quickly snapped up by experienced investors who have grown the brand aggressively. Since then it has exploded, with over 65 (!) new openings. Bill is still involved in the look of the spaces, but not the day-to-day running of the business. Inevitably, all of this rapid growth has had an effect on the brand and for someone who was a big fan of one the Brighton originals, with its fresh produce and distinctive vibe, it all feels a little watered down. On the plus side, Bill's in Shoreditch occupies a perfect sunny little corner on the square with a lovely terrace and if you choose carefully from the menu, you can still get a taste of the original passion. @BillsRestaurant


Trafik on Hoxton Sqaure is a little bar and club with resident DJs that play ‘rare grooves spun through late nights. It’s the intimate club of East London and guarantees a great night.’ It draws a mixed Shoreditch crowd and if you look at the reviews it's a bit Marmitey – people tend to love it, or hate it. All was well for the 99Shoreditch visit tho’, friendly staff, good service and even better, an extremely long happy hour. @Trafikbar

Beef is taking over Hoxton Square. Along with Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen and Byron, comes Red Dog Saloon. Bringing a bit of the US of A to Shoreditch, these guys have imported traditional smokers to get that authentic Southern taste. Hardly a chain - there are only 2 Red Dog’s - the other being in Clapham North. Whilst we fancied a 16-hour smoked pork butt, jalapenos & Mexican cheese, we opted for the safer, but duller pulled pork sandwich. All was exactly as it should have been – tender and juicy, with very good chips. The only complaint was that the side of collard greens was a bit mushy. There is a great terrace outside which, on a summer evening with a cocktail in hand overlooking the square, is an extremely pleasant place to be. @RedDogSaloonN1

The most recent buzz for Hoxton Square has been the addition of the Tree Office. It’s straightforward - it’s an office, in a tree. But a magic kind of tree that is fully tech'd up with a power supply and WiFi. 

It’s a fascinating and forward-thinking project, a collaboration of artists, architects and charities. It is described as the ‘first initiative to be realised by the Park Hack project, led by Groundwork London and Hackney Council, set up to test new innovative models that sustain and enhance public open spaces’. As it is a Government / community initiative, anyone can book the office and community groups can get it free of charge on weekends. 




The structure is made from compressed paper with see-through plastic and translucent polycarbonate making up the outer walls, blurring the boundary between office and nature. A clever plastic roof keeps out the rain in the winter and ensures the space is cool with collected rainwater in the summer. The office will appear to transform as the seasons change around it. 

The aim of the project is to enable ‘those who work here to both connect with and give back to nature’. An interesting counterpoint to the commercialisation of the square, plus by booking the space you will be reinvesting into Hackney’s parks and green spaces. If you wish to book you can do it online until December. www.TREExOFFICE.london
@Tate_Harmer @GroundworkLON @GroundworkLON

Finally, and most importantly, Hoxton Square is just a great place to go and connect with people. Sharing a sandwich with friends at lunchtime, walking your dog, or meeting new people, it is an invaluable little bit of green in an otherwise urban jungle.

All photos by @foxyfoxlet