Kaleidosteeple | Cristina Morbi

Kaleidosteeple is an accessible observation device and interactive public artwork, drawing inspiration from the ever-changing geometries of a kaleidoscope and the vertical symbolism of St Michael’s Square’s iconic steeple. Rising elegantly from the ground, this mirrored structure becomes a landmark in the square, both visually striking and deeply reflective, literally and metaphorically.

At its centre, a large kaleidoscope invites passersby to position themselves beneath it and look up, towards the sky, towards reflection, and towards change. The mirrored panels fragment and reflect Croydon’s richly diverse human and urban landscape, encouraging new perspectives and playful exploration.

A modular white frame holds the structure aloft, light in design, evoking the weightlessness of air and daylight. Yet its materiality anchors it in the energy of the city, a dialogue between the ephemeral and the urban. Climbing plants weave through and around the frame, cultivating a living architectural skin. Over time, this vertical garden will evolve with the seasons, creating a sensorial and ecological machine, a green shrine, a vegetal cathedral.

The marbled, iridescent tiles cladding the structure have been developed in collaboration with local communities through workshops and creative activities. Inspired by the changing hues of the sky, these tiles reflect both Croydon’s natural atmosphere and its collective imagination.

Kaleidosteeple is not only a place to observe but also to gather. It offers a quiet refuge, a social meeting point, and an invitation to see the familiar anew. This is a structure that asks its visitors, residents, commuters, and newcomers alike to look up, look around, and embrace the vibrant multiplicity of Croydon with curiosity and pride.