Window Works was a project devised and run by Harlow Renaissance and Harlow Council to create installations and exhibitions within the window spaces of empty retail units across Harlow Town Centre.
At the time this project was devised the Town Centre had around 25 empty retail units, some of which faced external pedestrianised streets whilst others were part of an internal shopping centre.
The number of empty units was primarily due to the time it took to select a development partner for the major step-change regeneration of the northern part of the Town Centre.
The Window Works project sought expressions of interest from artists interested in working on a design scheme for empty units across the whole of the Town Centre. The project involved an artist developing new commissions for several of the larger empty retail units in the northern part of the Town Centre.
Artist Henna Nadeem was selected to create site-specific, large scale vinyl window installations for three empty units in West Square.
The designs immediately drew attention with their bold, geometric forms and vibrant colour highlighting unique forms and motifs distinctive to Harlow. Developed from the artist’s research into postwar architecture and architectural features, the designs focused on three main forms from Harlow’s town centre - the Advice Centre, St Paul's Church and Little Walk. By doing so they focused on the changing face of Harlow and highlight a small aspect of the history of the town - St Paul’s original 1950’s window design and architecture can still be seen in Playhouse Square as can the Advice Centre’s facade in East Walk. However the Little Walk motifs have now disappeared from view. Each design was loosely based around a grid format and a strong palette of colours.