Born To Be Wild Installation by NEON: A Playful Tribute to Heritage and Nature

The "Born to Be Wild" installation by Neon is a permanent interactive sculpture situated within Keepmoat’s Cable Wharf development in Northfleet, UK. Designed to encourage public engagement, the artwork invites visitors and residents to climb, sit, and walk through its organically flowing structure, offering a unique blend of architectural design, public art, and urban placemaking.

A Connection to History: Honoring the Victorian Bear Pit

The installation is strategically positioned above the buried remains of a Grade II listed Victorian bear pit, a historic attraction once central to Rosherville Gardens in the 19th century. To protect the structure from weathering, English Heritage recommended re-burying it. NEON responded to this challenge by incorporating the archaeological drawings of the bear pit into the artwork’s footprint, allowing visitors to experience the site's history in a contemporary form.

Nature-Inspired Design: An Artistic Interpretation of Bear Movements

Inspired by the way bears navigate tree branches, the structure gently undulates, evoking natural movement and playfulness. Its curvaceous form invites interaction, encouraging visitors to engage with the space much like animals in the wild. This element of biophilic design prompts reflection on the evolving relationship between humans and wildlife in urban environments.

Community Engagement: Designed with Local Schoolchildren

The project was developed with input from Key Stage 2 students at Rosherville Church of England Primary Academy. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, virtual workshops allowed students to contribute to the artwork’s design through color exploration and form assessments. Their feedback led NEON to enhance the sculpture’s curves, creating a more dynamic and engaging experience for users.

Preserving Industrial and Natural Heritage

The installation is part of a broader heritage strategy by landscape architecture firm ARC, aimed at preserving the site’s rich history along the River Thames. This initiative also includes the regeneration of:

• WT Henley’s industrial cable works
• Rosherville Gardens
• Underground chalk caves
• Historic riverside structures

To enhance public awareness, the site features interpretation boards, wayfinding markers, engraved paving, and street furniture, ensuring the history remains accessible to both residents and visitors.

Sustainable & Durable Construction

Spanning 10m x 12m with a maximum height of 2.4m, "Born to Be Wild" was engineered for durability and environmental resilience. The structure consists of:

• Material: 316 stainless steel
• Finish: Marine-grade epoxy paint for weather resistance
• Manufacturing: Fabricated by Steelline in 10 modular sections, bolted together onsite
• Engineering: Designed with shallow foundations to protect the buried bear pit

This project exemplifies adaptive reuse, sustainable design, and public art integration, transforming an overlooked historic site into an engaging urban space.

All Photographs are works of Simon Anning