The transformative power of public art in urban development

Public art has the power to transform the built environment. Expressing culture and identity, it also improves liveability, creating destinations in urban landscapes that engage and inspire. Reflecting local history, nature and people, public art can foster community connections, creating a true sense of place.

Integrating public art into new developments offers economic benefits too. Creating jobs in the creative industry, it can also boost tourism. Often contributing to safer public spaces, it can increase property values, and promote retail investment.

Private developers have the opportunity to shape public spaces by engaging artists and designers to harness the creative possibilities of facades, entrances, and pathways bordering the public domain.

Involving the whole project at the point of commission — developers, architects, landscape architects and industrial designers — helps to deliver public art that creates more unique and culturally diverse cities.

At Tilt, we take a holistic approach to ensure seamless integration of art installations into architectural designs and local contexts.

Our multi-disciplinary team creates artist-led outcomes that combine art, play, architecture, and landscape elements. Community engagement is central to our process, involving feedback sessions and co-design opportunities.

Technological advancements are revolutionising our field. New design tools, particularly design software, are influencing how cities evolve, allowing us to visualize projects before construction to ensure they’re functional, inclusive, and tailored to their communities.

Tilt’s expertise in design, advanced manufacturing, and modern materials positions us at the forefront of innovation. We support artists to deliver a range of public art briefs — exploring various mediums, from kinetic and multi-media installations to computational design and mechatronics, as well as artisanal approaches — to deliver functional and design-driven outcomes that enhance the built environment.