Highbury Hall & Park
Category
Heritage | Visitor attraction
Type of work
Brand identity
Located on the borders of Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley in Birmingham, England, Highbury Hall is one of Birmingham’s architectural treasures, a Grade II* listed mansion designed by celebrated local architect J. H. Chamberlain as a home for the Chamberlain family. Stretching out below the Hall, Highbury Park is a beautiful public park spanning over 30 acres.
The opportunity
The Chamberlain Highbury Trust were looking to develop a new brand for Highbury Hall & Park that reflects the trust's values, appeals to a wide range of audiences who visit the venue and grounds, and helps to establish Highbury Hall and Park as a renowned heritage site. The new identity needed to sit well within the heritage and visitor attraction market whilst developing a fresh, contemporary aesthetic.
Lindsay began by undertaking research around the Hall and surrounding grounds to draw direct inspiration from the materials, iconography, patterns and textures featured in the interiors and exterior, including the original stained glass and decorative tiles.
The new brand logo is inspired by the exquisite stained glass windows which are a leading feature of Highbury Hall. It references both the Hall & Park in one visual, creating a window from the inside of the Hall to the park beyond, a view which Chamberlain would have once enjoyed. It draws on the idea of letting light shine back into the Hall after a lengthy closure to the general public, allowing people to enjoy the restored mansion and discover its rich history.
The logo communicates the Trust's values of respect for heritage and celebration of nature, and is totally unique to Highbury. It directly features shapes found within the house itself, in both the decorative stained glass and oak panelling.
The colour palette takes inspiration from the rich colours which can be found within the house, including the delicate patterned wallpaper, stonework and marble, woodwork and gold leaf. It also references the terracotta and red brick work of the mansion exterior and the pops of colour that can be found within the park, including the lush greens of the trees and shrubs, and the bluebell, rhododendron and foxglove flowers. And of course there is also a nod to the famous orchids from the Chamberlains’ story.
The colours are vibrant and confident, referencing the heritage of the important venue and creating a distinctive palette to help build a new identity for Highbury. Care has been taken to ensure the colours achieve a good contrast when paired with black and white to ensure accessibility guidelines are met.
The visual identity will extend across marketing materials and merchandise as the Hall looks to relaunch, aswell as informing the visual language of interpretive materials and signage being produced by the Gardens design team. A new website has also been developed by Altogether Creative.