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Where art meets architecture, A Week at the Knees is an art installation by British sculptor Alex Chinneck, unveiled during Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 in London’s quaint Charterhouse Square.
The sculpture is one of the most visually stimulating and unique things I’ve seen in the capital for years.
It’s a fantastic work of art and a piece of brilliant craftsmanship.
How did they even get it into position in the square?
A Week at the Knees
There’s nothing I enjoy in photography more than photographing buildings, which is why this art installation piqued my interest.
It’s the latest of 10 distorted public sculptures by Alex Chinneck that have previously been installed across London.
The design reimagines a traditional Georgian townhouse façade as if it has slumped into a seated position with its knees raised.
This position creates an archway that you can walk through, making the installation somewhat interactive.
No detail on the installation has been missed, either.
On the façade, you’ll find seven windows, a drainpipe, two lamps, and a door complete with a knocker, handle, letterbox, keyhole cover, and doorbell.
On the back of the door, you’ll even find a golden door chain – scroll down to see all the details under the ‘Photos’ heading.
Impressively, the installation stands 5.5 meters tall and stretches 13 meters in length, having been assembled using over 7,000 bricks and 320 metres of repurposed steel (weighing 4.6 tonnes) salvaged from the former American Embassy in London.
The whole thing weighs 11.5 tonnes, yet it’s only 15cm thick.
Isn’t it an interesting name, too?
In an interview with Desigindaba, Alex Chinneck said, “I like the idea that it’s reclining and relaxing – so it’s on a kind of vacation,” referring to the sculpture’s title. “But it feels like a human figure in a way, and the knees are in the air. I like the play on words.”
To be weak at the knees might mean feeling overwhelmed by strong emotions, such as love or fear, or a sense of vulnerability.
Maybe even the London Rat Race can make someone weak at the knees.
However, in this case, it’s a positive emotion, and the sculpture is taking a week off.
Visitor Information
You need to be quick to visit A Week at the Knees in Charterhouse Square because it will be gone by early July 2025.
It’s a shame it’s not staying longer, or becoming a permanent fixture of the square, because it’s so wonderful.
A permanent home hasn’t been defined yet, but you can be sure to catch it elsewhere once it moves.
📍 Charterhouse Square, Barbican, London EC1M 4AY
💷 Free
A Week at the Knees Photos
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