The Litmus Towers on the A13
Since 2005 four towers have adorned the skyline just above the A13 in Rainham, in the heart of the London Riverside BID area
21 August 2018
Commissioned by the London Borough of Havering, four landmark sculptures were designed as giant litmus papers responding to a variety of environmental stimuli. Litmus comprises four, twelve-metre high sculptures, placed on separate roundabouts near the raised A13 highway and visible to passing motorists. The installations, and their considered location, were created to draw attention to the brownfield sites adjacent to the road and the forthcoming regeneration of the area and connect motorists to their immediate environment.
Two of the towers measure and display the light levels and tide levels at Tilbury. The latter is particularly important for the RSPB, who monitor birds on the marshes and are one of the stakeholders in the project.
Marsh Way is the site of a further two towers. The southern ‘Litmus’ tower displays the power generated by the neighbouring wind turbine while the northern tower records and displays the volume of traffic entering into the Rainham area.
The project was created Jason Bruges Studio, which specialises in lighting designs and installations.
"I like the concept of the design. It will generate questions about and interest in, what is going on here," says Jerry Pittaway from the RSPB.