We were delighted to be asked to tender for a most unusual project in Liverpool.
The architect wanted to recreate the ‘fleur de lis’ design (which appears on the near-by Liver Building) on an external floor sited between an apartment block and set of offices.
The stencils were specially designed to fit the space and the ‘fleur de lis’ pattern was ‘painted’ using an acrylic coating. The final result is stunning! The picture below shows the project in construction. Blocksil were asked to apply a long lasting anti-graffiti coating over the top of the finished pattern.
Liverpool is a city in North West England, with an estimated population of 500,000. With its surrounding areas, it is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with over 2.3 million people living there. Liverpool is located on the northern side of the River Mersey. It became a borough in 1207 and a city in 1880. Its growth as a major port was paralleled by the expansion of the city throughout the Industrial Revolution. The port handled general cargo, freight, coal and cotton. The city merchants were also involved in the Atlantic slave trade. In the 19th century it was also a key port of departure for Irish and English emigrants to the United States. Liverpool was home to both the Cunard and White Star Line and was the port of registry of the ocean liners Titanic, Lusitania and Queen Mary. In recent times the city’s fame derives from music and football.
The fleur-de-lis (a French phrase, fleur means “flower”, and lis means “lily”) is used as a decorative design or symbol. Many of the saints are often depicted with a lily, most prominently St. Joseph.
While the fleur-de-lis has appeared on countless European coats of arms and flags over the centuries, it is particularly associated with the French monarchy in a historical context. It remains an enduring symbol of France that appears on French postage stamps, although it has never been adopted officially by any of the French republics. According to French historian Georges Duby, the three petals represent the medieval social classes: those who worked, those who fought, and those who prayed.
Partial completion of the Fluer de Lis artwork.
The Fluer de Lis artwork in Liverpool, nearing completion.