SOUTHBANK CENTRE COMMISSION

Southbank Centre commissioned Absolute Zero Degrees to produce wallpaper featuring the iconic 1950s ‘Net and Ball’ design. The ‘Net and Ball’ design was originally designed for the carpet in the Royal Festival Hall, which opened in 1951 for the Festival of Britain. Keith and Mark of Absolute Zero Degrees are great Festival of Britain enthusiasts so it was a dream come true to be able to be part of the project.

The recent refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall and the surrounding area has renewed a great deal of interest in the Hall and the original design of the carpet. Designed by the architects of the Hall, Peter Moro and Leslie Martin, the carpet pattern is an abstract version of the square wave seen with the aid of an oscilloscope – the visual representation of sound. The ‘net’ or sound wave had already been created by Moro and the design was completed with the ‘ball’ by Leslie Martin inspired by an apple he had on his desk at the time.

‘Net and Ball’ wallpaper is available exclusively from the shop at Southbank Centre from April, 2008

Above: ‘Net and Ball’ in olive, and Royal Festival Hall plate, £25, by People Will Always Need Plates, available exclusively in
Southbank Centre Shops.

Net & Ball wallpaper in olive, gray and black, £50 by Southbank Centre/Absolute Zero Degrees, available exclusively in Southbank Centre Shops.

For samples of the wallpaper and press release please contact Southbank Centre press office or the Southbank Centre shop on 020 7921 0773