Paul Smith wants to turn Trafalgar Square into a mini golf course – but he needs your help
Paul Smith and his friends at the London Design Festival have teamed up to transform Trafalgar Square from its current status, ie. tourist-addled nightmare, to the sort of mini golf course we can only dream about.
Smith has even designed a pair of socks for it.
But there's no easy way to say this: there's a chance it might not happen.
Yes: the group needs to raise £120,000 in order to raise half the funds needed to launch the project, which features designs by Tom Dixon and the late Zaha Hadid.
So far, though, they have raised just over £4,400.
The idea behind the project is Trafalgar Square is taken over for a week, "transforming it into a crazy golf course designed by some of the world's most renowned architects, artists and designers".
Hadid's characteristic curved design (Source: London Design Festival)
Among the crazy golf obstacles, the steps in front of the National Portrait Gallery will be transformed into one of Smith's classic striped designs, while Hadid's addition features the curves which were characteristic of her work.
Meanwhile, Ordinary Architecture has created cross-section of a gigantic pigeon, "through whose gut golf balls will travel". Coo.
Other designs include a construction site-style tower by Hat Projects and Tim Hunkin which "explores functionality and lifecycle", as well as one inspired by a driving range.
"Supporters of this project will bring about a public takeover of Trafalgar Square, transforming it into a free, colourful and playful arena of Visionary Crazy Golf," said the project's creators.
A giant pigeon "through whose guts a golf ball will travel" (Source: London Design Festival)
"It will attract a wide, public audience, and inspire the next generation of creatives. Thousands will be able to play the course, and millions more will watch and enjoy this experience, both in the square and through media. They will all interact in different ways with the imaginations of some of the most inventive minds in the world. We need £120,000 to make this happen."