In Pictures: Folly For A Flyover

Dean Nicholas
By Dean Nicholas Last edited 162 months ago

Last Updated 27 June 2011

In Pictures: Folly For A Flyover
Blue sky, grey concrete, green algal bloom, and a red-brick folly
The Folly lies between the two spans of the A12 overpass as it crosses the Lea Navigation Canal.
folly_door.jpg
Inside the Folly
Boats can be rented for a paddle along the Lee Navigation Canal
Underneath the folly's seating area
Waiting for a film to start (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, as it happens)
The underpass in April, pre-Folly (photo by chrisdb1)

On Friday, a temporary structure nestled beneath a concrete flyover in Hackney Wick opened its doors to the public.

Part of the Create11 Festival, Folly For a Flyover is the work of Assemble, the gang of amibitious young architects and designers who built the Cineroleum in Clerkenwell last year. Those who filled up at the Cineroleum will feel right at home here: each weekend evening until late July the Folly will hold a series of musical performances and film screenings. If you've ever dreamt about watching 2001: A Space Odyssey or The Wizard of Oz on a scrub of disused land beneath a flyover (and who hasn't?), now's your chance.

During the day and evening there's a simple cafe on-site, and there's also the opportunity to rent out small rowing boats for a quick paddle up and down the algae-infested Lee Navigation Canal. Come dusk, with the thrum of vehicles overhead, it's the perfect place to watch a film, even if you can never quite shake the feeling that you're living in a slightly more pleasant version of JG Ballard's Concrete Island.

Folly for a Flyover is located under the A12 flyover in Hackney Wick (map). Nearest station: Hackney Wick. Buses: 30, 26, 236, 388, 488. The Folly is open 7pm - 11pm Friday, 11am - 11pm Sat and Sun. Entry is free during the day, but evening events cost £4 and tickets are going fast.