Transforming London’s Trafalgar Square into a crazy golf course

Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, the undulating course will be futuristic, functional, fun and free for the public.

London Design Festival has partnered with British designer Paul Smith to take over Trafalgar Square, home to Nelson’s Column, transforming it into a crazy golf course designed by some of the world’s most renowned architects, artists, and designers. The collaboration brings a medley of creative visionaries to the table in the hopes that the installation will take over London’s epicentre for the duration of the weeklong festival.

Smith is the curator and ambassador of the project, pushing to “transform the steps from the National Gallery into a riot of different coloured stripes, topped by a neo-classical clubhouse that echoes the museum, but has a turf roof and putters for columns.” 

Turning to crowdfunding hub Kickstarter for support, the project has some of the world’s most well known architects and artists designing nine distinct holes. These artists include Atelier Bow-Wow, Camille Walala, HAT Projects, Mark Wallinger, NEON, Ordinary Architects, Tom Dixon & the late Zaha Hadid.

The campaign adds, “Each will create a miniature pavilion that makes an entertaining, playable statement about the future of architecture, filling the square with Pop Art colours and inventive forms that will amuse and inspire both adults and children alike.”

London Design Festival has been running for over a decade and has a long-standing tradition of elaborate installations at Trafalgar Square. Visionary Crazy Golf is likely to rival the very best of its predecessors.