A striking new centerpiece now anchors the glass atrium of One Leadenhall in the City of London. Designed by London-based designer Brodie Neill, Opal is a large-scale bronze installation that combines sculptural presence with functional seating, creating a bold visual and spatial experience within the building’s reception.
Commissioned by Brookfield Properties for its new landmark development, the work marks Neill’s most ambitious project to date. Recently unveiled within the building’s vast atrium, Opal responds directly to its architectural setting, drawing on the color, grandeur, and rich material palette of the neighboring Leadenhall Market.
Opal Installation Reflecting Gemstone Asymmetry
The site-specific installation is composed of two complementary elements, Opal and the Opal Bench, positioned at either end of the reception. Together, they create functional focal points within the foyer while establishing a strong dialogue with the surrounding architecture. The dual arrangement helps frame the space and guide movement through the interior.
The design takes its name from the refined, asymmetric curves of a natural gemstone. Its form captures the irregular geometry of an opal, while its surface celebrates the luminous, shifting qualities achieved through bronze patination. This traditional technique introduces layers of color and depth into the material, allowing the piece to subtly change appearance as light moves across the atrium throughout the day.
Rising six meters tall and weighing approximately 2,285 kilograms, Opal is an engineering and logistical achievement. The structure is composed of 47 individually patinated bronze panels, each mounted onto a stainless-steel framework and secured with more than one thousand bolts. This faceted, patchwork construction references the kaleidoscopic architectural language of Leadenhall Market, while also addressing the practical challenges of transporting and assembling a work of this scale within the narrow streets of the City of London.
Neill described the process as akin to “building a ship in a bottle,” underscoring the precision, planning, and coordination required to realize the installation within such constraints.
Brodie Neill, in collaboration with Format Engineers, designed and technically developed the project. Bronze patination was carried out by Derek Bayley Patina, with installation executed by Mtec.
About the Designer Brodie Neill
Born in Tasmania and based in London for over two decades, Brodie Neill is internationally recognized for his pioneering approach to sustainable and circular design. His practice explores the transformation of materials such as ocean plastics, salvaged timbers, and recycled metals into refined, museum-grade works.
His work has been exhibited and collected globally, including at Sotheby’s, Frieze, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the AMA Collection in Venice. Known for advancing sustainable design through material innovation, Neill was selected for the Schmidt Ocean Institute Artist at Sea Residency to Antarctica in 2025, further expanding his research into ocean health and material systems.
He has also represented Australia at the London Design Biennale and addressed the United Nations and the European Parliament on the environmental impact of microplastics. This year marks 20 years of his London studio, which continues to operate at the forefront of material innovation and contemporary design practice.
With Opal, Neill brings together craftsmanship, sustainability, and architectural sensitivity in a single, commanding installation. The result is a space that functions efficiently and delivers a memorable visual identity, reinforcing One Leadenhall as a significant new destination within the City of London.
Project Details
Project Name: Opal
Type: Sculptural bronze installation with integrated seating
Location: One Leadenhall, City of London
Commissioned by: Brookfield Properties
Designer: Brodie Neill
Engineering Collaboration: Format Engineers
Bronze Patination: Derek Bayley Patina
Installation: Mtec
Photography: Felix Speller
