Hermes, New Bond Street

“Silver Forest”, was a temporary installation by DSDHA and Rebecca Cocks to transform the Hermès flagship store on New Bond Street, London into a forest of silver trees for Christmas. In the 18th century, this location stood at what was the border of the city and what was originally a forest. To celebrate this, the pavement, store windows and interior were transformed with thirty-six cast silver birch trees – some reaching 8 metres in height.

Eighteen of the shimmering cast silver trees were installed in the pavements of New Bond Street and Bruton Street, and the forest continued into the windows and throughout the ground floor of the store. Passers-by could explore the iridescent forest, to touch the wintry surface of the metal and feel the ‘bark’ etched with the patina of the silver birch. In the background the sound of birds and horses’ hooves galloping in the winter snow can be heard.