Southbury

Safia's Urban Place Shaping Research

As part of the Revealing Southbury public art and community engagement initiative, Enfield Council’s Journeys and Places team partnered with Fisher Cheng Architects to undertake urban place-shaping research. They commissioned locally embedded Place Champion Safia Banharally to lead an independent, community-focused investigation. This project is part of the wider Curate Enfield programme, which supports residents in bringing creativity into public spaces and reimagining high streets and town centres.

Alongside the creation of new vibrant artworks, the project explored how people experience Southbury today and its distinct identity. Safia led this research, gathering reflections on identity, heritage, and everyday life in the area.

Using a blend of ethnographic methods, including general public observation and informal conversations, Safia uncovered the often subtle and overlooked rhythms of daily life. Her research focused especially on exploring the role of 'third spaces' - informal community hubs that foster connection, familiarity, and a sense of belonging. These included well-used and much-loved spots such as the Southbury Launderette, Krispy Kreme, and other everyday places where people naturally gather, pause, and interact.

The research is helping to reveal new perspectives on Southbury’s character, values, and potential. These insights continue to inform the wider place-shaping process, offering inspiration for how public spaces and artworks can reflect the lived experiences and shared histories of the local community. Safia’s findings highlight Southbury’s layered identity, shaped by its heritage and the emotional texture of everyday life. They also draw attention to pockets of community energy and ambition, especially along busy routes like Southbury Road, where there is a clear desire for connection, visibility, and opportunity.

Read Safia's full report here. (External link)

Journeys and Places is proud to share her work, a thoughtful and detailed portrait of life in Southbury that brings forward local voices, hidden stories, and the everyday places that shape the unique character of this neighbourhood.

The Morning Commute: A Fantastical Journey Through the Stories of Southbury

The Morning Commute is a new public art mural and was officially launched in June 2025.

The artwork was created by illustrator and mural artist Qwynto and delivered as part of Curate Enfield, a project from Enfield Council’s Journeys and Places programme. It is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Arts Council England. Curate Enfield is a grassroots public art initiative that supports Enfield residents to take the lead in transforming sites in their local area and to develop their curatorial and creative skills.

Qwynto has been passionate about creativity since childhood and is known for turning ordinary moments into imaginative visual narratives. Emerging artist and architect Trini-Maria Katawe joined the project as a Place Champion for Southbury and played a key role, working closely with Qwynto and supporting the development of the artwork. Fisher Cheng Architects, a locally based, socially engaged architecture practice were commissioned by Journeys and Places to manage and coordinate this project. Their involvement was instrumental - supporting every stage of the process and working closely with the community to ensure the project reflected local voices and aspirations.

The Morning Commute, Southbury Road

Together, Qwynto, Fisher Cheng, and Trini-Maria collaborated with Year 6 students from Southbury Primary School, whose creativity and imagination were at the heart of the design. Through a series of co-design workshops, the students explored what makes Southbury special to them - from hidden gems and treasured places to everyday sights seen on their way to school. Their stories, collages, and drawings were brought together through Qwynto’s joyful, imaginative style, transforming a key walking route near Southbury Station into a vibrant, fantastical celebration of Southbury’s unique identity.

Qwynto installing the artwork

The Morning Commute is located outside Southbury Overground Station on Southbury Road, and forms part of the growing public art landscape in the area. It was developed through the Revealing Southbury project, alongside other commissions such as the Southbury Parade Shutter Murals, all aiming to celebrate local identity and bring creativity into everyday public spaces.

Huge thanks to Qwynto, Southbury Primary School, Fisher Cheng, the Place Champions, Trini-Maria Katawe, Safia Banharally, and all the students who shared their ideas, enthusiasm, and imagination. Special thanks to Network Rail and to our funders, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Arts Council England.

Left to right: Place Champion, Safia B, Artist Qwynto and Place Champion Trini-Maria K.

See the Mural in Person

📍 Location: The wall opposite/ outside Southbury Overground Station on Southbury Road.
🚶 Accessible by: Foot, bike, or public transport.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the fantastic launch event for Revealing Southbury at Almaz's Launderette last Saturday. The event celebrated the unveiling of six new murals in Southbury, the latest additions to the Curate Enfield public art programme, an Enfield Council Journeys and Places initiative.

Morning Commute at Southbury Bridge by Qwynto

Parading Around Southbury on Southbury Road by Andrew Werdna

This project has sparked creativity and collaboration across Southbury, bringing together local residents, businesses, and schoolchildren on an inspiring journey of co-creation with the mural artists.

We also celebrated the invaluable contributions of our two passionate Place Champions, Safia and Trini, who brought their deep local knowledge, research, and creative input to the project. Their involvement has been central to the project and the wider impact of this initiative.

It’s been an excellent start to an exciting chapter for Southbury and we are looking forward to sharing what's next to come.