Tunnels
The Branch of the Piccadilly Line from Holborn to Aldwych was a little-used appendage that managed to survive for 87 years. There is a distinct change in how the station has been used over time, from an overlooked and forgotten shuttle service, to a home and a lifeline for many families living in the west end during the Blitz.
Tunnels is a perfect bound publication and a typographic expression of how people’s relationships with a place can change over time, and how a place can stand still for years, all the while bringing people together.
For years, Aldwych remained forgotten, until the Blitz gave it an unexpected purpose. During World War II, the station became a refuge, with It’s platform serving as a shelter for those seeking safety from air raids. What was once an overlooked station soon became a lifeline and temporary home for many. This shift in Aldwych’s role, from neglected station to a sanctuary, strongly influenced by design decisions for the publication.
Every element of tunnels was informed by extensive research, ensuring intention down to the smallest details. The publication measures 150mm x 250mm, reflecting Aldwych’s platform length of 150 feet compared to the standard 250 feet. The margins are uniformly 10mm, except for the bottom margin, which is 20mm, symbolising the tunnel as ‘space below’. Typography choices were equally meaningful. Headers and subheads are set in Franklin Gothic, inspired by it’s association with the War Is Over peace campaign, a symbol of global unity and resilience, echoing the sense of togetherness Aldwych fostered during the blitz. Quotes are set in Gill Sans and printed using letterpress, connecting the publication to the wartime era’s typography and print methods.
The layout evolves to mirror Aldwych’s story and it’s users’ experiences. Early pages are spacious, with lots of white space and loose leading, highlighting the station’s initial emptiness and quiet. As the publication progresses, the pacges grow increasingly cramped. Text becomes more condensed as the leading tightens, visually representing the station’s growing population during the Blitz. This progression symbolises how Aldwych transformed into a communal space, where people, despite their hardships, found unity and comfort in each others company.
