Purple Patch: A Celebration of Creativity, Community and Circular Design

We were incredibly honoured to be commissioned by Liverpool City Council to create Purple Patch for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2024 – a vibrant, interactive, and sustainably-led activation space that reflected our ethos here at Make CIC. With sustainability at its core, Purple Patch became a standout destination for festival-goers to chill, recharge (wirelessly!), and reflect on the growing issue of household waste and how we can all play a part in improving recycling practices.

A Space with Impact

Purple Patch was designed to be more than just a resting spot – it was an experience that blended creativity, education, and community. Visitors could relax on our colourful tyre seating, wirelessly charge their phones at custom charging stations built into iconic purple bins, and engage with our dramatic “waste wall” – a bold installation made from 2,000 real household waste items sourced by Liverpool StreetScene Services. Mounted on reused festival wall panels and sprayed in a purple ombré by Rachel Smith Evans from Quirky Design Co, the wall sparked vital conversations about the volume of everyday waste we generate and how we can do better.

In total, over 660 kg of material was reused in the project, much of it sourced from local reuse schemes such as Reciprocity Wirral and Roberts Recycling. By reusing instead of buying new, we avoided an estimated 2.1 tonnes of CO₂e, contributing to BBC Radio 1’s wider efforts to green the festival.

Designed to Make a Difference

From the beginning, the build of Purple Patch was guided by our commitment to circular design. 67% of all materials used were reused or repurposed, and another 28% were new but reusable, ensuring they can be repurposed in future projects. Importantly, all materials used in the installation were retained post-event — nothing was sent to landfill.

Our seating area, for example, was made using discarded tyres from a Liverpool-based tyre company, which were destined for waste. These were cleaned, painted in bright colours by Rachel Owen and Ian Curry, and upholstered using textile waste from Roberts Recycling, giving them a completely new lease of life.

The waste wall itself was curated and assembled by Phaedra Bell and Nicky Billington from Pyromancy Productions CIC, who sorted through materials delivered by Liverpool StreetScene Services. The wall was mounted on reused festival panels, highlighting the sheer volume of everyday items that often go unrecycled.

Our DJ booth, which lit up in response to sound and featured broken audio equipment from a Liverpool supplier, gave visitors a playful way to interact with the idea of waste and reuse. It was brought to life with the help of Venya Krutikov, who programmed the lights and sound and installed wireless charging ports into purple wheelie bins – used throughout the space as seating and signage. These chargers, wrapped in striking vinyl designs by Emily Lansley (Glo Moth), gave guests a chance to power up their phones wirelessly.

Powered by Local People

We worked hard to keep the entire project hyperlocal – not just for environmental reasons, but to support our amazing local network of creatives and suppliers. 90% of all materials came from within five miles of Make CIC, and 11 out of 13 suppliers were local. Even our delivery vans came courtesy of Birkenhead Van Hire, helping us save over 250 miles of transport, and approximately 67 kg of CO₂e in emissions.

The team was made up almost entirely of Make CIC residents and members of the surrounding creative community, bringing together a rich mix of talent and skill, including:

Every item used was either reclaimed or selected with longevity in mind. Whether it was bamboo partitions from a previous Culture Liverpool installation, or recycled paint from Reciprocity, each element had a story — and a future. All 690+ kg of materials were carefully weighed and logged, reinforcing our commitment to accountability and learning for future events.

All funding from our Purple Patch commission goes directly back into our creative community. That means local artists and makers were paid fairly for their work – and their creativity was showcased on a national stage. We’re proud to say that many of the materials and structures from Purple Patch will be reused and reimagined for future events, continuing the cycle of sustainable making.

Our contribution was just one piece of an inspiring sustainability-led approach at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend – part of Liverpool’s role as the UK’s first Accelerator City. It’s been a joy to contribute to an event where environmental impact was taken seriously across the board. Some of the broader sustainable initiatives included:

We’re proud of what Purple Patch stands for – a bold, joyful reminder that creativity, sustainability, and community can (and should) go hand-in-hand. It’s proof that with local talent, circular thinking, and shared purpose, you can build something that’s not just beautiful – but truly meaningful.

👉 Want to collaborate with us on a sustainable creative project?
We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at: www.makecic.org/contact-us