When 19th century wooden block pavers were discovered, laid beneath the asphalt of a Sydney CBD laneway, the opportunity was presented to communicate one of the city’s forgotten stories.

The City of Sydney briefed JDA to create a non-plaque based interpretive signage solution to deliver low cost identification of the site; to minimise impact on adjacent businesses during installation, and to limit the area of works to the road surface.

We researched, designed, wrote, illustrated and produced a series of laser cut aluminium stencils; combining factual information with curious illustrations of the methods and practices of ‘woodblocking’.

The stencils were applied directly to the laneway’s asphalt surface, acting as much as historical record, as public art. Periodic reapplication using the re-usable stencils, will ensure optimal presentation.