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Broadwater Farm Estates
Mosaic Conservation
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Rising across the full height of Tangmere House at Broadwater Farm, the Equality–Harmony mural is one of the most powerful works of contemporary public art in Britain. Created in 1986 by artist Gülsün Erbil in collaboration with local residents, the mural emerged in the aftermath of the Broadwater Farm riot of 1985, conceived as a statement of peace, unity, and hope.
Spanning 20 metres high and 5 metres wide, the mosaic depicts themes of equality, harmony, and community, woven together by a rainbow and a musical theme that runs the entire height of the artwork. It is not only an artwork, but a shared memory, one embedded into the social history of London.
Client
Haringey Council
Location
London
Grade listing
Grade II
Fabric
Concrete
Protecting a Modern Landmark
When the building on which the mural sits was identified as being at risk of demolition, the artwork faced an uncertain future. Recognising its cultural significance, Historic England granted the mural Grade II listed status, securing its place within the national heritage record.
Haringey Council appointed DBR Conservation to undertake the specialist task of safeguarding the mural, an intervention that required innovation, precision, and deep respect for both the artwork and the community it represents.
30 Tonnes of History, Held Together by Precision
The mural is constructed from glass and ceramic tesserae set into concrete and weighs approximately 30 tonnes. To safely remove it in sections, DBR’s conservators developed a highly controlled protection and lifting strategy inspired by techniques traditionally used to salvage Roman mosaics.
Each section was secured using a bespoke three-layer protective blanket system. The first layer comprised cotton gauze and natural wheat-starch paste, followed by a layer of liquid rubber, and finally a rigid plaster layer. Together, these layers absorbed vibration, prevented shock during cutting and lifting, and held the mosaic pieces securely in place should any movement occur.
A narrow strip of mosaic was intentionally left exposed within each blanket to act as a precise guide for the cutting blade.
Cutting, Lifting, and Collaboration at Height
The removal of the mural was delivered in close collaboration between DBR and Hughes and Salvidge. Twenty-one individual mosaic sections were carefully wet cut using large diamond cutting wheels. Smaller blades were first used to create pilot cuts at each corner, followed by larger blades to cut through the full depth of concrete.
Before final cuts were completed, each section was connected to a crane to apply controlled tension, eliminating the risk of uncontrolled movement. Once separated, the crane lifted each 2.5-tonne section safely to ground level, where DBR conservators and a forklift team guided the panels to an on-site, purpose-built workshop.
Conservation as Continuity, Not Replacement
Within the workshop, DBR’s conservation team continues the meticulous process of documenting, cleaning, and repairing each mosaic section. Using deionised water and conservation-grade detergents, the surfaces are carefully cleaned before detailed repairs begin.
Where tesserae are damaged or missing, new pieces are sourced and colour-matched to the original materials, ensuring visual continuity and historical integrity. Every intervention is carefully recorded, preserving both the physical artwork and its story.
Social value drives this project, using modern‑heritage conservation to engage communities, honour shared history, and preserve the mural’s relevance while upholding the founding values of equality, harmony, and unity.
