11 Million Dots: Park Royal's Large-Scale Public Artwork Unveiled
A six-storey public artwork in Park Royal transforms local sounds and conversations into a bold, data-inspired pattern on a new data centre, celebrating community voices in London.
A new, large-scale public artwork has landed in west London, inviting locals to see their voices turned into art. The six‑storey installation sits on the façade of a new data centre near Park Royal, turning everyday sounds into a striking, data‑driven pattern.
What is 11 Million Dots?
The six‑storey piece, titled 11 Million Dots, covers about 2,700 square metres (roughly 29,000 square feet) on the exterior of the new building in Park Royal, in the London Borough of Ealing. Artist Rafael El Baz collected ambient sounds from the area and conducted more than 120 interviews with local residents and business owners. He translated these voices into binary code and audio waveforms, then printed them onto aluminium panels to form the installation.
Why it matters
The project asks what data—an everyday, invisible part of modern life—looks like when abstracted into a single moment. It also emphasizes materiality and sustainability, showing how undervalued materials and stories can be reframed as public art.
“This piece takes the unheard stories of people and turns them into something sustainable,” El Baz explains.
The installation is part of London's Design Festival, a citywide celebration of design, creativity, and civic spaces.
Justine Simons, London's Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, praised the project for enlivening the city, sparking conversations, and strengthening community ties. She noted the data centre in Acton and Park Royal has been transformed into a visual work drawn from conversations with locals and the surrounding environment, including clouds, trees, and traffic patterns.
Overall, the piece demonstrates how public art can turn spoken histories into a shared, tangible experience on a prominent urban site.
Expert perspective
Design critics say the work reframes how we view data in city spaces, transforming numbers into a shared memory. The approach underscores the power of listening to residents when shaping public places.
Short summary
11 Million Dots marks a milestone in participatory art by merging community voices with design. The project blends sound, language, and sustainability on a major city landmark and aligns with London’s Design Festival goals, inviting residents to see data as part of daily life.
Key takeaway: Community voices are transformed into public art by translating listening into design on city façades. BBC coverage