AHP Six
A new type of letterpress
Greenspace have worked with local printmakers and designers New North Press to create a unique, hexagonal woodblock for letterpress printing. Named AHP Six, the type-system was created as part of an identity tool-kit for property developer Anthology’s latest development, Anthology Hoxton Press.
Designed by Karakusevic Carson Architects and David Chipperfield Architects, the two towers called Mono and Duo sit on the site where former printmakers the Mullord Brothers created beautiful, hand-crafted pieces back in the 1860’s. It’s this rich heritage, inspired by the buildings’ unusual architectural forms
that led to the concept of a hexagonal type-system.
"There is so much to explore with these woodblocks. It feels to us like a great continuation of taking type onwards for relief printers and letterpress printers in general"
Graham Bignell, Partner, New North Press
"It requires a lot of precision to make the pieces at type-height and at the exact 60° angle so that they can lock together. Using maple as a substrate gives a hard wood that will allow patterns to be cut into it but also provide a lovely wood texture to the prints"
Thomas Mayo, Craftsman & Designer, Thomas Mayo & Co.
Produced by Thomas Mayo & Co. the blocks themselves are handmade at type-height from maple wood. Different textures and patterns have then been laser-cut to create a modular set that can be orientated and placed in many different ways on the press bed.
New North Press used the woodblocks to design and print an array of letterforms that can be small, large, minimalist or decorative. Using them they developed a number of prints for Anthology communications including their newly-opened sales & marketing suite.
