london design festival 2017
Our Highlights And Picks
Published On: 29/09/2017
Last week the London Design Festival took over much England's capital. We decided to get out of the studio for a few days and check it all out.
Below are some of the pieces and exhibitions that we think are worth a mention.
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Villa Walala Landmark Pavillion By Camille Walala | Landmark Project
Textile designer Camille Walala, in partnership with British Land, created an inflatable sculpture in the middle of Exchange Square in Broadgate, near Liverpool Street Station. Walala is known for her lively and graphic patterns which invoke a smile. The piece draws influences on the Memphis Movement - which is more than evident at first glance. “I wanted to create something that played to this idea of escaping the office and letting off steam, but which was also a surprising contrast to the architectural context – something colourful and playful that would make the people of Broadgate stop and smile,” says Walala. This temporary sculpture is a refreshing and colourful contrast to its commercial surroundings.
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The Reflection Room By Flynn Talbot | V&A Commission Project
Designer Flynn Talbot is an Australian born lighting artist and designer based in London, UK. This site specific installation consists of blue and orange lighting and 56 custom-made high-gloss Barrisol black panels that span across the 35m length gallery. These panels were evenly spaced along both walls in front of the museum's wooden paneling. The Barrisol panels allow the light to reflect off its surface and continue throughout the interior giving the illusion of a long horizontal band of lights on either side. The Reflection Room was visually stimulating as it created an illusion of continuity in a modern style juxtaposed with the historical interior of the Victoria & Albert Museum.
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Re-worked Established and Sons Showroom | Shoreditch Design Walk
Established & Sons opened its doors to their new showroom. In the heart of East London's creative quarter and down a discreet alleyway lies a two level space, currently showcasing 'Re-Worked,' an installation about the evolved icon with works by Richard Woods & Sebastian Wrong and Barber & Osgerby. This new space represents an important milestone in the development of the brand as Sebastian Wrong has returned to the helm as Design Director to expand the collection with fresh international talent.
We've been followers of this company's work since its debut in 2005 and were stoked at the chance to get a closer look at their new colourways and collection.
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On Reflection by Lee Broom | Shoreditch Design Walk
This was definitely worth the wait in the cue. Lee Broom's East London showroom was transformed into a tableau, which seems as though it's reflecting a large mirror image of the room one is standing in, but is actually an optical illusion. The mirror is a large framed opening into another room showcasing an exact replica of the room you are standing in. This exhibition presented his collection from the past decade with his most iconic designs re-imagined in all-black. It's a warm and cozy little space that plays a little trick on you ;)
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Marquis Collection by Laura Itkonen | 100% Design
This Finish designer was inspired by the summery balconies from the 70's. The ceramic tile collection "Marquis" is an exploration to the world of copper lustre decoration combined together with vivid dark blue colors. The collection consists of five individual tiles. Create your own combinations. The options are endless.
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Selvedge x Ercol x Solidwool | London Design Fair
Textile magazine Selvedge has teamed up with furniture designer and manufacturer Ercol and start-up Solidwool to showcase the Herdwick Stool.
" The team has exclusively created thirty stools combining a solid oak under-frame and legs of the award-winning Svelto stool, designed and handcrafted in ercol’s Buckinghamshire factory, with specially created tops by Solidwool made from a composite natural material: sheep’s wool."
more details about this collab here
Herdwick Stool - A collaboration between Selvedge x Ercol x Solidwool
Material Of The Year - Jesmonite | London Design Fair
"Jesmonite is the ultimate chameleon material of the building industry – it can be used to replicate the appearance and texture of any surface finish in any number of colours.
The combination of natural raw materials with a special blend of water-based pure acrylic polymers create a unique family of materials that have a number of product benefits that make Jesmonite superior to other building materials. "
https://jesmonite.com/
Jesmonite - Material of the Year
CRU - Inspiring Portugal | The London Design Fair
Celebrating a new generation of Portuguese designers, this exhibition showcases various design projects; individual as well as collective. The collection is presented with a focus on matter and experimentation of materials with reverence and respect for their nature and structural vocation. We were more than impressed with what was exhibited here but have narrowed down a few selections of our favourites below.
Torta - Solid oak wood and oak plywood desk designed by Miguel Soeiro
Porventura | www.porventura.pt
Bendito - Woven cotton jersey, cork and linen Rug by Susana Godinho
Sugo Cork Rugs | www.sugocorkrugs.com
Oyster - Wood stool by design duo Geckeler Michels
Util | www.thisisutil.com
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To see all the other exhibitors, visit http://www.londondesignfestival.com/
