From prisons to nightclubs, Clerkenwell Design Week 2017 set an ecletic stage

Multidimensional structure, installed under St John’s Gate
Corian teamed up with creative build specialists Aldworth James & Bond to create a multidimensional structure, installed under St John’s Gate.
(Image credit: Philip Vile)

In the second half of May, over a month after UK design devotees have returned and recovered from Salone del Mobile, London’s Clerkenwell Design Week offers a welcome refresher.

Now in its eighth year, the three-day festival caters to the city’s architects and designers, who flock to the area’s 90-odd furniture showrooms, as well as the pop-up exhibitions, talks and seminars that are held during the week. The show’s mercifully small footprint not only makes the event easily walkable, but also ensures that a festival-like atmosphere can be felt throughout – something that is often remiss during larger city-wide design events.

The week’s design route, clearly marked by pavement signage in the event’s trademark pink, was peppered with the usual array of site-specific installations. This year, seven landmark structures were assembled within Clerkenwell’s winding streets, serving as meeting points for interaction.

Once again, exhibitions were located in some of the area’s most intriguing architectural spaces – one prison, two churches, one nightclub, two parks and two crypts, to be precise. Icon’s House of Culture returned to nightclub Fabric, while Design Fields popped up on again on the green Spa Fields. The work of British makers was assembled under the barrel-roofed crypt of St James’s Church, and former prison, House of Detention, provided an atmospheric backdrop for a showcase of emerging talents at Platform.

While many participating showrooms simply showcased pieces launched in Milan, others strove to create more immersive experiences this year. Fashion illustration workshops were held at Milliken, terrarium making at Interface, live spinning demos at Camira, while printmaker Alex Booker held a series of packed-out woodblock printing workshops in design emporium Clerkenwell London.

Pop-up shop with undulating louvered skin made up of 8000 individual components

Surface design studio Giles Miller created a pop-up shop for Detroit-based manufacturing brand Shinola. Its undulating louvered skin – made up of 8000 individual components – was inspired by the lighting bolt of the the latter’s logo

(Image credit: Press)

Using anaglyphic mirror panels, Söderberg Mills transformed the showroom’s glass-walled display structure into an immersive cube of colour and reflection

The Clerkenwell London showroom hosted the most Instagram-friendly moment of the week, courtesy of Toronto-based designer Jordan Söderberg Mills. Using anaglyphic mirror panels, Söderberg Mills transformed the showroom’s glass-walled display structure into an immersive cube of colour and reflection.

(Image credit: Dan Weill)

Using anaglyphic mirror panels, Söderberg Mills transformed the showroom’s glass-walled display structure into an immersive cube of colour and reflection

Also at Clerkenwell London, graphic artist Anthony Burrill and furniture designer Michael Marriott commandeered the showroom’s front room with a new line of screen-printed furniture.

(Image credit: Dan Weill)

woodblock print studio

Alex Booker set up a woodblock print studio in the centre of the Clerkenwell London showroom, where visitors could carve and ink their own woodblocks, and print their own images. 

(Image credit: Dan Weill)

three carpets, displayed in the loading bay of new creative workplace venue Technique

Brintons worked with artist and filmmaker Shezad Dawood to develop three carpets, displayed in the loading bay of new creative workplace venue Technique.

(Image credit: Oliver Rudkin)

The carpets, which feature layered imagery, bold colours and subtle photographic representation

The carpets, which feature layered imagery, bold colours and subtle photographic representation, were made using Brintons’ patented 32-colour High Definition Weave.

(Image credit: Oliver Rudkin)

Bert Frank’s UK-made lighting collection presented among an array of foliage

Showcased at the Icon House of Culture (hosted at Fabric nightclub), Bert Frank’s UK-made lighting collection was presented among an array of foliage.

(Image credit: Bircan Tulga)

Furniture with softly rounded corners

Another Country launched a range of fully customisable oak office furniture designed for the modern workplace. With softly rounded corners, the system is designed to bring warmth, character and a ‘hint of the domestic’ to the office. The adjustable desk system is complemented by integrated accessories and a modular shelving solution

(Image credit: Press)

3D concrete tile produced by KAZA Concrete

At Domus’ showroom, Sweden’s Note Design Studio launched ‘Weave’, a new 3D concrete tile produced by KAZA Concrete

(Image credit: Press)

KUFstudio’s ‘Curved Twist’ window blind concept

Having made its debut last year, KUFstudio’s KUF cakes returned for 2017, this time collaborating with Tarkett-owned flooring showroom Desso. Inspired by Tarkett’s latest flooring collections, the sculptural cake creations were exhibited alongside KUFstudio’s ‘Curved Twist’ window blind concept

(Image credit: Press)

Blue and white patterned wood tiles

Hakwood returned to Clerkenwell Design Week with ‘Double Vision’, a 4m-high structure erected on Clerkenwell Close. The blue and white patterned wood tiles play with perspectives depending on which side you look through the arched structures

(Image credit: Press)

Work area with curving table

Tile brand Marazzi opened up its first London flagship. The space – designed by Italian architects Lorenzo Baldini and Antonio Pisanò – mimics a work area on the first floor, with a curving table taking pride of place in the showroom

(Image credit: Press)

Monochrome entrance that features the different ceramic options (concrete, marble or stone looks) in tonal gradient steps

The new space on St John Street has an immersive monochrome entrance that features the different ceramic options (concrete, marble or stone looks) in tonal gradient steps

(Image credit: Press)

‘Modernista’ seating collection and the 2007 ‘Charpoy’, which takes its cues from an Indian daybed

Moroso celebrated ten years of collaboration with London-based design studio Doshi Levien. A special exhibition at its Clerkenwell showroom included the new ‘Modernista’ seating collection and the 2007 ‘Charpoy’, which takes its cues from an Indian daybed

(Image credit: Press)

Re-editions of Poul Kjærholm’s first-ever chair, and tables which he designed for the Royal Danish academy of Fine Arts in 1955

Carl Hansen & Søn showcased newly launched re-editions of Poul Kjærholm’s first-ever chair, and tables which he designed for the Royal Danish academy of Fine Arts in 1955

(Image credit: Press)

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Clerkenwell Design Week website