Design titans Terence Conran, Zaha Hadid and Norman Foster commission their wish list for the London Design Festival 2014
Benchmark Furniture co-founder and design icon Sir Terence Conran has teamed up with the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) for this year's London Design Festival, tasking a crop of creative luminaries to whip up their ultimate design wish list, which will be unveiled at the V&A on Saturday.
The project first began when Conran pitched this question to friends: ‘What have you always wanted in your home, but never been able to find?’ Of course, the Design Museum-founder counts some of the design and architecture world’s starriest names amongst his acquaintances. These top minds have taken a host of up-and-coming names under their wings to realise products for ‘The Wish List’, all crafted from American hardwood.
Alex de Rijke tasked Barnby & Day with creating a dining table; Norman Foster challenged Norie Matsumoto to create the perfect pencil sharpener; Allen Jones wished for a chaise longue by Lola Lely; and Zaha Hadid asked Gareth Neal to condense his furniture design vision into tableware. Meanwhile, John Pawson turned to sister duo Gwendolyn and Guillane Kerschbaumer of design studio Areti to concoct a trio of items: a triangular shelf, slanted door and a hook.
The resulting objects will be displayed on the V&A's Architecture Gallery landing and the staircase leading up to it from the Grand Entrance. Meanwhile, Sir Paul Smith's most wished for item – a shed designed by Nathalie de Leval – will be on show in the V&A’s John Madejski Garden.
ADDRESS
Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Remembering Christopher Charles Benninger (1942-2024)
Architect Christopher Charles Benninger has died in Pune, India, at the age of 82; we honour and reflect on his passing
By Aastha D Published
-
Chanel shows its sporting colours with a bold high jewellery collection
Chanel's high jewellery collection is inspired by its founder’s athletic aesthetic
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Sarah Solis’ first furniture collection is an homage to art deco
‘Is it weird to call furniture sexy?’ Los Angeles-based designer Sarah Solis discusses her debut furniture line and new brand and store, Galerie Solis
By Dan Howarth Published
-
‘R for Repair’ at London Design Festival displays broken objects, re-formed
In the second half of a two-part exhibition and as part of London Design Festival 2022, ‘R for Repair’ at the V&A displays broken objects, re-formed
By Martha Elliott Last updated
-
‘Finding quality through the act of making’: Pearson Lloyd celebrates 25 years of design
Pearson Lloyd’s show ‘Change Making’ reflects on past designs from its archives, showcasing the influences on and evolution of the studio, from furniture design to the NHS
By Martha Elliott Last updated
-
Tom Dixon marks his studio's 20 years with a show of design experiments
Mushroom, cork, steel coral and more: Tom Dixon showcases an overview of his design experiments as he celebrates his practice's 20 years
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Porro unveils new London showroom at Coal Office
London Design Festival 2022: industrial architecture meets pure geometries in the new Porro showroom, taking over a space within Tom Dixon’s Coal Office to showcase the brand’s systems and furniture
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Vitra unveils new London home in the Tramshed, Shoreditch
London Design Festival 2022: after a year-long renovation, Vitra opens the door to its new showroom in the heart of Shoreditch
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Mudlarking beside the River Thames inspires The New Craftsmen’s makers
London Design Festival 2022: The New Craftsmen’s new collection, ‘Claylarks’, features work from a group of creatives inspired by a River Thames mudlarking expedition
By Mary Cleary Last updated
-
One tree, ten designers: SCP presents The One Tree Project at London Design Festival
London Design Festival 2022: SCP enlisted ten British designers to create furniture and objects from a felled ash tree from founder Sheridan Coakley's Hampshire garden
By Francesca Perry Last updated
-
London Design Medals 2022
London Design Medals 2022 are awarded to costume designer Sandy Powell, architect Indy Johar, researcher Joycelyn Longdon and photographer Sir Don McCullin
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated