London Design Festival Blog
Tom Dixon gives us a personal tour of his new shop and all the rest at Portobello Dock. Pictured here with his dog Molly, Simon Hasan, Rossana Orlandi.
The impressive exterior of the Dock, located in West London
The copper-plated bike, a collaboration between Tom Dixon and Brompton Bikes, is currently a prototype but awaiting production
Brompton Bike engineers assemble the bikes on site
One of two limited edition copper bike helmets by Tom Dixon and Les Ateliers Ruby
Danish tile company Made a Mano are among the international brands selected by Dixon to show at the Dock
Flash Factory staff hard at work constructing Tom Dixon Etch lights
A charcoal house installation by Sort Of Coal stands next to Tom Dixon’s Peg coat stand, and his suitably matching personal bike
Sort of Coal takes the ancient Japanese tradition of using White Charcoal to purify water, air and the body - so by enriching daily life
Kuro Cubes by Sort Of Coal, used for deodorizing your fridge
The Japanese charcoal used for purifying water
The hugely popular Dock kitchen
The kitchen at the Dock
Paul Cocksedge’s Size + Matter is installed
Conceived as an oversized coin that has ’fallen to the Earth from a giant’s palm’, ’Drop’ is magnetised to encourage passers by to affix their spare change to it
Eventually it will become copperised by coins donated by the public, and when its short residency is up, the money will go to Bernardos
The Size + Matter installation will be in place until 17th October
An installation at Tracey Neuls on Marylebone Lane by the shoe designer, in conjunction with stylist (and Wallpaper* contributor) Nicola Yeomans. The playful, graphic piece of art draws on the pair’s childhood memories
Okay Studio and friends
Jorres van Ast’s collection is called ‘The Wood Connection’ - and is a series of prototypes exploring new ways of joining wood. The pieces are all easily assembled with snap-to fittings
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Roger Arquer’s ‘Sputnik’, ‘Stack’ and ‘Cendrillo’ stools – short term seats ideal for brief visits. Each one explores a different aspect of materials, process and structure.
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
More of Arquer’s stools
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Mathias Hahn’s chunky joinery celebrates the pleasure of simple, beautifully made, homely design
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Every visitor leaves a mark on Ed Swan’s Mark Maker table, the top of which is made up of fifty different coloured layers of paint. Visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to use it, and at the end of the week a clear layer of laquer will be applied, sealing the scars from the show.
Tomas Alonso’s ‘A side tables’ are a collection of tables in ash, powder coated steel and plywood that can be folded flat in seconds – handy for contemporary nomads inhabiting small spaces in big cities.
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The Pick A Colour show, at Modus.
36 PLC chairs designed by Pearson Lloyd have been upholstered in Divinia fabric by Kvadrat. Each chair is to be auctioned off through sealed bids.
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Smashing through the table, from ceiling to floor, is the latest collection by Neuls
The V&A is this year acting as the ‘gateway to the festival’. The entrance on Exhibition Road, designed by Retrouvius, is the main information point for visitors and press alike.
Our very own editor at large Suzanne Trocmé has curated the Spaces in the Sackler Centre, which hosts an extensive programme of seminars, talks and special events.
The grand marble staircase leading to the Architectural galleries has been transformed by artist, designer and W* favourite Stuart Haygarth. Working with framing company John Jones, he has raided their bespoke frame mouldings to create this colourful cascade installation
Another Country’s Contemporary Craft Furniture exhibition at Oliver Spencer on Lambs Conduit Street
The benches and stools make up Series One - Another Country’s first furniture collection
Tableware at the ’Midwinter Modernist: the iconic designs of Jessie Tait’ exhibition at Bulthaup Clerkenwell
Jessie Tait died in January, leaving behind a rich legacy of tableware, including the Midwinter Pottery collection - a midcentury classic
Her 1950s designs included organic shapes and hand-painted spot, stripe and textured patterns
A selection of designs by Jessie Tait
Established & Sons have taken up residence at The Wenlock Arms, acting as the pub’s landlords for one week only and renaming it ’The Established & Sons’
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
For their stint as pub landlords, they have renamed it ’The Established & Sons’
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Inside the pub on Wenlock Road is a selection of the brand’s furniture
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The ’Pole Light’ by Paul Cocksedge lights up the bar
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Inside the Established & Sons
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
A local prepares to perch on a ’Heidi Stool’ by Sebastien Wrong for Established & Sons
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The packed pop-up Finnish restaurant, Hel Yes, also on Wenlock Road
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Kvadrat has just unveiled Cristian Zuzunaga’s new curtain collection, which consists of three designs - Skyline, Cityscape and Dawn - inspired by his experiences of cities such as Shanghai, New York and Tokyo
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The collection also features modernist influences from designers, such as Saul Bass
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The new collection at Kvadrat
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Darkroom, our favourite new concept store in Lambs Conduit Street, has just launched its new collection of monochrome interior and fashion accessories
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The store’s festival exhibition is dedicated to its London-based designers
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
These are presented alongside other Darkroom-designed products
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Ceramics at Darkroom
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
African-inspired jewellery and wallhangings at Darkroom
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
An amorphous ceramic candleholder at Darkroom
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The Norwegian Prototypes exhibition features beautiful designs, including wall boxes by Amy Hunting and side storage by Thomas Jenkins
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The one prerequisite of the show was that all designs on show must fit into a suitcase
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
A pair of lamps by Andreas Engesvik
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Daniel Rybakken has produced an infinity effect mirror for the show
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Each of 2009’s exhibitors were invited back and asked to select one other designer to exhibit. The choice few include Sara Polmar, Tom Jenkins and Frost Produkt
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The rawness of the work challenges the traditional perception that Norwegian design is characterised by clean and functional lines
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Some pieces on show are complete while others are works-in-progress. Visitors can also expect to see short films by Tomas Leach in collaboration with ’Little Scraps of Paper’
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Tomoko Azumi’s ’Objective’ show at Rocket Gallery marks the designer’s first gallery exhibition of her furniture
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
’Objective’ shows a collection of Azumi’s work from 1995 to the present
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Tomoko Azumi has deliberately worked with medium-scale furniture manufacturers who share her vision of function and quality
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
James Plumb’s ’The One Room Hotel’ at the back of the new Hostem store they designed is - like the pair - nothing but charming
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Now the duo’s temporary ’The One Room Hotel’ allows guests to spend the night in an intimate and transient installation
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The public can book a night’s stay if they make their case well enough via Hostem’s or the artists’ website
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
’The One Room Hotel’ elevates the standard hotel experience to that of a ’beautiful incident’
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
James Plumb specialises in salvaging forgotten treasures and resurrecting them in beautiful and elegant ways
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Hannah Plumb and James Russell smile for the cameras at the opening of ’The One Room Hotel’
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The ’Heretic’ display is part of Neville Brody’s Anti Design Festival, where objects and posters are created ad hoc and on the spot
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The Anti-Design Festival aims to shift focus away from commerciality and toward providing ’brain food.’
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The Londonewcastle Project is the main venue for the Anti-Design Festival and is a place for unhindered exploration
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Works in progress at The Anti-Design Festival
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The Anti-Design Festival constantly shifts and changes as new work is added, created and debated over the week
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The non-elitist programme is entirely open to submissions from all
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Neville Brody, Anti Design Festival founder, says of the festival that it’s ’anti-design, anti-art, anti-product, anti-fashion.’
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Brody’s alternative festival comes in response to what he considers a 25-year ’cultural deep freeze’
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Inside the pop-up Sé Showroom in the Brompton Design District, which is showing ’Sé Collection II’ by Jaime Hayón
’Flute’ table by Jaime Hayón
’Timepiece’ tables, inspired by egg-timers, by Jaime Hayón
’Beetley’ chairs by Jaime Hayón, which as their name suggests, are inspired by beetles
’Arpa’ chair by Jaime Hayón
Studio Toogood launches ’Assemblage 1’, its first ever collection of objects, which are inspired by rural life. Shown here is the ’Spade Trestle Table’
’Silo Cabinet’ by Studio Toogood
’Spade Chair’ by Studio Toogood
100% Design: 100% Norway
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
100% Design: Christoffer Angell’s coat pegs at 100% Norway
100% Design: Nina Tolstrup’s Mobile Outdoor Kitchen, shown at part of TEN a collective of ten designers who share a similar approach to design and who for the last four years have been presenting different projects around the theme of sustainability in design.
100% Design: The Decorators - a London-based design collective that build experiences, generate unexpected encounters and test conventions - set up shop at 100%
100% Design: Vases by Jakub Berdych of Qubus Desgin Studio
101% Designers in Brussels show their wares at Earls Court
100
100% Design: Daniel and Emma (D.E) from Adelaide Australia presented a very cute collection of stationary
The Tramshed: Furniture by Leif.designpark for De La Espada
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The Tramshed: Furniture by Another Country
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
ACNE presents it’s foray into furniture at the Liberty store
ACNE presents it’s foray into furniture at the Liberty store
100% Design: Chair by Ernest Race, re-issued for 2010
100% Design: Chairs at Pottinger+Cole
100% Design: Glass and wood cabinet at Channels
100% Design: Creative Trust’s cardboard house
David Weatherhead, showing in the Future Design Convention in Brompton Design District
100% Design: Edward Robinson’s stand
100% Design: Edward Robinson’s stand
100% Design: Elegance Cutlery by Thomas Stanley
100% Design: Stools by Folklore
100% Design: Happy Happy by Stephen Johnson
100% Design: Pontus desk by Russel Pinch
100% Design: Lights by newcomer James Shaw
100% Design: Rocker by Ernest Race, re-issued this year
100% Design: Lights by Jeongwon Ji
100% Design: Glass tape by 601 Bisang at Korea Design stand
100% Design: wallpaper with the jumper that inspired the pattern by Chae Young Kim
100% Design: side table by Grimm
100% Design: Simple Idea clocks by Lee Junkyo at Korea Design stand
100% Design: stairs by Tintab Design
The Skyroom, a new temporary roof terrace for the Architecture Foundation on Tooley Street, was commissioned and funded by the landlord of Magdalen House, Lake Estates. The idea, realized in steel with copper mesh facades and larch flooring by David Kohn Architects, demonstrates how with a little imagination London’s neglected roofscapes can provide a rich new landscape for the city’s inhabitants. It also provides a nice social meeting place where the Architecture Foundation can meet and get to know its neighbouring tenants in the building, says Sarah Ichioka, the organisation’s director.
100% Norway: ’Skandia’ chairs by Hans Brattrud
100% Design: ’Polymer’ clocks and ’Ant’ lamps by Pottinger+Cole
100% Design: Lighting by Secto Design for Sigmar
’Pompadour’ chair, ’Wings’ table and ’Baroccabilly’ carpet, by Nigel Coates, on show at his studio in South Kensington
A drawing by Coates of the world of Baroccabilly - the character behind his new collection, which the designers describes as a ’rebel outsider’
The Tramshed: ’Shell’ chair by VW+BS for Decode London
The Tramshed: Benchmark transported part of its Kintbury workshop to the Tramshed during the festival, making furniture in situ
The Tramshed: Hides hang from the rafters in Benchmark’s temporary workshop
The Tramshed: ’Day bed one’ by Another Country
The Tramshed: ’Together’ table and stools by Studio Ilse for De La Espada
The Tramshed: Chair and chest by Dick van Hoff for De La Espada
’Copper and walnut desk’ by Paul Kelly at ’In Every Dream Home’ - a collaboration between Fendi and Gallery Fumi, shown at the latter
Studio Glithero’s collection shows the connection between maker, hand, tool, material and product. On the wall are some of the tools used to create the pieces
’Rail console’ by Studio Glithero at Gallery Fumi
Leather and wood desk by Tortie Hoare at Tent London
Wooden boards by All Lovely Stuff at SCP
Bottles by All Lovely Stuff
Steel chair by Nendo at ’Thin Black Lines’ at the Saatchi Gallery
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Steel racks by Nendo
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Steel hanger rack by Nendo
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Steel table by Nendo
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Steel dishes/bottles by Nendo
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Steel bowls by Nendo
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Steel lamps by Nendo
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The Nendo installation at Thin Black Lines at the Saatchi Gallery
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The exhibition runs until 31st October
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Architect David Kohn
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
BarberOsgerby threw open the doors of their studio during the festival
Displayed around the space were recent furniture and lighting launches
Some of the products were available to buy
Recent products by BarberOsgerby, inside their studio on Charlotte Road
Vitsoe honours the 50th anniversary of its ’606 Universal Shelving System’ by Dieter Rams, with an exhibition showing how the system has evolved since the year 1960
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
Dieter Rams shows us around
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
With a Beatles soundtrack and some carefully chosen accessories the show demonstrates the enduring nature of this minimalist design, which is even more popular today than it was in its year of launch
Photograph by Katrin Greiling
The exhibition at the Vistoe showroom in Duke Street is supported by the Geffrye Museum
Photograph by Katrin Greiling