In Pictures

David Collins’ unrivalled output helped shape everything from London’s hotel and restaurant revolution, to sophisticated private homes and impeccable retail spaces. Tragically last week, the design industry lost an irreplaceable talent, and we lost both a collaborator and, more importantly, friend to the magazine. We take a fond look back at some of the defining moments of his career...

Wallpaper* worked with Collins on a number of projects, most recently when he contributed a pair of crocheted footstools to our Handmade exhibition at Salone del Mobile in 2012. The specially created 3D crochet pattern was entirely handmade and based on a digital design of exploding atoms, molecules and flowers. Photography: Tommaso Sartori

The restaurant and hotel revolution in London of the last two decades certainly would not have been the same without Collins. Bob Bob Ricard in Soho scooped ’Best Booths’ in the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2009. Photography: Erol Gemma

Collins applied his Midas touch on the Corinthia Hotel London, designing both the Massimo restaurant...

...and the equally opulent Bassoon cocktail bar

The Blue Bar at the Berkeley features original Lutyens panelling boldly re-imagined with eponymous blue lacquer

The Wolseley, London’s own homegrown version of an European grand café, exudes Old World decadence

Once the Regent Palace Hotel, this distinguished century-old building was brought back to its former 1930s glamour and glory under the guidance of Collins. The art deco interior of timber veneer, gold-leaf detailing, marble and mirrored elements was dutifully restored by artisan craftsmen, and now houses Brasserie Zédel

Claridge’s Bar in Mayfair is another one of Collin’s art deco masterworks

The Delaunay, another seminal London haunt, is a refreshing take on the traditional European grand café, featuring a refined 1920s space filled with wood, metal, brass and mirrors

Envisaged as a private home, The Apartment at The Connaught is decked out in a serene palette of lavenders and silvers

The Connaught Bar comprises three rooms, decked out in degradè leathers, metal studded black leather tables and a silver leaf mirror artwork that was especially commissioned by Collins' studio

Colbert, sited in the heart of Sloane Square, was inspired by the great French pavement cafés. Photography: David Loftus

Collins reach extended far beyond London - as far as South Africa in fact - to the Delaire Graff Estate. Furniture was created locally using indigenous materials and the work of important South African artists

Never one to rest on his laurels, Collins also designed Alexander McQueen's first dedicated menswear flagship, located on Savile Row. The entrance is lined in smashed and reassembled Nero Argento marble

The original parquet flooring in the main body of the store was restored

A giant, glass box at the far end of the store marks an exhibition space that is set to host a changing roster of art installations, while the walls feature romantic, English country house white panelling

Across the Atlantic, Collins teamed up with Sarah Burton to devise a new concept for the Alexander McQueen store in Miami. The architecture, panelling and fittings of the Bal Harbour outpost covertly reference flora and fauna, the human body, as well as the work of Francis Bacon

In Milan, Collins concocted a lavish space for Italian fashion brand Larusmiani's concept store. He opted for delicate shades of beige, ivory and parchment to form the backdrop to the women's collections

A stunning contemporary marble fireplace is the centrepiece of the salon on the second floor, which also features furniture designed by Collins

The imposing walls are constructed from giant slabs of marble or macassar ebony (also used for display shelves) painstakingly tinted navy blue - a shade that turned out to be an ideal match for the graphic blue and white diamond carpet that is the Larusmiani store’s homeliest detail

Collins took his design cues from the original structure’s Italian futurist leanings, designing glass wardrobes and lacquer doors, which recall the building’s original 1940s designs downstairs

At this year's Salone del Mobile, he teamed up with Italian furniture brand Promemoria on his first furniture line to date. Pictured is 'Console', an elegant example of Collins' affinity for navy blue

'Table Lamp' featured a polished, black metal base and silk lampshade - in either a hexagonal or triangular shape - containing an intricate, antique brass mesh

'Chair' in dark oak with a leather seat and back and bronzed feet

A regular fixture and a regular award winner at our events throughout the years, Collins is pictured here with Wallpaper* editor-in-chief Tony Chambers, at our Design Awards Party in 2010

Collins and Wallpaper* online fashion editor Apphia Michael, at our Design Awards Party in 2010

Collins and Tom Ford senior vice president of communications Whitney Bromberg Hawkings, at our Design Awards Party in 2012

Collins, Jamie Parsons and Visual Artists managing director Matt Nicholson, at the Wallpaper* Sex & Art party in 2009

Collins joined us at Hauser & Wirth on Savile Row earlier this year, to celebrate our tailoring collaboration with architect Annabelle Selldorf