CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK 2014: PART 1
May 20-22 In just 5 years this relatively underground design gathering of the Clerkenwell district of London has gathered pace to become one of the countries key presentations of design for the home. Clerkenwell Design Week is truly on the map!
The Design Factory at the famous Farmiloe Building (with all it’s derelict charm and edgy ‘health and safety wouldn’t approve’ feel) lends perfectly to the latest clean lines of skandi furniture et al and even 3 special Jaguar F-types greeting you in various graphic adorned guises. This year Foscarini teamed up with Jaguar to create a spectacular light installation.
It’s probably helped by the fact that it is not held in one of the soulless aircraft hangar exhibition halls, but embraces all the charms of a neighbourhood collective upturning an incredible amount of design talent in the Clerkenwell area.
Over just 3 short days this widely spread ‘exhibition’ lets you stroll between the main 4 destinations: Design Factory, Platform, Detail and Additions and stumble across a pink banner, sticker or floor sign waving you in to otherwise pass by shops and curios.
Although hard work to even cover all the four main ‘exhibition’ areas it’s a delight to wander the 60+ companies, retailers and offices involved and a real eye-opener just to see how much world leading architecture and interiors lead design focus is in one compact zone alone.
Fresh from Milan we saw the first UK sighting of the new outdoor Grid collection modular sofa’s from Gloster. I made an involuntary chuckle as I sat down as if disbelief that an outdoor chair could be so comfortable and soft. Looks as at home in the indoor environment too, yet it’s made to take one heck of a ‘worst-of-UK-weather’ knocking.
On the lofty second floor I, made a discovery of outdoor lighting from a fresh to the UK lighting company Studio Italia Design. Their Kelly outdoor pendant drop lights shown here finished in metal design by Andrea Tosetto with a diffused light source.
One of our faves, Buster + Punch were showing the new Hero Light
Suitably rock ‘n roll moody set for the products.
The Hero light showing it’s versatility as either a stunning collective drop, or in its fixed bulb locations. With a choice of 3 types of mesmerising filament bulbs.
Check out these beauties!
Who can resist a “Cut with Whiskey ” finish or a the new “smoked’ (dark grey) and “Finished in Olive oil” – quirky new colour additions to the already incredibly popular range.
Crying out to be flicked just for that satisfying clunk, these exquisitely made switches with the hallmark solid brass in a range of finishes.
and the coveted drinks cabinet now in a new darker walnut finish
We don’t usually concern ourselves with the office markets here but these cute ‘pebble’ stools/poufs to our fancy from LaPalma.
and the famous Spun chair from Magis by Thomas Heathwick
In the entrance/exit of the Farmiloe building in a dark corner of the glass front I spied edgy offerings from Stellar Works who introduce their designs as “… celebrating the poetry of Japanese aesthetics, the richness of Chinese ornamentation, the playfulness of Italian Design, the refinement of French luxury, and the less-is-more ethos of Scandinavian design”
There’s more incredible discoveries than I can put in one post, so please read on to Part 2 =>.
Official link sources:
http://www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com/
http://www.foscarini.com/
http://www.gloster.com/
http://www.studioitaliadesign.com/
http://stellarworks.com/
http://www.magisdesign.com/
http://www.lapalma.it
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