Clerkenwell Design Week is less than a week away and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever.  As well as all the brands getting involved and showcasing their work we are particularly looking forward to seeing the Fringe activities come alive. Building on the collaborative ethos of CDW, this year’s festival will see architectural practices, branding and advertising companies, engineers, creative studios and workshops all getting involved, widening the appeal of CDW while reflecting EC1’s history of…

“Rather than a polite modernist extension, we needed something with a bit more chutzpah,” says Project Orange director Christopher Ash of the practice’s new office and bar development in Sheffield. The project certainly has that in spades. Clad in aluminium, its two new office floors reign confidently over the refurbished original building, creating a dynamic new roof form and an instantly recognisable landmark on Shoreham Street, part of Sheffield’s Cultural Industries Quarter. Commercially, this bold intervention has paid off by offering…

“Flying is a kind of dream and the plane is a strong industrial object. I think it would be very exciting,” says Emmanuel Gallina when asked what his fantasy design commission might entail. “Concorde was my favourite machine.” Gallina’s enthusiasm for this virtual project leaves you with the unyielding impression that aviation is the Holy Grail for industrial designers. Inspired by the romance of flight, but more importantly the need to understand the technology underpinning it, his choice is very…

Advertising agency Inferno’s offices sit opposite Freemasons’ Hall – the art deco HQ of the United Grand Lodge of England. Housing mysterious paraphernalia and rituals, this imposing structure makes a strange and sombre neighbour for noisy Covent Garden. The Freemasons are Inferno’s landlord, the agency being the first commercial tenant of another 1920s building, formerly the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. These words are carved into the facade of a building whose largely Grade II-listed interior inspired architects…

On the face of it, the Florida HQ of cutting-edge ad agency BGT Partners, whose services include email and mobile marketing and social media campaigns, is in a duff location – a sort of limbo midway between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. A more usual habitat for an ad agency is “a downtown, urban setting”, as Eric Holland, of Miami-based architects practice ADD Inc, who designed BGT’s offices, points out. But there is a logic to its location. “It was a…

The post-boom backlash against bankers means we are unlikely to see any financial institutes shouting about their chic new interior design scheme for some time yet. Which is why it can sometimes pay dividends to look to countries with less austere economic climates to find projects that offer up a bit more glitz. But even in an economy that is faring better than our own, striking the right measure between promoting prestige and demonstrating discretion is essential. Robert Majkut Design studio…

With fine line looks and the performance of INVISTA Antron carpet fibre, the Mezzo Part II woven carpet collection from Nordpfeil is bringing a digital feel to flooring. Using almost black ground shades combined with bright acid accents and functional neutrals, Mezzo Part II features three designs in Colour Mix, Colour Line and Colour Stripe, as well as a special collection of variations on a theme in Mezzo Part II Special, all bearing a pixel-like quality. The result is a…

Bruynzeel mobile shelving cabinets can be specified in a variety of finishes, an assortment of colours or with the end panels fitted with graphics of the users choosing. The Compactus Dynamic Pro is an intelligent, electronic control system, offering ease of use, enhanced safety features and the ability to securely store confidential information, with access gained via a pin code or access RFID tag. The simple to use, touch screen controller, enables the user to choose from a range of…

The new Quba range of exterior post luminaires from Hacel blends clean, sharp and contemporary styling with precision die-cast and extruded aluminium manufacturing and LED performance. The Quba range houses a number of enhanced technical features including higher output, efficacies, colour maintenance and life expectancy. Available in standard colours of black, white or graphite, with alternative RAL colours also available for order. www.hacel.net

The Kalea collection from Bedont is designed for restaurants, cafés and other public environments, as well as for home dining areas. The frames are produced from solid wood, the curved back legs are skillfully handcrafted, and the seat and backrest are produced in veneered multi-ply. Kalea’s dimensions and ergonomics make it a comfortable and relaxing seat, approved for contracting as non-domestic seating at the EU Catas Institute. www.bedont.it