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While summer may have all but departed, there’s still plenty to look forward to, most notably the London Design Festival, the UK’s very own chance to shine on the global design stage.
As well as design shows such as 100% Design and Luxury Made, there is a new, separate but complementary addition to September: the London Design Biennale, which will see over 30 countries interpret the theme of Utopia. Flying the flag for Britain is Barber & Osgerby, which has created a giant wind mast (above).
As every seasoned design industry pro knows, there is of course the Shoreditch Design Triangle to be enjoyed, which is where you will find a large-scale exhibition dedicated to this month’s cover star, Piet Hein Eek (top), at SCP’s showroom. While the Dutchman comes across as mild mannered and modest in conversation, there is no doubt it must have takes a certain steely determination to build a design business that takes in this many facets: product design, architecture and commissions, as well as running a manufacturing facility, a cafe and an art gallery from his headquarters in Eindhoven.
We can’t wait to see the pieces in situ on Curtain Road, particularly the giant heads made of scrap material – you’ll just have to trust us. After the dust has settled in London, it’s time to head up to the Midlands to take a look at the Surface and Materials show which takes place at the NEC in the middle of October – check out our preview.
Always one with her ear to the ground, Katie Treggiden gave us the lowdown on the headquarters of everyone’s favourite business card supplier Moo on Farringdon Road, while Dominic Lutyens reports on a Manhattan co-working space (above) that has its own barber’s salon. Will this signal a tonsorial step forward, we wonder: will hipsters finally be persuaded to abandon their beards and go clean shaven? Speaking of co-working spaces, Clare Dowdy goes meta for her column and reports on her very own working environment, which has seen a return to cellular working. While standard-issue Ikea desks were enough for Clare and the bunch of freelance journalists (of which I was once a part), Grant Gibson has a look at the latest offering from Vitra.
Excitingly, for me as a north London resident indeed, we bring you design news from Wood Green this month as the Green Rooms hotel opens its doors and in the process, gives this rather unloved part of the capital a swanky place to hang out. At last! Now it’s just a case of persuading friends to trek up to the furthest outreaches of the Piccadilly Line.
