December 2014 ISSUE 16 inex-online.com
in[sight]
A profile of the influential individuals, companies and partnerships driving the interior design industry forward
ex[rated]
Inex showcases striking exterior installations and products that blend cutting-edge design with practicality
in[spire]
Helping professionals to keep abreast of trends, this focus highlights styles in texture, pattern and tone
ex[pose]
Inex unveils the greatest iconic furniture pieces still prevalent in today’s contemporary design world
Mr Mrs
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3 EDITORIAL
Editor: Emily Smith emily@mixedmediainfo.com Digital Advertising: Sam Ball sam@mixedmediainfo.com Stephanie Ayling stephanie@mixedmediainfo.com Studio Manager: Chris Lilly chris@mixedmediainfo.com Production: Jack Witcomb jack@mixedmediainfo.com Artworker/Sub-editor: David Perry david@mixedmediainfo.com Senior Editor: Hannah Frackiewicz hannah@mixedmediainfo.com Accounts: Simone Jones simone@mixedmediainfo.com Managing Director: Sam Ball sam@mixedmediainfo.com Publisher: Mixed Media Information Pear Platt, Woodfalls Farm, Gravelly Way, Laddingford, Kent. ME18 6DA Tel: 01622 873229 Fax: 01622 320020 inex-online.com
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ith the year now drawing to a close, the industry looks ahead to all that the future might bring. One such example is explored in this month’s Inspire, as architects Antonio Girardi and Cristiana Favretto address the uncertain future of the world’s agriculture. Jellyfish Barge offers a revolutionary solution to a worldwide problem of scarcity of water and cultivable land. The floating, modular greenhouse is made from recycled materials and provides a location for farming as well as water distillation. Read about this unique project on page 8. 2014 has seen a number of innovations within the office design sector. From zoning movements and open plan solutions to new spaces designed specifically for collaborative work, all motives aim to create office environments that ignite productivity at the same time as nurturing employee wellbeing. This issue’s Flooring feature discusses how the workplace environment is becoming ever more important because of its impact on health and productivity. On page 32 Abby Chandler, Commercial Manager at flooring specialist Heckmondwike FB, presents colour as a key component to the psychology of office design. Elsewhere in this month’s issue, the Furniture focus on page 24 demonstrates a return to traditional designs, a bespoke spotlight presents a modern furniture designer who draws inspiration from natural materials and the regular Expose feature shows a British manufacturing success story on page 20. For this resource on the move, search ‘Inex’ in App Store and Google Play to download Inex’s free of charge app. Finally, on behalf on the Inex team, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support over the last year and to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Top left: New co-working office space, The Trampery, hopes to bring London’s emerging entrepreneurs together Cover: Read Inex’s exclusive interview with Curiousa & Curiousa’s Designer and Director, Esther Patterson on page 13 Above: Having started his career in London’s auction rooms, David Seyfried’s furniture designs are influenced by
Emily Smith emily@mixedmediainfo.com
19th and early 20th century designs
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5 CONTENTS
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DECEMBER DIARY
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INSPIRE An innovative project by Studiomobile tackles the uncertain future of agriculture by using water as new foundation.
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INSIGHT Holloways of Ludlow Kitchen expert, Robert Burnett talks kitchen trends and the role of a kitchen designer.
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EXRATED Exclusive comfort for outdoor areas is essential for hospitality. Here, new furniture trends are presented following Sleep.
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EXPOSE A British manufacturing success story is presented through the beautiful hand-blown glass lights of Curiousa & Curiousa.
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FURNITURE Furniture expert David Herbert discusses a return to traditional designs and a step back from mass production.
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OFFICE A new co-working space has opened at the heart of East London’s technology cluster to provide a new wave of office environment.
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Top left: Within the Holloways of Ludlow brand is a Bespoke Kitchen & Cabinetry specialism formed via a
FLOORING Research has proven that different colours provoke various psychological responses – Heckmondwike FB’s Abby Chandler explains why.
collaboration between Mark Holloway and kitchen expert Robert Burnett Middle: Jellyfish Barge is a modular greenhouse
BESPOKE Henry Swanzy runs a small workshop in Falmouth that creates simple and elegant modern furniture inspired by the natural landscape.
mounted on a floating base, able to guarantee water and food security without impacting on existing resources Left: Henry Swanzy
WALLS With a market full of wall surfacing solutions, Inex profiles popular wallpaper alternatives.
originally trained as a cabinet maker before going on to open his own workshop
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7 DIARY
Christmas Past Geffrye Museum, London Until 4 January Each year, the Geffrye Museum’s eleven period living rooms are transformed with authentic festive decorations, lighting, music and greenery to give visitors a magical glimpse into how Christmas has been celebrated in English middle-class homes over the past 400 years. geffrye-museum.org.uk The Enchanted Woodland Syon House and Park Until 7 December The 500 year old Syon House contains grand classical interiors and a fine collection of art and sculpture. The surrouding park and woodland have been transformed for a ninth year by illuminating the gardens to create a colourful trail for visitors to admire the festive installations and interactive lights on display. enchantedwoodland.com
Reprogramming the City Danish Architecture Centre, Copenhagen Until 4 January The city holds a vast amount of untapped ability. The structures, surfaces, objects and systems that underpin its daily operations have the potential to do more. Curated by urban strategist and writer Scott Burnham, Reprogramming The City explores a new paradigm of urban creativity and resourcefulness. Here, the hardware of the city is treated as a platform of opportunity and infrastructure, not as the end result of a previous creative process, but the beginning of a new one, creating better cities for people. dac.dk/en Mirrorcity Hayward Gallery, London Until 4 January Emerging and established London artists explore the effect the digital revolution has had on our experiences. The engagement, innovation and complexity of the works selected for Mirrorcity also directly or indirectly reflect the multi-faceted character of London itself. southbankcentre.co.uk
East London Design Show The Old Truman Brewery 4-7 December The East London Design Show is an annual event that brings together independent product, interior and jewellery designers, all under one roof. A great place to discover tomorrow’s talent, over 38 brand new designers will exhibit this year alongside established designer makers – in glass, ceramics, jewellery, homewares, furniture and more. eastlondondesignshow.co.uk
100 Years of Swiss Design Museum Fur Gestaltung Zurich Until 8 February A light switch, seating or sneakers – design from Switzerland has always been regarded as honest, precise, unfussy and user-friendly. This look at one hundred years of design history leads along locally anchored traditions to the design approaches of modernism and the tasks currently facing a globally networked generation of designers. With more than 800 objects from the Design Collection, the largest collection of Swiss design world-wide, the opening exhibition in the Schaudepot presents the first comprehensive show of Swiss design achievements. museum-gestaltung.ch INEX-ONLINE.COM
8 INSPIRE
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9 INSPIRE
Hunger for innovation Each issue Inex unveils the industry’s latest groundbreaking design solutions. This month, we look at an innovative design built to tackle the uncertain future of agriculture.
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Left: Challenges for the future of agriculture are being addressed by innovative design solutions such as this floating greenhouse by architectural practice Studiomobile
he World Bank predicts that the world population will grow to almost 10 billion in the next four decades. By 2050, the global demand for food is expected to be 60-70% higher than today. Scarcity of water and cultivable land are the main obstacles to meet the quantitative and qualitative shifts of the world’s demand. Tackling these challenges in a holistic way can produce considerable improvement in water and food security of coastal communities. A multidisciplinary team of architects and botanists are offering a revolutionary solution to this problem. Designed by the architects Antonio Girardi and Cristiana Favretto, Jellyfish Barge is a modular greenhouse mounted on a floating base, able to guarantee water and food security without impacting on existing resources. It has been conceived for communities vulnerable to water and food scarcity and it is built with simple technologies and with low cost and recycled materials. The project has been conceived as a flexible construction using simple construction technologies and low cost and recycled materials. Its structure consists of a wooden base of about 70m2, floating on 96 recycled plastic drums, held together by wooden reticular beams running along the perimeter and the radiuses of the octagon. The drums are screwed INEX-ONLINE.COM
10 INSPIRE
on the upper deck supporting the structure of the greenhouse and of the solar desalination units. Fresh water is provided by seven solar stills arranged along the perimeter, designed by the environmental scientist Paolo Franceschetti. They can produce up to 150 liters a day of clean fresh water from salt, brackish or polluted water. Solar distillation is a natural phenomenon: in the seas, the sun’s energy evaporates water, which then falls as rain water. In Jellyfish Barge the solar desalination system replicates this phenomenon in small-scale, sucking moist air and forcing it to condense into drums in contact with the cold surface of the sea. The low energy required to power fans and pumps is provided by photovoltaic panels integrated in the structure. The greenhouse incorporates an innovative hydroponic system. Hydroponics is a crop production technique using 70% less water
Right: A barge of this size is capable of supporting two families Below: Solar stills arranged around the edge of the greenhouse provide fresh water to the crop
compared to traditional cultivation, thanks to the continuous re-use of water. In addition Jellyfish Barge uses about 15% of seawater, which is mixed with distilled water, ensuring even greater water efficiency. Jellyfish Barge is innovative in its ability to respond effectively with limited resources. For this reason it has been designed relatively small in size, capable of supporting about two families, thus easy to be built, even in conditions of economic constrains. Because this system is modular, a single element is completely autonomous, so various flanked barges can guarantee food security for the whole community. The octagonal shape of the platform allows combining different modules by connecting them with square floating bases, which may become markets and meeting places of a small water community. studiomobile.org ÂŤ INEX-ONLINE.COM
11 INSPIRE
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13 INSIGHT
Bespoke guidance Above: Within the Holloways of Ludlow brand is a Bespoke Kitchen & Cabinetry specialism formed through a collaboration between Holloways of Ludlow pioneer Mark Holloway and kitchen expert Robert Burnett
H
olloways of Ludlow first opened its doors in Shropshire in 1985 as an architectural salvage shop run by Bob and Jane Dickinson. In 2002, their son Mark Holloway took over the business and gradually moved the company away from individual salvage pieces, to specialising in unusual contemporary and traditional interior fittings and fixtures. In more recent years, Holloways of Ludlow have expanded further
Kitchen design expert Robert Burnett – of Holloways of Ludlow Bespoke Kitchen & Cabinetry – talks kitchen trends and the role of a kitchen designer.
and successfully developed an award-winning bespoke kitchen and joinery business that is linked with a talented in-house design and construction service. Robert comments: “There is no right or wrong way to design a kitchen – what is right for one person is wrong for another. A kitchen design just needs to be practical for the person using it, and it needs to look great in their eyes. “My designs are usually inspired
by my clients, who have often been planning their kitchens and gathering great ideas for years, but just need time and guidance to structure their ideas into a coherent brief. I usually meet them at their home to ask lots of questions about how they use their current kitchen and the adjoining spaces. We discuss their appliance needs and look at lots of pictures of kitchens, so I can understand their material and style preferences. Then I take some quiet time alone to develop INEX-ONLINE.COM
14 INSIGHT Right: Minimalist kitchen designs work well in open-plan rooms Below: Bespoke kitchen solutions can be customised according to client taste Far right: The company have worked on a number of projects, from high-end residential to self-build
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some layouts and design ideas.” Robert Burnett studied Construction Management at Liverpool University, leaving in 1990 to pursue a career in construction. Thirteen years later, in 2003, he helped out a friend who’s kitchen designer had run off with her deposit. Robert put together a new proposal for the space which was radically different to other designer’s, but she adored it. This was the start of his passion for kitchen design and he hasn’t looked back since.
15 INSIGHT
He continues: “I met Mark Holloway of Holloways of Ludlow at an industry-networking event in 2004. We formed an alliance and initially I was designing and manufacturing kitchens for Holloways of Ludlow’s clients, but their growing reputation and increasing kitchen orders resulted in the launch of Holloways of Ludlow Kitchens in 2006.” At the end of 2013, the pair opened a new Bespoke Kitchen showroom adjacent to their wellestablished interior fixtures and
fittings shops in Brook Green, West London, to show off the blend of craftsmanship and creativity. “We believe it’s our job as kitchen designers to be creative and innovative, so we try not to pay too much attention to current ‘trends’. Nevertheless it is important to be aware of the latest appliance and material innovations and we are constantly reviewing the industry press and magazines in search of inspiration for new ideas,” he explains. “Timeless, classic, hand painted, ‘in-frame’ kitchens have made a big comeback this year, and marble worktops are popular. Everyone wants a boiling water tap, and the
preference of families for more open kitchen/living and dining spaces shows no sign of abating. “With regards to upcoming trends, I think the use of sleeker worktops, using thin sheets of Corian, Steel or Stone for a lighter, more chic looking kitchen will make a return. In general, clients are often looking for ways to make their Kitchen look less like a kitchen without losing function or practicality. This is driving the use of more interesting finishes and materials more often associated with furniture making. I am hoping this trend continues because it encourages more interesting kitchen designs. “We try to include something we haven’t done before in every new kitchen design, whether it’s a new finish, material or joinery detail. We don’t have a signature style, but if we did, it would be the individuality of the handmade kitchens we offer!” The team are looking forward to opening another London bespoke kitchen showroom in 2015. hollowayskitchens.com « INEX-ONLINE.COM
16 EXRATED
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17 EXRATED
On-trend exteriors Coinciding with developments in the residential segment, the trend towards exclusive comfort in outdoor areas is also continuing in the highend hospitality market, where suppliers are looking for sophisticated, unique solutions for an exacting clientele.
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atering to increasingly diversified demands means addressing highly individualised needs while at the same time ensuring reliable functionality, advanced ergonomics, and easy handling. At last month’s Sleep 2014, renowned garden furniture manufacturer Garpa presented its innovations and trends for 2015. New lounge Lounge furniture creates spaces and a casual atmosphere in which guests can enjoy peace and quiet. Module systems with large seating and reclining elements that allow flexible combinations will definitely continue their success story in the world of outdoor furnishing. New, elegant deep-seating designs are currently widening the range with startling silhouettes, advanced functionality, and crafted, innovative materials. For example, merging the appearance of classical seating groups with the laid-back appeal of familiar lounge furniture, Garpa’s new series, Casablanca, features a soft, weatherproof polyester fibre woven by hand onto an aluminium frame. Comfortably low armchairs, and two/three-seaters with generous upholstery, assemble around
matching tables at a convenient height for al fresco dining in style. Matching outdoor coffee tables with exterior seating systems in unconventional forms and summery colours will bring an uncomplicated feel to seating solutions. Synthesis of opposites Skilfully playing with contrasts, new developments in classic dining furniture for hotel terraces or outdoor dining areas combine
warm colours with linear shapes, sturdy metals with soft fabrics, and familiar forms with unusual details – to striking effect. Stainless steel and aluminium materials match with muted taupe and warm sepia brown tones, enhancing the trend for an attractive weathered-iron look. Soft fabrics and mesh armrests contrast yet complement. Large dining tables – fixed or in an extending version that adapts quickly to changing situations
Far left: The Lago Ambiente design by Garpa brings the indoors outside Above: Hospitality outdoor seating requires not only strong materials that can withstand frequent use, but that also stand firm against the outdoor elements
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18 INSPIRE
complement the trend. With tabletops made of modern synthetic resin, individual colours and textures can be introduced, broadening the spectrum of contemporary hospitality. Statement pieces and daybeds Whether furnishing a spacious terrace or creating a secluded corner for discerning guests – daybeds and unique solitaire pieces are increasingly being used as individual eye-catchers in select surroundings. Drawing attention, they provide exclusive islands of repose and are especially devised for representative lounge and spa areas. Slender aluminium frames and elegantly wing-shaped backrests of the large elements and loungers of Garpa’s Cape Coral series offer relaxed, en-vogue support.
Above: A modern twist on wicker furniture brings the traditional look up to date Left: Outdoor sofas are popular in hotels and spas – this Garpa design is called Cape Coral
Meet me at the bar As evening progresses, bar stools and tables become irresistible focal points in clubs, hotels and resorts. Yet, new forms and materials also attract guests during the day – be it to meet for a French breakfast in the morning, or a quick lunch at noon. Versatile bar furniture is easily set up, in accordance with current trends for a hassle-free, uncomplicated lifestyle. Stackable chairs made of durable materials, gather around oval or square tables with tabletops of synthetic resin or teak. garpa.co.uk « INEX-ONLINE.COM
20 EXPOSE
Lighting the way Esther Patterson, Designer and Director of Curiousa & Curiousa, has fashioned a British manufacturing success story, whilst keeping design, production and manufacture impressively local. INEX-ONLINE.COM
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ounded in 2010, Curiousa & Curiousa quickly developed a recognised style, crafting a name for itself within the competitive world of decorative lighting. The brand has gained approval from renowned establishments such as Liberty’s of London, Harvey Nichols and Jamie Oliver’s restaurants and television shows, as well as industry accolades, this year having won The Dulux Colour Awards for ‘Best use of Colour in Homes’. With an ever expanding customer base, the brand now
supply globally, from Australia and Middle East to Asia and the US; all this from the small Derbyshire market town of Wirksworth. From the outset Esther has held firm to her belief in honest, quality manufacturing, promoting UK craftsmanship internationally whilst developing talent locally. This passion for UK skills and manufacturing was formed whilst studying Decorative Arts at Nottingham Trent University. She explains: “Before I began working with glass, my main love was ceramics, casting bone
china light pieces. It was through learning of the decline of the British ceramic industry that I realised the extent of the loss of skills of quality craftsmanship in the UK, and that sadly it had been going on for decades. “But although most of the industry might have vanished, the skills were still there – although pretty well hidden! I began to discover almost a secret network of small, independent specialists who still provided a wealth of knowledge and an even greater wealth of enthusiasm
Far left: Different coloured glass shades work beautifully in this restaurant Above: Using different shades together creates a focal point within this neutral interior
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22 EXPOSE
and excitement about the whole process of design and manufacture, along with its challenges. That excitement has stayed with me ever since.” The switch from ceramics to glass came as a revelation to Esther in more ways than one. A new lighting design in bone china could take up to six months to produce a single final piece, but hand-blown glass provided her with relatively ‘instant gratification’. She continues: “It was one of those chance happenings. At the causal suggestion of one of my lecturers, I visited a local glass blower and we’ve worked together ever since.” “I love the whole process of hand-blowing glass. It’s quite raw and elemental – almost brutal – but then produces pieces of such light, beauty and elegance. I’ve always tried to make sure my designs sing in harmony with the craftsmanship, to do it justice.” Just a quick browse through the Curiousa range demonstrates her success. Each piece allows the INEX-ONLINE.COM
Above: Curiousa & Curiousa started in Wirksworth, Derbyshire Right: Hand-blown glass allows for a variety of designs and colours Far right: The addition of tassles add further luxury within this design
23 EXPOSE
glass to sing, with colour and form at the heart of their appeal and each has a unique story to tell. Describing herself as a ‘little sponge’ Esther is constantly on the look-out for inspiration. From autumnal walks with her beloved dog, Gwen, to her teenage crush with 1950s film noir. “It wasn’t just Bogart & Bacall that I fell in love with, it was the whole pared-down style, the snappy dialogue, the romance and the drama. These films have proved themselves timeless classics, and I guess that’s what I’m aiming for with my designs,” she says. The screen continues to provide a source of inspiration. Recently, Danish dramas such as Borgen and The Killing, allowed Esther to peer inside Scandinavian interiors: “The sets intrigued me just as much as the plot-lines. Being able to see the lights in location helped me to better understand the lightpieces, how they worked within the space and the atmosphere that they would create.” Having glimpsed a Louis Poulsen pendant, Esther was inspired to experiment further with larger scales, producing her Dine and Double Dine pieces, combining hand-blown glass with hand-turned walnut discs, which challenged the technicalities and tested the limits of the free-blown process. This ability to challenge and work at scale was first formed by a commission for The Hayward Gallery, who in 2013 asked Esther to produce a piece to complement their major Light Show exhibition. She explains: “This commission proved really
important to the development of Curiousa & Curiousa. It gave us the confidence to experiment and proved we were capable of taking glass to another level. The process of stacking interchangeable pieces created the Triptych Stack design, based on Asian and Moroccan finials and spires. This allowed us to work at scales outside the limits of hand blown glass.” As much as Esther loves being a designer she takes her role as director very seriously. Whilst overseeing the growth in her business she has been careful to steer it in the right direction, maintaining her commitment to UK manufacturing even when the market may have tempted her otherwise. ‘The reality of design today is difficult; it’s an incredibly competitive industry. Balancing being a designer and a director is tough and yes, there have been times when we were tempted to take opportunities for quicker growth at the expense of our commitment to UK manufacturing. But it’s not always about the money or the profit margins. For me, it’s about job satisfaction, so I’m proud of having held true to our beliefs and still proving a success, and I’m proud that the world market shares that trust,” Esther concludes. As every piece is hand-blown to order without the use of moulds, Curiousa & Curiousa provide customers not only with an endless choice of colour, shape and size, but the company’s approach ensures every single piece truly is unique. curiousa.co.uk « INEX-ONLINE.COM
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25 FURNITURE
Home comforts Furniture expert David Herbert discusses a return to tradition, a step back from mass production and the growth in appreciation for UK manufacturing.
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Left: Having started his career in London’s auction rooms, David’s furniture designs are influenced by 19th and early 20th century designs
or 30 years David Seyfried Ltd has supplied furnishing for the finest UK homes and hotels, with customers returning time and time again. It all started in the auction rooms of London. Inspired by what he had seen whilst working in the auction houses, in 1984 David opened his own antiques shop on the Fulham Road. During this time he was able to ascertain which items sold better than others. So, after noticing that stools were popular, David started to make copies of these antique items. The success from this project formed the foundations for his own range of sofas and chairs. Following this, the next crucial step for his business was moving to the influential interior design hub of Chelsea Harbour in 1994. With the foundations of his style inspired by antique furniture, the core of his designs continue to be influenced by 19th and early 20th century design. He explains: “I am really influenced by designers from the past – not necessarily famous furniture makers, but those who produced well-proportioned sofas and chairs. I started the business with my version of what a Victorian stool might look like and the first chair was a copy of a Georgian chair bought at auction. However, in recent years we have added some modern twists and more contemporary designs – a lot of the designs do come from my imagination! “This year has seen a return to the more traditional look, perhaps most notably in fabric application, as velvets have once more gained popularity. One must remember that the choice of fabric is just as INEX-ONLINE.COM
26 FURNITURE
important as the choice of sofa design. The same design can work in both a traditional or modern setting, as long as the fabric is changed accordingly.” The last few years has seen a Made in England recognition grow in popularity. “Made in England gives a stamp of quality that people can trust,” explains David. “This is, of course, a positive change as we are heading away from the ‘throw away’ attitude which has prevailed over recent years. There is always going to be the choice between cost and quality, but there will always be a market for quality pieces which last. “Our industry still trains young people who want to learn a skill. Having the ability to cut a patterned fabric well can help make all the difference to how a Below: Visit the David Seyfried Ltd showroom in Chelsea Harbour Design Centre for more of David’s designs Right: The first furniture David produced were antique stool replicas Far right: The company’s upholstered furniture is made in the UK
finished product looks. A smaller workforce can give the upholsterer a chance to use different skills rather than being on a repetitive production line.” Following a successful stint at the forefront of the London design community, David loves the district so much that he hopes to still be in the same showroom ten years from now. He claims that the thing that makes him most proud is seeing his client’s work featured in a magazine. He continues: “The trade magazines which showcase what is available and start up discussions of developing trends have been the greatest influence in the evolution of developing trends; projects are the inspiration of my customers! Their choice of fabrics and positioning of the furniture plays the biggest part, but I hope that the individual items we supply play some part in the overall look. Being able to see the swing from country house and traditional look in colourful fabrics through to the contemporary hotel and loft conversion look in taupe and brown has a big impact.” davidseyfried.com « INEX-ONLINE.COM
27 FURNITURE
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29 OFFICE
Sharing the load The Trampery, London’s shared workspace provider, has opened a new co-working space in Old Street, at the heart of East London’s technology cluster.
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reated in partnership with Publicis Worldwide, the global advertising services group, the aim is to become an anchor location for a global partnership to promote collaboration between corporates and entrepreneurs. It is the fifth shared workspace from The Trampery, which was founded in 2009 by entrepreneur and sociologist Charles Armstrong, creator of the Tech City Map. Doors opened for the first time on October 23rd for prospective tenants. Over 300 companies have started and grown at Trampery venues across London, and the Old Street hub is the first to explicitly focus on creating a platform for start-ups and established businesses to interact, through the co-created Publicis Drugstore.
Right: The workspace offers function rooms as well as places to work Below: There are five Trampery venues across London
Services offered through the Drugstore range from managed incubators that see entrepreneurs and corporates working side-byside onsite, to open innovation platforms, specially convened hackathons and a Supper Club to convene a diverse range of entrepreneurs and executives. The interiors combine contemporary and vintage items, dotted with artworks and plants, where the brand has aimed to create a place that feels like a home, not a factory. There are 180 degree views of the street below, 50 desks in a bright and airy shared workspace, a 250 capacity events space as well as The Ballroom, an art gallery, private dining room, meeting rooms and fully equipped kitchen facilities. From meetings INEX-ONLINE.COM
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for six people right up to functions for 250, the new venue will provide event organisers with spaces for every type of function in this highly sought after central London location. The opening of The Trampery Old Street marked the culmination of a three-year project to turn an abandoned building into a luxury space that will bring the capital’s emerging entrepreneurs together with established companies across a range of sectors. One of the first tenants is the Norwegian Government, which will host the Oslo Innovation Embassy at the workspace, providing a home for visiting entrepreneurs from the Nordic region. According to The Trampery founder Charles Armstrong, the launch of the Old Street workspace highlights a growing maturity in the London technology landscape. Charles comments: “In its early days The Trampery catered exclusively for start-ups and entrepreneurs, which reflected the balance of the community at the outset of the Tech City initiative. “Now we have an almost even split between early-stage companies and corporations: the big companies have flocked to Shoreditch and what we are increasingly seeing is an appetite among the corporate community to harness the innovation and creativity of start-ups, which brings significant mutual benefits. “In the last five years we have learned a huge amount about how to encourage innovation and collaboration, and we are excited to be working with Publicis Worldwide in Old Street to offer that experience to a diverse range of start-ups and large companies. Dylan Williams, chief strategy and innovation officer, Publicis Worldwide, comments: “I’ve been working with Charles and his Trampery team since we met on the Government’s Tech City Advisory Board three years ago. We’ve spent a long time working out how best to INEX-ONLINE.COM
Left: A number of function rooms are available for companies use Below: The collaborative workspace boasts an industrial edge to its interior design Below right: These kind of office environments are growing in popularity thanks to open-plan trends amidst others such as hot desking Far right: The design pays homage to its trendy and eclectic Shoreditch surroundings
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bridge relationships between multinationals and start ups for mutual benefit. “A permanent home in Old Street and a global roll out plan will allow us to put all this thinking into effect at scale. As the world demands ever more tangible product and service benefits, we will be able to help businesses large and small collaborate to best capture the amazing opportunities therein.” The Trampery brand has developed five buildings in London focused respectively on highgrowth fashion labels, software startups, digital arts, architecture and corporate innovation. Each building provides an inter-locking jigsaw of open-plan workspaces, private studios, cafes, event venues, exhibition spaces and members clubs. Alongside the development of its own sites The Trampery also provides consultancy to clients seeking new approaches to workspace design. thetrampery.com « INEX-ONLINE.COM
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Design matters Abby Chandler, Commercial Manager at Heckmondwike FB, looks at how office design is becoming ever more important because of its impact on health and productivity.
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here is strong evidence that the office environment has an impact on health, well being and the productivity of employees. For interior designers and architects, this has been a well known fact for some time, something that was highlighted at a convention by the World Green Building Council, which recently produced a report entitled ‘Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Offices: The next chapter for Green Building’. The report highlighted that the office environment does indeed have a major impact on productivity and health in the workplace. It looked at a number of different factors including indoor air quality, daylight, workplace design and acoustics. Within workplace design, the report studied how office layout, including workstation density and the configuration of work space, breakout and social space, was found to have an impact on concentration, collaboration, confidentiality and creativity. Following this report, it is little wonder that organisations are starting to take office design seriously and look at how they can best use the indoor environment to their best advantage. Over the past 40 years, the design of office buildings in the UK has evolved to cope with changing trends in business management and the influx of new technology. Back in the 1960s, the trend was for open place office space to allow for the free flow of information. During the 1970s increasing labour INEX-ONLINE.COM
power resulted in the workplace becoming more a place of micro networking, with issues of privacy and creating healthy environments becoming more important. Rapid developments in technology in the 1980s meant that the computer moved from the basement to the desk and office layouts had to reflect the need for individual workstations with growing importance on IT equipment. This trend spread rapidly into the 1990s with the emergence of so-called ‘intelligent building’ with carefully integrated IT systems. Much research has been carried out into the design of the workplace and how this impacts on employee morale and motivation. Claims have been made that the workplace environment is responsible for 24% of job satisfaction and that it can affect performance by as much as 15%. Some businesses
have also been able to report major reductions in staff turnover and absenteeism following an office refurbishment. For example, a UK call centre reported a reduction in staff turnover from 25% to 11% in the first six months after a move to new premises, whilst output (number of successful calls made) more than doubled during this period. Use of colour in the workplace has also been found to encourage creativity, productivity and to boost morale. Certain colours have been found to provoke psychological and physiological responses, so careful choice of carpet is becoming increasingly important for office areas, breakout spaces and boardrooms. Use of particular shades has been shown to maximise productivity levels and minimise fatigue, as well as stimulating creativity and teamworking.
Above: Studies have proved that office environments have a huge impact on productivity and wellbeing Right: Bringing colour and zoning into the workplace stimulates creativity and minimises fatigue
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Office environments these days are not about the single, all-purpose workstation, but for employers to be able to offer a variety of spaces to accommodate a wide range of specialist activities within an organisation. This is where zoning comes in and here carpet is being used to create specific dedicated zones, which avoids the needs for partitions for demarcation. Research shows that, in terms of colour, yellow is the most noticeable as it extremely reflective, but when used in office environments, it can over stimulate the eyes and cause eye strain and discomfort. Complex colour patterns on the floor can make a room seem too ‘busy’ creating a feeling with employees that the tasks they have to do are more complex and demanding than they should be, which generally has a negative impact. On the other hand, combinations of blue and green have been found to communicate tranquillity, spaciousness and focus. Cool blues and greens have proven to maintain a sense of calm in the work place promoting metal clarity and creative thinking, with blue rooms reported to be more comfortable for workers than some other colours. However, warmer colours such as red and orange, are increasingly being used to liven up tired office areas. These colours keep the mind alert and stimulated, with a view to encouraging greater creativity. Red has been found to encourage feelings of strength and energy and is often associated with vitality and ambition. Although red and yellow, as ‘high energy’ colours can be over stimulating, they can work well in highly charged environments, such as telesales organisations or fast food outlets.
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34 FLOORING
On the other hand, monotone colours and tones that are too dark throughout the office could appear to offer a lack of stimulation or even create a depressing feel. Using accent colours throughout a carpet is a common trend in workplace design. Often more neutral shades of carpet are being integrated with bold, vibrant blocks of colour, which is possible now due to advances in carpet manufacturing. Shapes and logos are even being integrated within carpet design to add a personalised feel to a workspace and reinforce the organisation’s brand. Breakout areas, for example, are increasingly being used in open plan office environments, where employees can relax, meet and share ideas. They are also used as locations for leisure activities such as table INEX-ONLINE.COM
tennis, pool or table football. Again, here more vibrant colours in carpet are being used to give the area a sense of fun and purpose. There are lots of theories about how and why interior design in the workplace impacts on people psychologically, however the advice from experts researching this area is to consider colour carefully due to the fact that it can positively or negatively affect the working environment. Experts suggest varying colours throughout the workplace, using changing colour as a design technique for identification purposes or to reflect the changing character of a space. The trend for workplaces is for much greater use of brighter colours and here our extensive choice of fibre bonded carpet
is opening up huge opportunities to create more intricate designs than ever before, especially as it can be cut on site without the risk of unravelling or fraying. There are endless opportunities for workplaces to become more productive and vibrant through the careful choice of flooring and this is the reason we recently extended our Array creative flooring range with six new colours. The huge success of these colours, which were introduced to reflect current trends in furniture design, is a clear sign that brighter colours are here to stay. So, as organisations recognise the growing importance of office design on business success, we can expect to see specifiers and interior designers looking to continue their use of colour to heighten mood and accentuate positive feelings in the workplace. heckmondwike-fb.co.uk ÂŤ
Above: Different colours are proven to provide different benefits, for example reds keep the mind alert and stimulated
VOGUE UK
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Harmonique MD060
Carina MD051 Vogue (UK) Limited, Strawberry Lane, Willenhall West Midlands, WV13 3RS, United Kingdom Email - info@vogueuk.co.uk
www.vogueuk.co.uk
T+44 (0) 1902 387000 | F+44 (0) 1902 387001
36 BESPOKE
Elegant functionality Henry Swanzy runs a small workshop in Falmouth that creates simple and elegant modern furniture inspired by the natural landscape.
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aving trained as a cabinet-maker, Henry Swanzy started his bespoke design career straight out of university by working for established bespoke makers in London and Warwickshire. In 1999 he set up his own Wiltshire workshop producing one-off, solid hardwood furniture, going on to complete an MA exploring the design of products for repeat production.
Henry explains: “I aspire to produce elegant and functional pieces, which work in harmony with the materials from which they are made. There is no decoration for decoration’s sake; the beauty – I hope – lies in elegant problem solving. “I am greatly influenced by Denmark. The great 20th century Danish designers – such as Hans Wegner, Poul Kjaerholm and Kaare Klint – were the masters of
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the understated, unpretentious, elegant simplicity I strive to achieve. Copenhagen, as a city, exudes this same sense of confidence in simplicity, which I adore. “We are not re-inventing the wheel, but what I hope we achieve is designs which are original, beautifully made and meet contemporary needs. My craft background has a huge influence on how I design. The craft INEX-ONLINE.COM
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principles are inherent in design problem solving and the aesthetic result – in essence, what you see is what you get.” Henry’s Pollyfox trestles and benches capture the subtle personality of the hand-made, without being indulgent. They are beautifully delicate; the curves and the asymmetry do not shout out, whilst radiating bespoke appreciation. Working with sustainable wood is a key priority for Henry’s design style: “Wood is an incredible resource, which we should cherish and nurture. If in felling timber we can produce objects that are of a quality that means that they will last and be valued, then that is an excellent use of that resource. What is tragic is to waste the resource making inferior quality objects that do not stand the test of time physically or because of fickle fashion changes. “I would love to work uniquely with British timbers, for the simple reason that they are beautiful and they are British. We do use plenty of English grown timber, but timber certification is also important, so for FSC certified oak we tend to use European stock.” Orinoco Bench is perhaps in a different category to the rest of Henry’s designs. Here he sources unusual pieces of timber and simply frames them with contrasting stainless steel. The intention is to maximise the beauty of the timber in the simplest way possible. Merthen Bookcase performs a similar role in ‘framing’ the coppiced hazel. The other designs lean more towards enjoying the warmth and richness of the timber while utilising the structural integrity of it as a material. He continues: “We have made some wonderful commission pieces, but feel very much at the beginning of a new journey with the products we make at Henry Swanzy Limited. I am thoroughly engaged with the challenges of designing pieces which will have a INEX-ONLINE.COM
39 BESPOKE Left: Henry’s Merthen bookcase is priced at £1200 Below: The Pollyfox bench is available from £725 Right: Henry Swanzy originally trained as a cabinet maker before going on to open his own workshop
broad appeal – and are therefore much more rigorously tested as designs – and that we can produce at an affordable price –both criteria which are less relevant to one-off pieces, but integral to my brief.” When asked what he feels is the greatest influence in the evolution of contemporary interior design, Henry replies: “I probably can’t say Denmark again can I!? Thinking more locally I would have to say
Terence Conran. In my opinion, the launch of the Habitat brand marked a significant turning point in this country’s attitude towards design –an attitude and level of interest that has only grown since. The impact of the design of every day objects, beyond the very superficial, on culture and society is a difficult thing to quantify, but the ethos that Habitat championed, of good design not being exclusive or elitist was the beginning of a shift in understanding and appreciation. “There seems to be a general shift away from mass production. Wood and natural materials seem to be becoming more prevalent, but to be honest I try not to spend too much time looking at what other people are up to, as I find it can be counter productive. Identifying your own design language takes time. I have come to it relatively late, since commission
work hampered that development hugely for me – I think it can hamper others less. I am hugely excited to be doing what I am now doing, and am champing at the bit to get developing other ideas, there just isn’t enough time! But we have some exciting new designs in the pipeline. Watch this space. “I am determined to keep the making ‘in-house’. There is the constant lure of out-sourcing, but maintaining quality and integrity, which I hold so dear, would inevitably be compromised. I want to see expansion in both our range and our out-put, and I hope I can strike a balance that means that I can keep doing what I love and feel best at. Cornwall is a beautiful place to live and work and I think there is real potential to develop an exciting brand here.” All Henry’s local and global influences are blended in a crisp and contemporary context. His designs represent respect for natural materials and a passion for originality. Henry concludes: “Thoughout my career, plenty of people have told me to ‘Keep believing’. There is no doubt that making a living in the creative industries is not easy, and self-doubt is never far away, but believing in what you do is fundamental.” henryswanzy.com « INEX-ONLINE.COM
40 WALLS
Left: Galerie produce a number of wall panels that create a focal point and bring variety to any interior design project Below: Wall decals have become popular across the interior marketplace Right: Luxury stone specialists Lapicida created this bespoke mural to demonstrate the versatility of stone surfacing.
Brave new world
With a market full of wall surfacing solutions, here, Inex profiles popular wallpaper alternatives.
allpaper has always held pride of place as a great way to not only update a room, but to also demonstrate stylistic preferences. However, with wallpaper alternatives becoming a popular choice for DIY enthusiasts, trends for new varieties of wall surfacing solutions are beginning to spread into the trade marketplace. From wall decals to digital panels, these offer designers a plethora of new
Galerie, comments: “There are a great number of alternatives to wallpaper on offer at the moment. At Galerie we offer a selection of special order wall panels that can be displayed on walls for an artistic dĂŠcor feature, creating a dramatic focal point for any room. The wall panels can also be presented traditionally as a statement feature wall. Our Marimekko 4 collection has some beautiful bright panels available in quirky graphic prints and colourful, unconventional
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materials and design options. Popular trends for highlighting a feature wall with a different colour or bold wallpaper pattern has transposed into decorations designed specifically for one wall. One option that addresses this theme is wall panels, which add an artistic decor feature and dramatic focal point. Wall covering expert, Galerie have a number of wall panels that add variety to interior spaces. Eloise Olde-Wolbers, Director at
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patterns that are guaranteed to introduce a sense of fun into the home.” Recent trends have also proven that bespoke murals aren’t just for schools or urban graffiti, as high-end surfacing companies now provide bespoke mural options. One example is luxury stone specialist Lapicida, who create spectacular marble, limestone or semi-precious stone murals to commission. The company went as far as demonstrating the versatility of its mural options for the high-end market by creating a bespoke mural in celebration of Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt’s famous work, The Kiss, in its showroom on Chelsea’s Kings Road. Not only does this demonstrate mural flexibility, but also a fresh look at stone application. Wall decals have become very popular within the consumer market, as easy application
enables homeowners to achieve a professional-looking result. They can be applied to any smooth surface, indoor or outdoor – perfect for hospitality – and are easy to apply and remove, leaving behind no residue. The Urban Forest Grey With Grey Birds design by Zazous would look great in a children’s bedroom. The need for wallpaper itself will never go out of fashion and the digital age has brought, not only accessibility to thoroughly research the options, but also bespoke designs, digitally printed and tailored to exact requirements. Digitex are just one brand that recognises the sector crossover as it prints bespoke wallpaper for both the contract and consumer market. galeriehome.co.uk lapicida.com zazous.co.uk digetex.com «
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42 ALTFIELD SHOWCASE
Altfield showcase Altfield is a leading resource for beautiful textiles, wallcoverings and leather, distributing a number of high end lines from around the world. The company also produce its own collections of wallcovering, fabric and faux leathers which blend perfectly with the brands it represents. Altfield’s products and brands are the perfect complement for high-end residential and commercial interiors. Here, Altfield’s showcases some of the latest collections available at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour showroom. www.altfield.com 020 7351 5893
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1. Moore & Giles is bringing glamour back with the introduction of a variety of new leather collections and handcrafted products with eyecatching colours and textures that encapsulate the luxury of touch. These new collections are designed to make an instant impression and help infuse interiors with refined elegance and modern appeal. Hand woven, luxurious and elegant, Moore & Giles Woven leather can be used to add rich texture and sophisticated flair to a variety of applications.
2. India, an ancient country with a rich tradition of hand-woven textiles; India, a rapidly emerging global center for state-ofthe-art fabric production. Both aspects drew the Pollack design studio to visit the country and explore the possibilities first hand and the Jaipur collection is the result. Seven beautiful patterns distill their experience, incorporating timeintensive hand-weaving, embroidery and block-printing techniques, as well as the capabilities of modern high-speed looms.
3. Glant’s Autumn Collection is a handsome mix of textures in an impressive array of neutrals and colours. Within the collection are a number of new constructions as well as striking additional colourations to many Glant favourites. These textures are designed for versatility within several of Glant’s categories; Classic, Couture, Porta Via and Outdoor, where both residential and commercial installations will be ‘happy landings’ for these new additions.
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4. This Fall, Weitzner introduces Omotenashi – a fabric and wallcovering collection that emerged from Lori Weitzner’s recent travels to Japan. A longtime admirer of Japanese arts and culture, Lori was struck not only by the beauty of the landscape and exquisite craftsmanship, but by a warm, welcoming feeling she could not quite name. This heartfelt sensibility pervaded all aspects of her stay, from hotels and restaurants to weaving mills and boutiques.
5. Inspired by the Hollywood opulence and glamour of the 1960s, the new BROCHIER textile collection DIVA represents a perfect marriage of tradition with innovation. Refined qualities inspired by fashion classics, DIVA’s textiles have been re-designed and coloured to suit the needs of the most unique and highend luxury interiors. The collection offers a vast range of qualities: from the softest linen bouclé to velvets woven with gold threads and a variety of sophisticated silk damasks.
6. Beautiful blues, tactile linen sheers, luscious upholstery and elegant outdoor fabrics form this Autumn Collection. Shown here is Indigo; the colours range from subtle grey tones to deepest marine. An ever popular palette this selection encompasses some wonderful new designs with an emphasis on antique and mottled textures. Westbury Textiles also introduces three linen sheers to their Autumn collection; Antique Linen Sheer, Lino Lucido and Copenhagen Linen.
44 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Product Spotlight This month’s selection of innovative new products not to be missed.
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1. The new Svelte WC’s from Bauhaus offer ultimate comfort and designer panache with the latest in seat styling and innovative modern technology. Designed and manufactured in Civita Castellana, Svelte has been created for the UK bathroom in wall hung and back to wall formats. Beautifully crafted, the smooth lines and sensual shapes are created using only the finest raw materials and the latest production techniques to meet the expectations of leading interior designers and specifiers. In addition to the white finish, an exclusive platinum finish is also available. Featuring a high-gloss, reflective, platinum exterior glaze, the distinctive design is perfect for adding a touch of glamour to the bathroom. www.crosswater.co.uk 0845 873 8840
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2. Formica Group, manufacturer of the Axiom range of worktops, is showing its continued dedication to the British manufacturing by aligning itself to the re-launched Made in Britain campaign. According to a recent survey carried out by the manufacturers’ organisation EEF, 72% of UK consumers stated that they prefer to buy goods that have been manufactured in Britain. Furthermore, 91% agree that manufacturing is essential for UK economic growth. With such strong demand and support from consumers who want to buy locally, manufacturers must make it easy for them to identify products manufactured in the UK. www.axiomworktops.com 0800 376 2976
3. Polyflor’s latest advancement in safety flooring is already making waves at Cardiff’s International Pool, Wales’ highly acclaimed swimming venue. 240m2 of Polysafe Verona PUR sheet vinyl has been installed into customer and staff areas to provide an attractive, fresh and safe surface that is ideally suited to this leisure environment. Located in the heart of Cardiff Bay as part of the International Sports Village, this £23m complex boasts the largest swimming facility in the UK and features a state of the art 50m Olympic pool. Polysafe Verona PUR was selected to provide the required durability to withstand heavy traffic in this customer area, whilst ensuring sustained wet slip resistance. www.polyflor.com 0161 767 1111
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4. Lyndon Design’s recent collaboration with leading British designer, Peter Emrys-Roberts of ERA, has resulted in an upholstered seating collection named Romba. Featuring a modern rectilinear design, this collection is accentuated by colourful upholstered blocks and provides a contemporary and striking seating solution. Featuring armchair and sofa options, the collection may be arranged into a variety of asymmetrical and symmetrical compositions to suit a particular scheme. To overcome the restrictions that designers face when looking to inject colour into a scheme, Romba facilitates the controlled addition of colour or accent fabrics to the ends of its bolsters. www.lyndon.co.uk 01242 584897
5. Echoing the transition that is currently taking place in the work place - moving from traditional ways of working to environments that support and promote flexibility and nomadic working patterns - leading British designer and manufacturer, Boss Design, announces the launch of Peek and Boo. Designed in-house, Peek and Boo are available as one-piece or two-piece units that can be used independently to create private spaces in open plan environments, or alongside each other to enhance collaborative working. Complete with a swivel base and felt pads, this sublime duo of excellence boasts luxury and contemporary styling. www.boss-design.com 01384 455570
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6. Designed by Italian architect and designer, Antonio Citterio the new Axor collection of bathroom fittings exude elegance, high quality and worth. Axor Citterio E is characterised by a balanced contrast of smooth shapes, clean lines and precious surfaces – features of elegance and high quality, respectively. Soft and slender mixer handles characterise the entire collection’s design, as in the single lever mixer with its modern and upright joystick handle, or in the 3-hole mixers with their classic cross-handles. All 37 products that make up the collection share a visually appealing and harmonious look that complements a variety of styles, from art nouveau to modern urban. www.hansgrohe.co.uk 01372 465655
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7. Osmo UK, the eco-friendly wood and finishes expert, is able to provide customers with a unique looking and aesthetically pleasing wooden floor from ESCO Group. Harfa flooring has been designed with a rough-sawn treatment and has been enhanced with crosswise cuts that are grooved in the surface with great care. Ideal for housing projects, Harfa can be combined with many different styles and colours, providing endless possibilities. As with all ESCO flooring, Harfa is finished with Osmo Polyx-Oil, providing optimum protection to the surface, without detracting from the unique appearance. www.osmouk.com 01296 481220
8. The Interiors Group have recently fitted out offices for PIC, deVere Group, who are the world’s leading independent international financial consultancies. Located on Level 27 Tower 3 of Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, the client wanted an office similar in look, feel and functionality to the Dubai deVere office as well as to facilitate expansion. The Interiors Group were appointed to fit out the shell and core. From the initial meeting, the client stressed that the design concept should follow the look and feel of the recently completed Dubai Office. A subsequent visit to the office confirmed that the deVere corporate colours of dark blue and white had been predominantly used throughout the space. www.interiorsgroup.co.uk 020 7495 1885
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T: +44 (0) 1844 348200 | E: designer@hypnosbeds.com | www.hypnosbeds.com Hypnos is proud to be Carbon Neutral, complying with BS PAS 2060 Standard.