Designer Magazine July 2022

THE WELLNESS ISSUE JULY 2022 263

MILAN 2022

A big return for the greatest design show on Earth

designer A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST The best practice principles that are helping to create healthier, happier spaces

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How urban rewilding could make a real difference to the world around us

INSPIRING PROJECT CREATIVITY 23/06/2022 08:41

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Welcome to the July issue of Designer.

When you look back over the decades at the main objectives for designers and architects when working on projects, it seems strange how skewed some of the priorities were. For residential schemes, squeezing the very most out of the available space was often key, as was maximising return for the prevailing ‘property ladder’ mindset.

For workspace projects, productivity, efficiency, and budget were always top of the tree.

While such considerations remain important of course, it is the human factor that has now really come to the fore. Homes are being designed as places to live and enjoy rather than as investments.

Offices are being moulded using a human-centric approach, seeking to make spaces that are creative, nurturing, and healthy places to be.

The pandemic has no doubt played a part in recalibrating things, with clients from all disciplines refocused on a different set of key priorities that are better suited to the ways in which we want to live and work now and in the future. Wellness – in all its many forms – is now at the heart of the design process, as we seek to make sure the environments around us are fit for purpose in meeting our physical and mental health needs.

So this month, we gather up some perspectives on wellness best practice, considering how some steps that were once seen as trailblazing are now becoming the norm to the benefit of all. Along with sustainability, it seems set to shape the future of creative thinking for many years to come.

e: martin@thedsgroup.co.uk w: designerati.co.uk

Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who entered this year’s Designer Awards. Once again, we’ve had a huge response and are now assessing entries ahead of the full judging process which takes place over the next few weeks. Good luck to everyone who has submitted their very impressive projects and products.

M ar t in Martin Allen-Smith Editor, Designer

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designeratiUK @designeratiUK

SOCIAL

Enjoy the issue!

@designeratiUK

designerati

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anna PRESENTING

we don’t just deliver a product, we deliver an experience…

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CONTENTS 35

38

10 SOURCE Our monthly round-up of the people, products and events that matter from across the design sector

returns in its physical form this month after two years, offering the chance to discover some of the creative stars of the future

18 SHOWROOMS Clerkenwell Design Week saw the opening of new spaces for RAK Ceramics and flooring brand Karndean

38 RESHAPING THE WORKSPACE During a time of pandemic-induced uncertainty and upheaval, a South-West London office refurbishment exploited the chance to reconfigure and dramatically enhance the working environment for employees

22 PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST Wellness has become one of the guiding principles for design across all sectors. We get a steer on best practice for human-centric schemes 30 A DESIGN FOR LIFE Siân Moxon explains how designers can play a part in bringing nature back to the places we live in through urban rewilding 35 FRESH PERSPECTIVES Graduate showcase New Designers

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42 MILAN 2022 Rounding up a few highlights from the greatest design show on Earth 54 HOME EVOLUTION From a blank canvas, Bert & May Founder Lee Thornley created a Scandi-inspired haven that combines neutral tones with pops of colour and texture

58 THE YES MAN Design strategist Daniel Gava has made a career from bringing people and ideas together to forge new creative perspectives.

He spoke to Melissa Porter for the designerati podcast about collaboration, inspiration, and why it’s good to say yes 62 MAKING GOOD USE With sustainability at the forefront, homeowners are increasingly prepared to think beyond the norm when it comes to creating the best solutions for their spaces. We asked Tess & Mike Shaw about their experience of opting for a ‘pre-loved’ rather than brand new kitchen 66 EXIT An innovative high-tech music show required a similarly groundbreaking venue

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THE COOKER HOOD SPECIALISTS WESTIN.CO.UK

KITCHEN PROJECT BY DAVID LISLE

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EDITORIAL EDITOR MARTIN ALLEN-SMITH martin@thedsgroup.co.uk CONTRIBUTOR ANNA-MARIE CASAS BRAND AMBASSADOR MELISSA PORTER PUBLISHING PUBLISHING DIRECTOR CLARA DEEKS clara@thedsgroup.co.uk PUBLISHING ASSISTANT GEORGE DEAN george@thedsgroup.co.uk MANAGING DIRECTOR ALLISTAIR HUNTER OPERATIONS DIRECTOR TRACY MEAD

MARTIN ALLEN-SMITH

CLARA DEEKS

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DOM LITTLER

MELISSA PORTER

ADVERTISING BRAND MANAGER STUART SINCLAIR stuart@thedsgroup.co.uk MARKETING CREATIVE MARKETING MANAGER DOM LITTLER dom@thedsgroup.co.uk DIGITAL MARKETING APPRENTICE AMY NICE PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR LEE THOMAS GRAPHIC DESIGNER BEN EMMERSON

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MILAN 2022

A big return for the greatest design show on Earth

designer

designerati.co.uk

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST The best practice principles that are helping to create healthier, happier spaces

Designer 263 Cover 2022.indd 1

How urban rewilding could make a real difference to the world around us

On the cover: Office design by SpaceInvader for Domestic & General (photo: Gary Britton)

INSPIRING PROJECT CREATIVITY 22/06/2022 16:51

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CREATING THE WOW FACTOR

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designerati.co.uk The House of Rohl (comprising bathroom brands Victoria + Albert baths, Perrin & Rowe, Shaws of Darwen and Riobel brassware) teamed up with Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead of 2LG Studio to create a concept bathroom at the WOW!House exhibition at the Design Centre at London’s Chelsea Harbour. The stars of the new Changing Rooms TV series and recent guests on the designerati podcast created one of the 20 spaces at the 400 sq m concept house.

During lockdown many people came to see the bathroom as a sanctuary, both for the body and the mind. Taking this a stage further, Cluroe and Whitehead created their ‘Cave of Wonders’ bathroom intended to offer a sensory experience akin to a holiday and a space to escape to. Given an open brief, 2LG chose a house muse, Billy Porter, and the space is a playful ode to the American actor, singer and author. Whitehead explained: “He’s such an icon of fashion and an incredibly lovely human, so we wanted to take his approach to life and create this bathroom space for him brand to indulge his senses.”

German kitchen

Eggersmann has of luxurious vintage The design featured a combination added upholstery with retro the glassGlance brick andglass the stark modernity ofcabinet brushed steel. system to its

offering. aluminium The two designers have aIts long-term obsession with frame glass Malachite and cobaltand that “took them down a rabbit hole into a space filledfronts with richand huessides and stalactites”. offer Stalactite lights were commissioned from artist James Shaw, and feature various open or closed striking extruded shapes, made from recycled plastic. furniture options and

Beneath thecan lightsbe areused Victoria Albert’s Amiata baths and in+ base basins. Normally available in a choice of 200 RAL colours, and wall units, as well 2LG challenged Victoria + Albert to create a special colour tall cabinets. spray effect,as intended to create the impression that the baths and basins are growing organically from their base.

At one end, a Victoria + Albert Amiata bath in a unique ombre effect, matched to Riobel brassware, while at the other end is a marble vanity unit with Victoria + Albert basins, also with an ombre effect.

The tiled floor offers a sneak preview of 2LG’s new collaboration with Maitland and Poate. Norwegian artist and product designer, Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng, contributed her Vride stool and Kote pewter box, while Dedar contributed its Nouvelles Vagues velvet fabric, which was used to re-upholster an antique sofa (sourced by 2LG).

Shaped for Comfort First shown at KBB in Birmingham in March, Spanish bathroom brand Acquabella has launched its Chrea range, comprising a distinctive bathtub and basin.

The bath has an ergonomic design to optimise comfort with a soft rounded shape to offer a fluid look. The accompanying basins have a similarly soft, curved form. Chrea is made of Dolotek, a resin and mineral material.

House of Rohl / houseofrohl.uk 2LG Studio / 2lgstudio.com Acquabella / acquabella.com/en

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Shared Vision

Lighting brand Astro has collaborated with Pentagon Tiles to launch a new London showroom space.

Launched during Clerkenwell Design Week 2022, the showroom is located within the vibrant design community of Leather Lane in London’s Farringdon and showcases Astro’s latest lighting designs alongside materials from Pentagon Tiles and Junckers flooring.

The venue houses a working space and intimate courtyard area, plus a creative mood boarding section for viewing samples and materials.

Astro / astrolighting.com Pentagon Tiles / pentagontiles.com

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The tap that does it all 100°C BOILING, CHILLED AND SPARKLING WATER With a Quooker in your showroom you can offer your customers the only tap in the world that dispenses true 100°C boiling, chilled and sparkling water. Well-known, extremely popular, and already sought after by your customers thanks to our extensive national marketing campaigns. Quooker offers high-quality, innovative kitchen taps that are already being used by millions of households throughout the world. As an official Quooker dealer, our in-house service team will take care of all after sales matters for you, and we can even arrange installation by a Quooker engineer.

We also have a unique industry-leading virtual online platform that enables consumers to choose the right product for their kitchen without your involvement. This way, you can focus on what you are good at: selling beautiful kitchens.

Contact us for more information on how to become a Quooker dealer.

Quooker UK Ltd. Beaumont Buildings Great Ducie Street Manchester M3 1PQ +44 (0)1617 685 900 enquiries@quooker.co.uk www.quooker.co.uk

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Design duo CY+YA

Sound Solution Waterscapes by CY+YA has been revealed as the winner of the AXOR MyEdition design competition. Chosen by an esteemed panel of judges, including Andreas Diefenbach from award-winning design studio, PHOENIX, Global Head of AXOR Marketing, Anke Sohn, and Hansgrohe UK’s Managing Director, Jay Phillips, a prototype of the winning design has been manufactured and has now gone on display at The Water Studio in Clerkenwell, London, where it will be available to view throughout the summer.

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CY+YA is the collaboration of Cynthia El Frenn and Yara Chaker, Lebanese architects and designers based between London and Beirut.

Their AXOR MyEdition concept – Waterscapes – explores the science of cymatics and its potential to reveal the dynamic but subtle interaction of sound with water.

On the surface of the plate, a sculpted resin reflects the patterns that water makes when it vibrates with sound. The textural pattern is generated by a reaction-diffusion algorithm that

captured a range of high vibrational frequencies. The prototype designs were crafted and made by Kent-based Cornelius Creative product design.

Anke Sohn said: “AXOR has always been about creating iconic and distinctive design, and how these can be the inspiration for unique bathroom designs. Through their design, CY+YA have explored a different aspect of water movement by combining it with sound and science. We are really excited to display this one-off piece in The Water Studio.”

AXOR / axor-design.com/uk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS

RAK CERAMICS RAK Ceramics has opened its first global design hub in London. Located at 100 St John Street, in the heart of London’s creative quarter Clerkenwell, the RAK Ceramics Design Hub is one of the largest in the area, with 7,276 sq ft over two floors.

The space allows visitors to explore products from a wide selection of RAK Ceramics bathroom ranges, kitchen taps, and brassware.

The location also offers meeting facilities and a dedicated area showing the brand’s tile offering, including mega slabs, which can be used for cladding, tiling, surfacing, and as unique decorative pieces.

The space has also been created as an interactive and immersive environment designed to inspire creativity and includes a working kitchen display, working tap display, Virtual Worlds 4D Theatre, and a ‘Grab and Go’ sample area.

Abdallah Massaad, Group CEO at RAK Ceramics, said: “London is the obvious choice to launch our first global design hub concept.

The UK is an increasingly important market for RAK Ceramics, and London is home to many of the world’s leading designers, architects, and project specifiers. The RAK Ceramics Design Hub is a unique concept where the design community can experience the innovative possibilities of our products.”

Many of RAK Ceramics’ signature products are on display, including a new collection from world-renowned fashion designer Elie Saab, along with products from designers Maurizio Scuttella, Debiasi & Sandri, and Patrick Nourget.

RAK Ceramics / 100 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London EC1M 4EH / rakceramics.com 18

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS

KARNDEAN

Vinyl flooring brand Karndean has opened its new showroom in London’s Clerkenwell. The new studio is designed to inspire the design community and highlight the possibilities of flooring design. The showroom features a selection of bespoke floors that demonstrate how the brand’s flooring can meet both aesthetic requirements and demanding technical specifications, whilst also protecting a listed period building.

Inspired by a concept of ‘random chaos’ to instil a sense of happiness and optimism, the showroom features abstract designs that show the versatility of luxury vinyl flooring. Fleur Carson, Commercial Sales Director at Karndean Designflooring, said: “As a brand, we have been expanding

steadily and continue to make our mark on the commercial interiors industry, so this investment is the obvious next step for us.

Having a permanent showroom in Clerkenwell will make us more accessible to those working at the cutting edge of design and will enable us to show how an extremely modern floor can fit into a historic setting.

“We have designed the showroom to exemplify both the potential of our products and to show how expressive design can be used to influence mood.

Using both off-the-shelf examples and a bespoke design, we offer a selection of original floor designs that will raise a smile, support wellbeing and connect us to the natural world.”

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS

At ground level, visitors can experience how a complementary combination of designs from Karndean’s Heritage Collection and bespoke cuts can be used to demarcate activity zones and guide users through the space. By using a rigid core format in the basement, the design ensures that the existing floor is completely protected.

On the first floor, a floating sub-floor safeguards the floorboards so that a unique abstract design can be laid. Designers can learn how design components and bespoke elements in interesting patterns and colour combinations can be used to create innovative designs. The showroom is open by appointment.

Karndean / 20 Clerkenwell Green, Clerkenwell, London, E1R 0DP / karndean.com/clerkenwellshowroom

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE WELLNESS

Natural Instincts

Sarah Dodsworth, Co-Founder of Ekho Studio, says that a well-considered approach to nature and materials is key to achieving wellness inside buildings…

It’s vital that our physical environments meet our needs, not only functionally, to help us perform better, but to support our health and wellbeing too. Part of this wide-reaching agenda can be delivered through physical space, by creating environments that are adaptive and responsive to people’s individual needs – as well as being comfortable and diverse. A truly successful building will have been designed with a holistic approach to wellbeing and the creation of a community – wellbeing is social as well as physical.

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST

Wellness has become one of the guiding principles for design across all sectors.

We get a steer on best practice for human-centric schemes

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE WELLNESS Numerous recent studies have proven that by introducing elements of nature into our interior spaces, our productivity, creativity and morale all increase. Biophilic design is a well-known concept used to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions.

A common misconception, however, is that biophilic design simply translates to adding lots of plant life to an interior. It is far more complex than that. The inclusion of natural features, materials and textures can help to mimic the outdoors and a more natural environment.

At Ekho Studio, we champion the use of natural naturals wherever possible across all of our schemes. Materials such as stone, timber, cork, wool and felt create a direct connection to our natural environment through tactile attributes and with a calming and restorative quality. More often than not they also have great acoustic values too. Softer, organic forms and colour application also play a key role in combatting tiredness, and much has been made of the effects colour can have on our mood. A considered application of artwork is often hugely under-valued. Through all our schemes we seek to incorporate art and quirkier more domestic touches where possible too. Charm and the ability to provoke a smile can’t be underestimated as mood-enhancers.

The interest in health and wellness inside buildings has become very well documented, and for good reason. A recent survey by The National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS) reveals that in the UK we spend a staggering 90% of our time indoors.

Put simply, our wellbeing is no longer just a ‘nice-to-have’.

Within the design community, there is growing awareness around the need to make our products, materials, and interior spaces healthier.

Our clients are also ever increasingly well-educated on the merits of wellness and how this links to business performance and ultimately an organisation’s bottom line. Never before, in my career spanning almost 20 years, has there been such a collective awareness of this topic.

Ekho Studio / ekho.studio

Ekho Studio’s recently completed scheme for AstraZeneca in central London encompasses many of the firm’s learnings around wellness.

The overarching ethos was to create a healthier, more comfortable and productive workspace. The new workplace, through its design, nurtures an easy and informal atmosphere, which in turn fosters serendipitous collaborations, as work and social behaviours are no longer siloed, and mix together very naturally.

Key design features of the space include the newly-installed bi-folding doors in the large café and social area, enabling easy transition to outside space, fresh air and panoramic city views via a south-facing terrace. There is plenty of external planting to boot, and a mix of informal settings to gather, socialise and do business.

There are several mix-mode flexible settings across the floorplates designed to accommodate anything from a typical seated meeting with AV, to standing-only

meetings to encourage brainstorming and quick decision making, or simply to have a cuppa. Yoga, pilates and mindfulness classes are also catered for. This has been realised through a considered layout and selecting flexible furniture pieces that allow the spaces to have ease of adaptability. Newly-provided wash/shower rooms encourage this multi-functional ethos, enabling staff and visitors to feel comfortable transitioning between workleisure and ‘wind down’ mode.

The material palette focuses on warmth and comfort throughout. Natural timber materials form the basis of the palette, complimented by monolithic concrete flooring, tactile wall renders, rich hues, pastel colour tones, live planting and carefully selected artwork. Sarah Dodsworth explains: “The furniture is integral to the success of the scheme, even down to small touches like the library corner with books and the opportunity to display awards and bric-a-brac. We feel this all holistically contributes to that sense of community.”

Born in Tehran and raised in Hamburg, Hadi Teherani is a prolific and versatile designer whose works can be found in Germany and all over the world. His bathroom concept for the AXOR’s ‘Distinctive’ project has been designed to reflect his own individual idea of this space in its daily use, its design, and its furnishing.

Teherani explains: “The bathroom is a space where I can retreat, throw off the stress, and come out reborn. I see the bathroom as a space where I can clean myself — in a metaphorical sense as well. This space protects me, offers me security, but at the same time, it doesn’t restrict me but rather gives me a feeling of space and infinity.”

“Human beings have always built cocoons in which they feel protected and could find shelter — whether made of snow, earth, or stone. The primal form of housing if you like.

Enveloping but not narrowing. And this is what I take up in my vision of a bathroom.”

Hadi Teherani’s concept features the form of a cupola placed in the centre of a house or a hotel suite. In an open layout, the circular room is accessible from several sides with four window openings and round arches facing each other. In the centre, an organically formed bathtub is the focal point, alongside a spacious shower area and a generous, oval double washbasin. The concept is inspired by the public baths in the Middle East, which usually cover an area of hundreds of square metres, formed out of several individual cupolas accommodating the reception area, the dressing rooms, the main bathroom, the fountains, and the toilet.

Teherani chose this particular architectural style for his personal idea of a bathroom as it symbolises openness and secureness.

He said: “The vastness comes from the high arched ceiling with a glass mosaic that stretches across the room like the sky.

When you lay here in the bathtub placed in the centre of the room you get the feeling of looking into the vastness of the starry sky.”

Axor / axor-design.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE WELLNESS

Emotional Response

Interior designer and hotelier Dee Gibson believes that how a space feels should be at the very heart of any design scheme…

DESIGNER: What are some of the key ‘best practice’ principles that you seek to apply to projects when it comes to wellness?

Dee Gibson: Emotional wellbeing is a key player for me, so listening to a clients’ needs is paramount.

There is not a one size fits all template but there are some basic concepts that I would consider whatever the client profile. In particular: • Client-centric triggers. What emotions do they want to feel in the space in question?

• Which materials can I use?

Perhaps natural, sustainably sourced, tactile options.

• Light and ventilation. Can we maximise natural light and air circulation throughout the space?

• Technology. How can we use technology to meet requirements without overloading emissions?

• Visual. What colour schemes can we use to encourage the desired emotional state (and therefore wellbeing)?

• Can we introduce biophillic elements? I don’t endorse the use of plants that are not natural.

• Which family heirlooms and artefacts can we keep and re-purpose into the scheme?

DESIGNER: How do you think our understanding of wellness and its importance has evolved within the work of architects and designers?

Dee Gibson: We are much more aware of the emotional aspects around wellness.

Historically spatial and interior design has centred on aesthetic and function, I include the emotional response. How does a client want to feel in a space?; this is my starting point. The same space being used by differing clients could have wildly different results. For example, someone who works and plays hard in a corporate role may want to come home and leave all of that at the front door. They may demand a private sanctuary designed to be the opposite of their working life, with a design required to be quiet, intimate, relaxing, and with little or no technology. They may want to feel comforted and nurtured, and this would drive how I approach materials choices, colour palettes, biophillic elements, technology and so on.

Another client with the same profile, may want to use that same space as a continuation of hard work and play, so technology in the home office could be a big requirement, while colour schemes, layouts, furniture and materials choices would encourage a more energetic use of the space. Perhaps also smaller hidden areas such as the sanctuary spots with the common areas encouraging socialising, conversation, entertaining etc.

In both scenarios I would be thinking about the best practice principles named above but my approach would be different, considering emotion up there with aesthetics and function. It is up to us designers and architects to influence our clients to make choices that are good for them and the environment, it is exciting to see a growing number of manufacturers thinking about how they produce their products so it is easier to share knowledge with our clients and help guide their choices.

Velvet Orange / velvetorange.co.uk

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Tilly Tilly is a family of components that can easily be crafted together to create formal or informal settings that support today’s work-playgather environments. Luxurious, elegant and classic, the smooth lines and inspiring colour combinations make Tilly perfect for social spaces, working hot spots or for use in a reception area.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE WELLNESS

Bright Ideas

Looking at lighting design as part of the bigger picture, Marketa Rypacek, Managing Director at Industville, understands that office lighting plays a vital role in improving the employee and customer experience…

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE WELLNESS The past few years have truly transformed what we’ve come to expect from office spaces and their design. As the needs of office workers change, so too must the approach to workplace design. Office interiors still call for functionality at their core, but increasingly, designers are now incorporating more elements of comfort and features that facilitate improved employee wellbeing.

In recent years it has become clear that lighting has a big effect on people’s wellbeing, alertness and productivity at work. In the past, lighting design has often focused on lighting specific tasks, such as reading or looking at computer screens, which has been at the expense of how light affects the person. To strike the right balance, we need to light not just the task, but also the space and the person, so people can feel comfortable when carrying out their work.

Our natural circadian rhythm is vital in ensuring general wellbeing, affecting everything from our all-important sleep patterns to the molecular clocks that regulate the timing of our cellular activities. Keeping this rhythm in check, means we not only feel better but also perform better too, hence companies and organisations are keen to ensure they provide the right environment for their workers, with the correct lighting playing a big part in this.

Biophilic design is becoming more than a trend; it is a scientifically proven philosophy of our innate connection with nature and natural elements. Modern humans spend about 90% of their time indoors, which has resulted in an outcry for a deeper connection with nature. This has affected the lighting aspect of office space design immensely, demanding greater amounts of natural light, as well as softer lighting, instead of windowless cubicles under fluorescent lighting.

Lighting should be used to create a welcoming feel, resulting in a place your employees will thrive, and visitors will want to spend time in and return to.

To achieve this, lighting should be approached in a layered manner. Embrace the whole range of lighting sources available from pendant lights, recessed lights and chandeliers, to track lighting, lamps and spot lighting. I often advise customers to vary the lighting in a room to create little pockets and pools of light. Accent lighting can then be used to highlight a piece of artwork, plants or architectural features in the workplace.

Incorporating zones of decorative lighting will help to make the workplace feel more homely and cosy, also creating a happier work environment. With flexible working hours, the lines between work, home and social lives are blurred and therefore having a more homely vibe in the workplace will help staff to stay focused and keep creative juices flowing.

It was important that employee wellbeing was considered first and foremost in this project by Peldon Rose for financial lender Glenhawk. The Covid-19 pandemic has amplified the importance of keeping teams well, both physically and mentally, and the office space has a key part to play. The new location overlooks a courtyard, which means it is rich in natural light. Such an abundance of light can be a rarity in London office spaces, so every effort was made to maximise its impact.

Peldon Rose adopted the principles of biophilic design across the workplace and introduced a range of plants that will thrive in the beautifully-lit space. These are complemented by the use of natural textures and the introduction of a wellbeing room with soft furnishings to create a calm space for employees to concentrate or recuperate.

Glenhawk Chief Executive and Founder Guy Harrington said: “Some people would question whether it’s the right time to spend on offices at the moment. I believe that there will be an element of remote/flexible working for some time to come so when you do come in to the office it needs to be comfortable, clean, light and feel like a second home. I think we’ve achieved this nicely and have space to grow.”

Peldon Rose / peldonrose.com

Industville / industville.co.uk Industville recently delivered the lighting for a project in London’s St Katherine’s Dock with office design studio Kinetic Workplace. The scheme involved a 18,000 sq ft design and build fitout of Devon House for the new London headquarters of Gain Capital (Now Stone X). This project called on every aspect of Kinetic Workplace’s expertise to pull off, mainly because Covid-19 started during the middle of it.

Kinetic Workplace have designed flawless communal social spaces and individual work bays, as well as modern larger

workspaces for numerous employees to enjoy. The furniture, lighting, decorative accessories, and greenery all work harmoniously together to create a workspace that aims to increase productively and wellness for employees.

Industville’s Marketa Rypacek said: “Lighting should reflect your company’s brand story and hence you will want to use lighting made from the highest quality materials. Not only will this enhance the overall atmosphere, but it can also improve perceptions of your brand, giving it individual flair.”

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Above Abode recently supported the first-ever Healthy Home pop-up at Westfield London, curated by sustainable and wellness designer, Oliver Heath. The display provided a series of mindful and restorative interior spaces where visitors could explore and discover the benefits of biophilic design including a garden, dining room, living room, bedroom, work and exercise room set.

With products and interior schemes ranging from multi-sensory through to biodiversity, Abode was tasked with showcasing a water supply and purification product within the installation that focussed on wellbeing, hydration and waste minimisation.

Heath said: “We spend an alarming 90% of our lives indoors, and so it is vital now more than ever to design spaces where we live, work, and learn by incorporating natural materials, natural light, and greenery to ensure our homes are restorative places.”

Abode / abodedesigns.co.uk Above right Back in Action have created a range of electric sit-stand desks and chairs which are designed to make desk work altogether better for your body. Lucinda Newbound, Senior Ergonomics Adviser on the wellness market for the brand, said “The wellness movement has been great for home workouts, walking more, staying active and eating healthy, but the importance of movement while we work, sit and sleep sometimes gets forgotten.

“The biggest thing we have seen change is uptake of electric standing desks. These are commonplace in most Scandinavian countries where these has always been a big ‘look after your staff’ culture. Other areas of the world have been slower to adopt them. We believe the uptake happening now in the UK and other parts of Europe is due to a muchneeded shift in the approach of companies: they are realising that investing in their teams’ health is good for business too.”

Back in Action / backinaction.co.uk Right Designed by HLM Architects, the James McCune Smith learning hub creates a signature gateway building that sits at the heart of a conservation area and provides learning and teaching facilities for over 2,500 students in a highly sustainably BREEAM Excellent facility. Its mixture of lecture theatres, small group rooms, breakout and study areas reflects a growing trend in making faculty areas more bespoke and help improve student and staff wellbeing.

HLM Architects / hlmarchitects.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE URBAN REWILDING

A Design for Life

Siân Moxon explains how designers can play a part in bringing nature back to the places we live in through urban rewilding…

Balcony section (Siân and Jon Moxon/Rewild My Street - with altered photos courtesy of JGade/Shutterstock, Alexander/ Shutterstock, Piotr Siedlecki, Super.lukas)

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rban rewilding is rapidly gaining momentum and offers an exciting opportunity for designers working in the city to effect real change.

Rewilding towns and cities is vital to help reverse catastrophic biodiversity decline, while promoting inhabitants’ health and wellbeing through contact with nature. Urban areas can provide significant wildlife habitats attracting diverse species, but this potential is under threat from overdevelopment, mismanagement and lack of imagination around incorporating wildness.

Designers across professions – including architects, landscape architects, urban designers and interior designers – are well placed to lead the way in ensuring their proposals integrate nature. They have the power to influence client decisions and set industry trends that prioritise urban nature. They also have the skills to ensure rewilding is sensitively incorporated within urban interventions, alongside competing concerns.

Doing so will result in satisfied clients, as building users will benefit from a relaxing environment.

Designers are duty bound to address both the biodiversity and climate crises, given industry initiatives such as Architects’ Climate Action Network, Interior Design Declares and Landscape Architects Declare.

Besides, greening cities has wider environmental benefits, contributing to better air quality, amenity value, and climate-change resilience against flood risk and overheating.

Existing residential buildings represent a particular opportunity for designers to make a difference, as there is limited statutory influence on habitat loss or creation here. As a consequence, domestic

Green walls activity drawing (Siân Moxon and Viktoria Fenyes/Rewild My Street)

gardens – which often make up a quarter of cities’ land area – are losing vegetation and therefore habitat value. To reverse this trend, designers can consider opportunities to embed nature across a house, flat, garden or street redevelopment.

So where should a designer start? The first step is to see every component of a home as a potential site for wildlife. Most obvious are the outdoor spaces, where even small areas count: a front or back garden, balcony, terrace or side return can accommodate many wildlife features.

Aim to include a pond and a tree, which make the most impact for wildlife and can be in containers to save space, alongside mini meadows, log piles and bespoke homes for frogs and hedgehogs. Next, outdoor buildings, comprising sheds, home offices, cycle and bin stores, and extensions, provide surfaces for green roofs, provided they are reasonably flat; these are most effective when

planted with wildflowers using seed mixes or ready-made turf.

The building’s walls can host green walls and integrated habitat boxes for different bird species, bats and solitary bees. Boundaries can be lined with hedges or layered with climbing plants and should include gaps to allow hedgehogs, frogs and other animals to roam between gardens.

And what should designers not do? Avoid artificial grass, an environmental no-no that excludes wildlife, exacerbates flooding, contributes to pollution and climate change, and is ultimately destined for landfill. Keep paving to a minimum and ensure it is permeable to reduce flood risk, considering hoggin, gravel or bark instead; and specify sand joints and bases for paved areas, rather than hard cement.

Limit outdoor lighting, ensuring it is dim and downward-facing where essential, to avoid disturbing bats and other nocturnal animals. Avoid

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House, garden and street section (Siân and Jon Moxon/Rewild My Street - with altered photos courtesy of Charles J Sharp, Pau.artigas, Super. lukas, Didier Descouens, Ninjatacoshell, George Hodan, Piotr Siedlecki, Peter Mulligan, Potapov Alexander/Shutterstock)

plant cultivars that offer little to pollinators, such as double-flowered roses or peonies, instead opting for a mix of flower shapes that are accessible to bees and other pollinating insects.

Good design can solve some of the perceived problems of urban rewilding, which include attracting unwanted species, safety fears, and untidiness. Habitat boxes can be selected to attract desirable species, perhaps robins, and bird feeders can be specified with squirrel guards.

Ponds can be fitted with grilles to prevent children falling in. Cat flaps can feature timers to keep pets in overnight when conflict with wildlife is more likely. And the design principles of framing and geometry can be employed to counter the messiness of wilder areas.

Designers often feel they lack literacy in sustainable design, particularly around ecology, hence the calls for better design education in

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this area from First Things First and, more recently, Architecture Education Declares. Fortunately, many sources of guidance exist to help. These include the Royal Institute of British Architects’ ‘Sustainable Outcomes Guide’, UK Green Building Council’s ‘Principles for Delivering Urban Nature Based Solutions’, RHS’s Plants for Pollinators database and my own Rewild My Street online toolkit.

Rewild My Street uses architectural drawings, showing a typical London terraced street transformed for wildlife, to organise information on urban species and habitats and guidance on integrating wildlife features. Especially useful for designers are the product recommendations and activity drawings, which highlight design considerations.

These domestic rewilding principles can be applied at city scale to any building type or external space. With this mindset,

whole cities can be reimagined as green networks of ‘pocket parks’, ‘tiny forests’ and ‘play streets’, surrounded by ‘wild belts’ and connected by ‘slow ways’. With many cities following London in becoming National Park Cities and committing to become greener, healthier and wilder, savvy designers can make their mark in helping shape how this is realised.

Siân Moxon is a senior lecturer in sustainable design at London Metropolitan University’s School of Art, Architecture and Design and the Environment lead for London Met Lab. Her research explores urban biodiversity within the Cities group at the university’s Centre for Urban and Built Ecologies, and includes the Wild Ways behaviour-change study. She is an architect, author and founder of the award-winning Rewild My Street urban-rewilding campaign.

Rewild My Street / rewildmystreet.org

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE NEW DESIGNERS 2022

Davide Da Rold – Furniture and Product Design, London Metropolitan University Da Rold is a process-led designer, working experimentally with materials and form.

His exploration often leads him to work with different production techniques, experimenting with proportions, materials and ultimately investigating the human experience and relationship between object and person. His portable task light project is entitled Maraca. Taking inspiration from the Maraca percussion instrument, this light is rooted in user intuition and personalisation. It is a portable task light designed for simple diffused illumination, and is a hybrid between a task lamp and a torch.

Fresh Perspectives

Graduate showcase New Designers returns in its physical form this month after two years, offering the chance to discover some of the creative stars of the future There is a welcome return for New Designers this month at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. Part 2 of this year’s show – featuring furniture, product and industrial design – takes place from 6-9 July and marks the 37th edition of an exhibition that will bring together 3,000 creative graduates under one roof. This year sees a range of key themes emerging from the graduates’ work, including

sustainability, identity, and mental health.

Founded in 1985, New Designers aims to provide graduates with a high-profile platform to show their work, connect and collaborate with industry professionals, media and consumers. It has helped launch the careers of some of the most prolific designers, from Bethan Gray to Jay Osgerby and Lee Broom. It features examples of work from across the design disciplines, including

art, ceramics, fashion, furniture, product design, textiles, and woodwork.

Cheryl Carroll, Events Director at New Designers, said: “The pandemic has affected graduates up and down the country to a great extent. It hasn’t just impacted their work and life schedule, but also their mental health and wellbeing.

This year, we endeavour to deliver the best programme for the graduates and their universities. We want to

support them and help them re-establish valuable connections with the industry after a two-year hiatus.”

As always, the event also includes One Year In, a selection of work by some of the design sectors most promising entrepreneurs.

The selected participants receive pre-show mentoring, expert industry guidance, and networking opportunities with brands and press.

Xappho Paterson – Product and Furniture Design, London Metropolitan University Paterson’s creation, Laguna light, is characterised by its use of standard section brass water pipe, which has been precisely split, machined, and formed to create an elegant table lamp. The piece combines precision engineering and fine metalwork techniques to elevate the humble water pipe that is so often hidden beneath floorboards or buried in walls. Fine metalwork skills have been used to construct a refractor which achieves a water-like effect in the reflected light that appears to be almost alive.

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Barbara Sulzberger – Ceramics, Morley College London This project explores combining and fusing clay bodies, mixing up hand building techniques and throwing, and using inclusions. The graduate develops the idea of merging clay bodies and texture, looking at the themes of emotions and connections between individuals, relationships, and the bonds we develop. The collection uses porcelain and T-material, and techniques of cutting and re-assembling.

Faith Appleby – Furniture and Product Design, London Metropolitan University Appleby’s work explores the combination of traditional and modern materials and methods in the design of everyday items. Using an insight-led approach, she designs objects based upon observation and user interaction. Imbued with subtle playfulness and environmental sensitivity, the Brompton Pedestal Table uses the handlebars of the iconic Brompton bicycle, which serve as both a pedestal and carrying handle of the table.

Working in the tradition of designing with ready-mades, the table gives new life to old parts by repurposing those that are no longer fit for use on the road.

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Hannah Roberts – Textile Design/Printed Textiles, Birmingham City University A collection of interior fabrics promoting positive wellbeing, reflecting the designer’s sensitivity towards shifting trends within surface design. Reactive Coral Formations is inspired by the hidden beauty and vibrancy of coral reefs. The collection offers heat-sensitive colour-changing designs that help to build uplifting and stress-free playful environments.

Roberts explores the potential of screenprinted water-based thermochromic pigments, combined with sublimation printing to design visually changing interior scenarios.

Amber Whelan – Textile Design, Birmingham City University Whelan’s study of the figurative, textural and emotional elements associated with her family photographs – in particular of her great grandparents – has resulted in her woven textile collection. Using jacquard and dobby looms as well as dip-dying and space-dying techniques, her work – titled Vignette – seeks to capture the emotions and personality traits of those photographed and provide a contemporary nostalgia.

New Designers 2022 / newdesigners.com

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Introducing the new

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE W O R K S PA C E D E S I G N

Photography: Gary Britton

Reshaping the Workspace

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During a time of pandemic-induced uncertainty and upheaval, a South-West London office refurbishment exploited the chance to reconfigure and dramatically enhance the working environment for employees

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ppliance care specialist Domestic & General was happy with the location of its existing Wimbledon head offices – in one of London’s leafiest outlying areas, conveniently close to the railway and tube station – but when the building’s lease renewal coincided with Covid-19 and lockdown, the opportunity arose for a full review of the company’s future workplace needs. It recognised this might be a moment for wholesale change, but only if their team were likely to share in and feel ownership of that future vision.

The workplace remodelling began very much from the ground up, with in-depth conversations with the internal team about how they might want to work in the future. CBRE, who manage the space for Domestic & General, subsequently brought in

designers SpaceInvader to interpret the wealth of employee data that had been generated to envisage and space-plan a new workplace interior within the existing building.

“In fact, the client team gave us the most brilliant brief,” said Sarah Dabbs, Associate at SpaceInvader.

“They asked us to demonstrate ‘the art of the possible’. Not only that, but the form of the building – full of curves and soft shapes – was a perfect starting canvas for a scheme that promised to embody real imagination and possibility.”

As the programming was very tight, the creative process took place at unusual speed, with a highly-experienced core team at SpaceInvader working hard to design a new interior signalling a complete change of culture for Domestic & General, with the company moving from a fairly rigid traditional office

set-up to not only agile and flexible working with fewer desk spaces, but also away from a white interior towards a bold and colourful hospitality sensibility, featuring new tones, textures and materials.

The brief to SpaceInvader was to adapt and refurbish the workplace to support a new hybrid working approach, with team members spending 2-3 days per week in the office post-pandemic and the rest of the week either working from home or remote working. There was a strong HR focus in the brief, with the new scheme helping retain existing staff, who would feel well-supported.

A major driver for the refurbishment was to create reasons for people to want to return to the office. This meant uplifting the facilities both practically and aesthetically, as well as increasing collaboration space and integrating those who might be working remotely. Investment in good collaboration technologies became key. To support the hybrid approach, SpaceInvader appointed an AV specialist early on, so that workspaces could be booked either via an app or a desktop-based booking system.

Getting the colour scheme right was a priority at the outset. SpaceInvader didn’t want to replicate the brand identity colours too aggressively in a non-retail environment, preferring to celebrate the company identity instead through its values and ethos.

The final palette was therefore a new and bespoke creation, employing and blending a colour band of mint, emerald and sea foam green. The palette still loosely refers to Domestic & General’s brand colours, but uses a more subtle and timeless palette, with bolder tones to highlight and accentuate certain areas.

Dabbs explained that the scheme’s material selection aimed to help create a separate identity for each area, whilst common principles also ensured consistency. Texture, bold colour, light and pattern were all

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key in creating visual stimulation and buzz. Other areas are more understated with subtle pops of colour and bold planting forms.

Decorative wallpapers, screens, drapes and voiles were then added to the mix to create interesting textures and layers, without being overwhelming.

Another challenge was how to create a distinct area for the digital team, whilst still maintaining a cohesive design language and encouraging interaction with the rest of the company. The digital team operates like an independent tech company, in the sense that new project groups are established every few weeks/months, and relevant experts are brought in to work closely within each team. To service this working methodology, SpaceInvader grouped banks of desks next to ‘squad meet’ rooms, providing

the same number of seats, so that team members could move easily between individual working and brainstorming sessions. These were located in the centre of the floorplate, with lounge and breakout settings to either side, to encourage employees from other floors to use the space and interact with the digital teams.

The styling of this space is a nod to the way Silicon Valley tech companies organise spaces for teams. Even the look and feel including the planting has been designed to be subtly different to that of the other floors whilst staying within the material palette of the overall scheme. Biophilia was a huge part of the overall scheme, with specialists Plant Plan integrating over 400 different plant types throughout the workspace.

The lighting scheme featured a mix of focused light to create the feeling

of natural daylight. For the tech department, it was important for the lighting not to feel too high-tech or like a light-box, so track lighting was used instead with diffusers and spots, whilst the surrounding spaces were subtly-lit.

Pendants were chosen for the meeting rooms, which highlights faces but not the surrounds, including lights just above screens for remote calls, so that the result light is flattering, professional and frames faces well.

The specification of all products and materials was considered in terms of environmental credentials to ensure the scheme followed a sustainable development approach, with the most environmentally-friendly material or product choice selected.

CBRE and Domestic & General also collaborated to repurpose the old office desks, chairs and furniture items, with items redistributed through the Waste to Wonder scheme to Mokwe Development Association in Cameroon and FAST Romania.

The final scheme is a wellconsidered office for agile working with spaces to suit all team members’ differing needs, including separate set-ups for the digital teams’ alternative ways of working, fully flexible conference space to adapt to endless combinations of people, and a dedicated meeting floor equipped with touchdown desks to allow areas for employees to use between meetings.

Dabbs added: “The scheme was conceived and designed during a time of extraordinary change and turmoil and implemented in a period suffering from materials delays and labour shortages, but at the same time it has met the needs of a clear and direct brief that addresses employee wellbeing and agile working. The judicious use and placement of materials, joinery and furniture, fixtures and equipment have combined to create focused and calm environments to support employees’ working. It was a huge buzz to work on and the Domestic & General team’s reaction has been absolutely amazing.”

SpaceInvader / spaceinvaderdesign.co.uk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE MILAN 2022

MILAN 2022 Back with a bang after a pandemic-enforced hiatus, the Milan Furniture Fair was as mesmerisingly overwhelming as ever. We pick out a few notable highlights over the following pages, with much more to come in the next few issues…

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Bathroom brand Roca partnered with creative house Cobalto Studio to create its Influence installation at Fuorisalone. Inspired by the landscapes and architecture of the Mediterranean, the space showed various products from Roca’s new Ona collection. Roca / uk.roca.com

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New from Italian furniture brand Pedrali is Reva Cocoon, by Patrick Jouin, the natural evolution of the Reva Twist sofa. It is a system of lounge seats for outdoor use: sofas made up of linear and corner elements and chaise longues, featuring striking backrests in stainless steel woven with rope in weather-resistant polypropylene.

Pedrali / pedrali.com

Furniture brand Segis introduced its modular Be-On armchair and sofa system. It can be composed in numerous forms, creating spaces of multiple sizes and shapes and which utilise barriers or can be left open-plan. Seating, backrests and panels in different heights create a sense of intimacy to create spaces for work, discussion, or relaxation. Segis / segis.it

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ZENCHA

De sign by S eb as tian Her k ner

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For this project, we took the hall back to its original state and retained as much of the original detailing as we could.

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#MyDefiningMoment A series of Q&As in which a designer/architect talks about a project/product they’ve worked on that was their defining moment, changed their life, propelled their career, exploring ambitions they had starting out, their journey so far, work satisfaction, inspiration/motivation for future projects etc.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE MILAN 2022

Zambaiti Parati, in collaboration with Studio Fuksas, launched a new collection of wallpapers and wallcoverings in Milan, including Bibi, characterised by rich and deep colours, labyrinthine patterns, as well as vertical and horizontal lines. With a three-dimensional effect, which is obtained by metallic graphics and hexagonal decorations, it is intended to reflect and amplify space. Zambaiti Parati / zambaitiparati.com

Falmec launched its new Air Wall system in which the traditional hood disappears, allowing extraction to become an integral part of the kitchen’s design and subtly blend in with other interior design elements. Integrating suction technology into a backlit, white tempered glass vertical panel, the Air Wall transforms the back of the kitchen into a multifunctional surface that purifies the air, while at the same time creates an evocative ambient light.

Extraction takes place by means of a flap that allows the passage of air plus access to the hood’s controls. The panel is available in a 150cm version with decentralised suction on the right or left, as well as a 120cm version with central suction to meet all installation and usage requirements.

Developed in collaboration with Magnetolab, the Air Wall is also equipped with a magnetic system that allows the unit to be enriched with additional accessories anywhere on its glass surface. The extractor will be available in the UK from October 2022.

Falmec UK / falmec.uk

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Kvadrat’s Corso Monforte showroom presented Quotes – a high-end residential curtain and rug collection which relays aspects of lived urban and organic experiences, relaying these interactions through bold graphics and vibrant material dimensions in contrasting colour expressions. The collection has been created in collaboration with acclaimed artist Alain Biltereyst, who has designed six of the 16 curtains in the collection, and five of the six rugs. Kvadrat / kvadrat.dk

Patricia Urquiola’s new collection of washbasins for Agape is far removed from mainstream decorative style, with the refractory clay surface carefully worked to leave the exterior deliberately rough, either in natural red or with a dark earthen slip. The enameled interior is smooth to the touch and shiny to make a play of contrast. Agape / agapedesign.it

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Kyoto-based textile company HOSOO displayed a range of its fabric portfolio at Salone del Mobile, including its new Heritage Nova collection. On a striking stand designed by Copenhagen based OEO Studio, the latest ranges demonstrated a fusion between Japanese tradition with modern technology. Made from a blend of hemp and silk, a feature of Nishijin textiles is the inclusion of gold and silver washi paper shreds known as haku, which are woven with silk thread using traditional techniques to create sophisticated contemporary fabrics. HOSOO / hosoo.co.jp/en

At Fuorisalone in Milan’s Brera Design District, FARBDURST immersed visitors in JUNG’s world of colour. The installation – the name of which is German for ‘colour thirst’ – was used as a platform to present JUNG’s new range of 63 Les Couleurs Le Corbusier light switches. JUNG / jung-group.com

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acquabella.com/en

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Buster + Punch launched FORKED, a versatile range of lights exploring the brand’s passion and expertise for metalworking. Forked combines Buster + Punch’s new casting process with precision machining, delicate hand-spun metal, and handblown glass globes.

Modular in format, the design fuses the precision of machined processes with the unique aesthetic of casting. The debut Forked collection includes modular ceiling and pendant lights in medium or large, is available in steel, burnt steel, brass or gun metal finishes, and will be expanded over time as a range.

Buster + Punch / busterandpunch.com

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Kohler presented its striking collaboration with contemporary artist Daniel Arsham during Milan’s Fuorisalone. Rock.01 is a 99-piece limited edition 3D-printed sink made from vitreous china and handpoured brass. The brand says that the sink’s vessel blends modern-day technology with its nearly 148-year manufacturing legacy into what can only be described as functional high art. The effects of time are reflected in the patina of the brass ‘rock’ and achieved through a forced coercion process. Kohler / studiokohler.com

Kitchen brand TM Italia launched its new Avignon range, designed by Nicola Gallizia. The kitchen can take many forms; the table attached to the island breaks down into many elements built into the legs, with functions included to utilise the space to entertain, to work (thanks to a home office component) or to play, with space for a games console. TM Italia / tmitalia.it

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS

Photography: Beth Davis / Simon Bevan

HOME EVOLUTION From a blank canvas, Bert & May Founder Lee Thornley created a Scandi-inspired haven that combines neutral tones with pops of colour and texture

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hen Lee Thornley, Founder of tile brand Bert & May, was moving in to a home with a kitchen that was – in his words – “exceedingly average”, the initial plan was to find ways to keep some of its neutrality as a base for turning it in to something special. “The vision was always to embrace the fact that it had no character and enjoy the blank canvas,” he explains. “The project evolved when we began to introduce layers of materials such as oak cladding and handmade tiles.”

“It was a challenge to create a living space which felt stylish but also family-friendly and cosy. The Crittall doors created a great room division and painting the snug dark colours and embracing velvet fabrics in that space made it feel very different to the main kitchen space.”

There is an eye-catching contrast between light and dark areas of the home. Thornley said: “I am a big believer in advising clients to be brave and pick things they love.

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Colour is tricky but people are often too scared to go beyond the neutrals page in the paint chart. Our home represents who we are and seeing character in a home is important.”

Key specification decisions included the Crittall doors with Clement windows – “which make it feel modern and high-end” says Thornley. There is also a beautiful front door with urban front to really make the front elevation stand out.

Thornley selected a full suite of Fisher & Paykel appliances – including combination steam oven, self-cleaning oven, warming drawer, induction hob, integrated double DishDrawer dishwasher and a freestanding fridge freezer – to integrate into the kitchen. He said: “It was absolutely crucial to us that we included products that weren’t just able to deliver on performance but would also add to the overall aesthetic of the space. Graphic shapes, smooth wood finishes and bold paint colour choices give the kitchen personality and character, and these are perfectly complemented by the minimal

palette of black glass and brushed stainless steel of the Fisher & Paykel appliances. They also feel high-end and design-led, so they feel wellconsidered as part of the kitchen design. We also loved that they are built-to-last and eco-conscious.”

Thornley is known for his creative eye, having renovated a boutique hotel in southern Spain, Casa La Siesta, which was built using salvaged materials and rare antique fittings. Sustainability was a top design priority: “We also love the fact our new appliances are energy efficient and built to last, so we can be sure we’re running our kitchen with sustainability in mind,” he adds.

Now, having lived with it for a while, what does Thornley love most about his home? “I just love the open plan space. It works brilliantly for us a family. There is an outdoor kitchen directly next to the house with a lovely large patio, which encourages us to be outside as much as is possible – even here in Yorkshire! – and it really does feels like home.”

Bert & May / bertandmay.com Fisher & Paykel / fisherpaykel.com

23/06/2022 07:58

Beautiful wood flooring for any interior

Visit our showroom in the heart of Clerkenwell Havwoods Showroom, 26 – 27 Great Sutton Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1V 0DS www.havwoods.com/uk | info@havwoods.com | +44 (0) 01524 737000

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23/06/2022 10:50

DESIGNER MAGAZINE T H E D E S I G N E R AT I P O D C A S T

THE YES MAN Design strategist Daniel Gava has made a career from bringing people and ideas together to forge new creative perspectives.

He spoke to Melissa Porter for the designerati podcast about collaboration, inspiration, and why it’s good to say yes…

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE T H E D E S I G N E R AT I P O D C A S T

Daniel Gava on…

SAYING YES

“I have always been quite an adventurous person, and this is partly because I am a ‘yes man’ – if someone proposes a new project or idea to get involved with, I will almost always say yes. It is why my career in this industry has been very diverse.

Life is definitely more exciting if you say yes to opportunities and take on different things.

“For me, it seems like once a project has been proposed to me, I see it like a movie in my mind and in a sense am already there making it happen.

Daniel Gava on…

BRINGING ARPER INTO THE UK MARKET

“I moved to the UK when, while working for Arper, the company decided to launch a London showroom. It was hard to begin with as we really were starting from scratch. I had to hire all new staff here, and I used to go out to visit architects and designers with bags full of catalogues to spread the word.

“But it worked for a number of reasons.

My team and I were so passionate about the brand that we managed to create very solid relationships within the UK design community.

We also had a very humble approach perhaps compared to some of the other brands in the market at the time. I think we were also smart in becoming friends with RIBA, the Design Museum, and other institutions who could help us amplify our message here.”

DANIEL GAVA

Gava has more than twenty years of professional experience in the design industry and has been employed in primary positions within the departments of marketing, PR, sales and board of directors in well-known international high-end furniture manufacturers. He lived and worked in various countries including Italy, Spain, United States and, since 2011, has been based in London.

His approach is founded on the idea that business is all about great relationship building and is a tireless champion of design and the design industry, bringing fresh thinking and contributing to the diffusion of creativity and design culture in London.

Gava is Design Patron of the Design Museum, Affiliate Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and Ambassador of the London School of Architecture.

Daniel Gava / danielgava.london

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE T H E D E S I G N E R AT I P O D C A S T

Daniel Gava on…

COLLABORATIONS

“I see a great deal of value in collaborations, even when sometimes at first they don’t appear to make much sense. Even individually, I really like to connect people in my business life who I feel could benefit from knowing one another.

The same principle applies when it comes to bringing brands together too. Such partnerships can lead to the creation of something unique that could attract your target audience.

“Networks are vitally important in business, but it’s not just about having many contacts.

More important is that each relationship is genuine, based on respect and real appreciation of the other person, sharing values or seeing life in the same way.”

Daniel Gava on…

THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF ‘EXPERIENCE’

“A few years ago, all furniture showrooms appeared to be pretty much the same unless you were an expert. It was barely possible to make a distinction between one brand or another. Now though, there is far more activity that focuses on delivering the ‘experience’ of not just buying an item of furniture but also being able to learn about the style and how to recreate it in the home or office.

“The fashion world is really leading on this, but increasingly many of the furniture brands are replicating this in their showrooms.”

Daniel Gava on…

BEING INSPIRED

“Most of my inspiration comes from people. I like to meet many people and to have new experiences – I think life is really all about this. When I think about it, every single person I know has something ‘unique’ about them, whether it be a skill or ability, or the way they tackle a problem. It is possible to learn from all of this and use some of these ideas and ways of thinking in your own life.

“Travel is also so important. It is sometimes about the little details when you visit somewhere new, like seeing buildings with different window styles, or street signs. When you leave your comfort zone, the true process of creativity really can happen. If you stay in your own environment all of the time then your brain tends to always function in the same way. Changing the paradigm can disrupt this and can give you the idea to try something new, or the ability to see something from a different point of view.”

THE DESIGNERATI PODCAST

Watch or listen to the full interview with Daniel Gava on the designerati podcast.

Subscribe and tune in every Monday wherever you get your podcasts – including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, Google Podcasts and many others – to hear fascinating insights by guests drawn from all corners of the creative sector.

Join our host Melissa Porter for a conversation on all things design with some of the biggest design names and brightest new creative talent. designerati / designerati.co.uk

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21/06/2022 16:34

DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS / SUSTAINABILITY

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS / SUSTAINABILITY

With sustainability at the forefront, homeowners are increasingly prepared to think beyond the norm when it comes to creating the best solutions for their spaces. We asked Tess & Mike Shaw about their experience of opting for a ‘pre-loved’ rather than a brand new kitchen…

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS / SUSTAINABILITY

Please tell us a little about the background to this project?

We bought our 1838 red brick chapel in November 2018 and moved into the property Jan 2019. We searched around online and found Used Kitchen Exchange which had several kitchens we were interested in. Then we began planning, looking, and thinking about what was possible and would suit us best. We thought the pre-loved Johnny Grey kitchen was stunning but didn’t really know if it would all come together as we hadn’t even finalised the details for the builder/planning/timeline or budget.

Our objective was to have a traditional wood kitchen that was flexible enough for us to re-purpose for our future space. We knew we had to move quickly to secure the kitchen we wanted and so purchased it and had it professionally dismantled and delivered by Used Kitchen Exchange so we could put it into storage, as we were certain such a gem of a kitchen would not appear again any time soon.

The house itself needed a complete rethink of flow of rooms, room layout, function and space allocation to overcome significant issues such as a main beam across the stairs which was below head height, ‘culde-sacs’ and many unintentional corridors. Additionally, we wanted to move the kitchen into a larger more open plan space at the back of

the house to make the most of the extension space and skylight panel.

Sustainability was clearly key in this scheme. What were the most important decisions in this respect?

We were delighted to source the kitchen from Used Kitchen Exchange and re-purpose it to fit the space. We bought this with the understanding that it had been used since 1985 and so of course there were a few issues which needed fixing. This included repairs and shaping of the granite for our new boiling tap (which was also second hand from eBay) and the backwall around the circular cupboard which was sourced locally and completed by Cheshire Granite.

We sourced and replaced broken glazing in the larder cabinet, keeping in the spirit of the original Johnny Grey design by getting window film circles to repeat the look and feel of the design without being slavish to it.

The metallic tiles are made of pewter and so were able to be cut to new sizes, while the shelves were fitted and the heights altered to enable us to use our coffee machine easily.

We found via Ebay a stunning parquet flooring which had been taken out of Leeds Central Library and was from the original 1880s build. It is made of exotic hardwood which, having researched, appears to be Panga Panga wood. This proved to be very fortunate as it has a very

low water content and so, luckily, we were able to use it with our underfloor heating.

Which are your favourite aspects of the completed project?

My favourite bit of the kitchen – or indeed the whole building – is the feeling it has always been there, so it is such an alternative, quirky chapel which now feels much more artisan. The kitchen is brilliant to entertain and cook in as you can be social and cook at the same time. I love so many features of the kitchen: the round cabinets, the boiling and normal tap combination, the worksurfaces for chopping, my SubZero fridge freezer with the large door and salad drawer and ice maker, the beautiful burr walnut wood door on the integrated Miele dishwasher, the sound of the dog tapping around on the parquet flooring, and being able to see our new stunning roses outside our kitchen window.

We were so impressed with the whole process that two other friends and family have also discovered the recycling benefits and subsequently bought from Used Kitchen Exchange as they have loved this so much – particularly for the price, green credentials, and the opportunity to think differently about how to design their kitchen or extension spaces.

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Transformative...

The incredibly stylish ‘NEWS’ seating range designed by David Fox for Knightsbridge Furniture.

Knightsbridge handcrafts beautifully designed contract furniture in the heart of Yorkshire. Contact 01274 731 900 or enquiries@knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk to find out more.

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knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk

30/05/2022 17:02

DESIGNER MAGAZINE EXIT / GRAND VOYAGE

EXIT

One last thing from this month’s magazine…

STUFISH Entertainment Architects have designed the ABBA Arena, a new performance space in East London. The 3000-capacity arena will serve as the home for ABBA’s virtual concert ‘ABBA Voyage’, which opened in May. The steel and timber building has been conceived as a mysterious, intriguing object, whilst creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors to enjoy their experience. Designed from the inside out, the 25.5m high hexagonal form of the arena is in response to the requirements of the show, the staging, and the desired seating geometry. The largest of its kind, the structure has been designed as a demountable temporary venue, which is able to be relocated to another site at the end of its five-year tenure in East London.

Designed to fit 1650 seats and space for a standing audience of 1350, the structure of the temporary venue sits on concrete pads and is designed to create an internal clear span of 70m to allow for a large 360° immersive production.

Built by ES Global, it has been optimised to be as light as possible to minimise the load on its foundations. The design of the roof is a direct response to the large structural span of the auditorium and a desire to compliment the venue’s mysterious appearance.

The arena is housed beneath a semiaxisymmetric steel dome weighing 744 tonnes, which during construction was built on the ground and then lifted 25.5m into the air by 18 strand jacks to its final position. The roof and wall cladding have been designed to meet the acoustic performance needs of the venue and to limit the effects of noise on surrounding residential areas.

To contrast with the spectacle of the high tech show inside, the external structure that braces the steel dome roof and auditorium is clad with a porous screen of sustainable timber battens. The large ABBA logo is integrated onto two facades with LED light strips following the timber.

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Photography: Dirk Lindner / Johan Persson

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minotticucinelondon 2-3 Market Place, Fitzrovia, London W1W 8DU t 0203 941 0317 info@minotticucinelondon.com minotticucinelondon.com

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23/03/2022 23:01

NEW - TAUPE OAK

TEXTURA Taupe Oak is the latest real-feel wood effect finish added to the Textura range, perfect for a contemporary scandi style kitchen. Handle-less or with handles.

CROWN - INNOVATIVE THINKING

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K I T C H E N B E D R O O M LI VI N G

21/06/2022 10:42 16:35 08/06/2022