Designer Magazine - January 2022

THE DESIGN TRENDS ISSUE JANUARY 2022 257

designer New Directions Assessing the essential trends for the year ahead

THE QUEST FOR BEAUTY

Stephen Bayley on the search for stunning buildings

BRIDGING OLD AND NEW

Forming a contemporary workspace from heritage surroundings

HOME MADE

RIBA reveals its House of the Year

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 257

Welcome to the January issue of Designer.

A new year is always a chance to look forward, and once again we find ourselves hoping that the next 12 months sees us all move that little bit closer to the end of a pandemic that has had a grip on business and life in general for way too long now.

Whatever the factors outside our control might have in store for 2022, we can be hopeful of a gradual return to normality for some of the things that help to inspire us creatively – particularly networking, face-to-face exchanges, and travel. At the time of writing, there is a full programme of exhibitions in the diary – apart from this month’s imm Cologne which sadly fell victim to the restrictions of Covid in Germany. Nevertheless, we look forward with excitement to shows such as KBB in Birmingham in March, and Il Salone del Mobile in Milan a month later.

We also speak to Stephen Bayley, a man who has seen plenty of design trends come and go over the years. One of the UK’s most authoritative design critics, Bayley is now on the hunt for the best of architectural brilliance for his Building Beauty Awards, and he shares his take on what makes a building beautiful.

M ar t in Martin Allen-Smith Editor, Designer

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

@designeratiUK designeratiUK @designeratiUK

SOCIAL

Such shows make it easier for us all to get to grips with some of the trends, products and materials that will shape the future direction for designers and architects. But in the meantime, we take the opportunity to consider a few of these trends this month, gathering perspectives on the innovative ideas that are sparking the most intriguing creativity across the sector.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 257

CONTENTS 16 08 SOURCE Our monthly round-up of the people, products and events that matter from across the design sector 14 SHOWROOMS Danish furniture brand BoConcept opens a new flagship showroom in Glasgow, showcasing products from its offering across 14 room-themed studios 16 THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME After a tumultuous couple of years, opportunities abound as designers prepare to tackle the role of shaping the homes and workspaces of the future. We gather some perspectives on what the future might have in store…

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26 26 BRIDGING OLD AND NEW Winner of the Workspace Design of the Year category at the 2021 Designer Awards, this London project makes the very best of the building’s heritage in combination with the most contemporary of facilities 30 HOUSE ON THE HILL A strikingly contemporary extension to a Georgian farmhouse in Gloucestershire, designed by Alison Brooks Architects, has been named RIBA House of the Year 2021 36 HAUS POINTS A look at the striking interior of an equally impressive Huf Haus home construction that offers a bold lesson in connecting indoors and out

42 A QUEST FOR BEAUTY In an exclusive interview, Stephen Bayley, Founder of the Design Museum and Chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust, talks about his latest venture to discover Britain’s most beautiful buildings 46 GOLD STAR Shortlisted in the Super Luxe Kitchen category at the 2021 Designer Awards, this super high-end scheme took bling to the max, with some clever material combinations and product specification to boot. Designer Suchin Pindoria of Such Designs explains some of the key elements 50 EXIT Examining the sculptural qualities of the Ossimoro washbasin, designed by architects Calvi Brambilla for Antonio Lupi

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EDITORIAL EDITOR MARTIN ALLEN-SMITH martin@thedsgroup.co.uk CONTRIBUTOR ANNA-MARIE CASAS PUBLISHING PUBLISHING DIRECTOR CLARA DEEKS clara@thedsgroup.co.uk MANAGING DIRECTOR ALLISTAIR HUNTER OPERATIONS DIRECTOR TRACY MEAD

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THE DESIGN TRENDS ISSUE JANUARY 2022 257

designer New Directions Assessing the essential trends for the year ahead

THE QUEST FOR BEAUTY

Stephen Bayley on the search for stunning buildings

BRIDGING OLD AND NEW

Forming a contemporary workspace from heritage surroundings

Cover photography: Paul Riddle

HOME MADE

RIBA reveals its House of the Year

INSPIRING PROJECT CREATIVITY Designer 257 Cover 2022.indd 1

16/12/2021 00:50

Why compromise? +44 (0)1761 241133 sales@bathroom-engineering.co.uk www.bathroom-engineering.co.uk The Boat House, Wirral Park, Glastonbury, Somerset, England BA6 9XE

Choose the design and the finish to match your high standards.

Bathroom Engineering Ltd. is a joint venture and the sole U.K. trading division of TECE GmbH

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE JANUARY 2022

Tackling Design’s Big Challenge Industrial designer Tej Chauhen

A new TV show aims to put the spotlight on some of Britain’s best design talent. The Big Design Challenge is hosted by DJ, author and presenter Lauren Laverne and will see eight creatives compete over five episodes to be crowned Britain’s next design superstar and have their work displayed at the V&A museum.

Drawn from all corners of the UK, the competitors will put their problemsolving abilities and creative flair to the test as they face a range of weekly challenges set by a guest judge. The judges appearing during the series include presenter, screenwriter and children’s author Konnie Huq, author and broadcaster Lemn Sissay, restaurateur Mourad Mazouz, space scientist and educator Maggie Aderin-Pocock, and electronic music duo Orbital.

The wood grain of each piece of natural wood used for the Artist and designer range is checked by Morag Myerscough arranging the individual slats that make up the natural wood panels to make sure they look good together and to produce a harmonious overall picture in the bathroom. This first procedure is a specific step called that the brands call “painting with wood”. Base units are then combined with washbasins made of Varicor or ceramic. The washbasins can also be combined with Keuco wall-mounted fittings.

Host Laverne is also joined by two expert judges – artist and designer Morag Myerscough and industrial designer Tej Chauhen – who will be reviewing the designers’ creations throughout the series.

Laverne said: “Design affects all of our daily lives, but the world of designers can seem a little remote from the outside – it’s been so much fun to lift the lid on that and get up close to the brilliantly creative people at its cutting edge. I can’t wait to introduce our viewers to our wonderful judges, fantastically talented designers and some extraordinary guests.”

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE JANUARY 2022

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Sky Arts / sky.com

Pantone reveals Colour of the Year Pantone has revealed its pick for Colour of the Year 2022 as Very Peri. The new blue shade – PANTONE 17-3938 – is a periwinkle blue hue with a red undertone.

Lauren Laverne, host of The Big Design Challenge

The company describes the colour as ‘blending the faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red’. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director at the Pantone Colour Institute, said: “As we move into a world of unprecedented change, the selection of PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue colour family.

“Encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet at the same time possessing a violet-red undertone, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression.”

Pantone / pantone.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE JANUARY 2022

Weave Your Spell Flooring manufacturer Interface has launched its new Woven Gradience collection in the UK. Available in 12 colours, the range combines naturally-inspired colours with soft, muted greys to offer a unique flooring pattern. It features fading bold hues which transition into soft, relaxing greys, allowing designers to integrate flashes of colour into flooring design.

“The team’s inspiration for Woven Gradience comes from nature’s seamless natural blending of different colours and textures,” said Mandy Leeming, Design Director EAAA at Interface. “It’s a celebration of colour – but presented in such a way that it seamlessly blends into workplace surroundings.

“By bringing in bright, bold, natural tones such as Rose, Emerald, Forest and Ocean, and gently shifting these into neutral greys, we can create visually stimulating floor patterns that feel contemporary and fresh. While the greys can also be used together to create muted floor patterns. The different colourways can blend into one another to create walkways or zones through flooring.”

Interface / interface.com

Wallto-Wall Wall panel manufacturer Naturewall has introduced a new charcoal black SlatWall panel. It is the ninth colour in the collection which has been created to offer specifiers an extra choice when working on refub projects.

The ready-to-fit panels are made using FSC Certified timber backed onto black acoustic felt made from recycled plastic.

Naturewall / naturewall.co.uk

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The tap that does it all 100°C BOILING, CHILLED AND SPARKLING WATER With a Quooker in your kitchen you always have 100ºC boiling water alongside regular hot and cold.

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Scan the QR code to book a live virtual experience with a Quooker expert. You control the appointment and what you see. For further details and to book your own personal appointment visit www.quooker.co.uk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE JANUARY 2022

SURFACE DESIGN SHOW

Poppy wallpaper by Amy Lipscombe

Lilac polished surface tile from Spanish manufacturer Arklam

Floor tiling from Keros Ceramica

The Surface Design Show returns next month (8-10 February), bringing a huge range of materials to London’s Business Design Centre.

Over 120 exhibitors will be taking part, including 35 new and emerging talents, with a number of new product launches, inspired by the show’s theme ‘Sense of Place’ with the goal of putting humanity and the planet’s

wellbeing at the heart of all decision-making.

Hosting debates, panels, trend forecasts and insights into the latest surface design innovations, the main stage is at the heart of the show.

It will host 16 presentations across the two and a half days.

The opening night debate highlights a younger generation of architects and designers, with a focus on climate change

and future-proofing. New to the Surface Design Show is a series of ‘Legends Live’ interviews in which an industry personality meets and chats with their ‘legend’.

reality to 3D tiles of eco resin and waste materials.

Many of the participants this year also demonstrate a recurring focus on using natural materials and dyes.

One of the highly anticipated and unique parts of the show is the New Talent section, featuring emerging design names showcasing their innovative ideas, from textile designs using augmented

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Surface Design Awards. All the finalists, including the new Architectural Photography Award, will be featured on a display stand with Surface Design Show.

Surface Design Show / surfacedesignshow.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS

Photography: Carlo Paloni

BOCONCEPT

Contemporary Danish furniture brand BoConcept has opened a new store in Scotland. The new 5020 sq ft flagship store based in Ingram Street, Glasgow, offers the brand’s collection of contemporary furniture, lighting and accessories, for use in living, dining, sleeping, home-office and outdoor spaces.

The new concept store will act as a showroom and retail space, with the ‘heart’ being an interior design service, offering digital content and 3D design for free, including a wide range of BoConcept’s contemporary furniture, accessories, and lighting.

The store comprises 14 room-themed studios, and takes cues from the brand’s collection, using wood, stone and plants for a warm, biophilic-enhanced setting. Contrasts of steel and concrete are softened by drapery, creating zones where consumers can hold styling consultations and discuss needs.

Adam Davidson, Director of BoConcept Scotland, said: “BoConcept has grown organically since 1952, with more than 300 stores worldwide. We have seen the popularity of the brand grow in Scotland, with our successful stores in Buchanan Galleries, Tillicoultry, and Edinburgh, and looked to expand further, making BoConcept even more accessible to Danish design interior fans. Opening our flagship store in Ingram Street is the perfect location alongside other premium interior experts.”

BoConcept Glasgow / 236 Ingram Street, Glasgow, G1 1DR / boconcept.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE 2022 DESIGN TRENDS

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME After a tumultuous couple of years, opportunities abound as designers prepare to tackle the role of shaping the homes and workspaces of the future. We gather some perspectives on what the future might have in store…

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SPACE SHIFTING

Tony & Hayley Robson, Founders of interior design studio Day True, explain how the home is morphing into a form that is fit for future roles…

“Clients’ needs have changed considerably over the past couple of years and people are wanting to make their homes more homely and for us to maximise every inch of their home to work for them. This has included greater emphasis on multifunctional kitchens with lots of storage. The pantry is still a very important space too. As people stay at home more, they are cooking, growing herbs, buying bulk and recycling more, so this space can be used to maximise storage and use keep other items here.

“We are also seeing a day-to-night need for space within kitchens so that it can be a family room, with desk space for either working from home or homework station plus being able to change the space from practical to an entertaining area. At Day True, we have always thought about spatial planning rather than putting boxes on walls, so working with a client on the way they live and use a space is very important.

“The key trends are making sure you design with quality products and are able to update rooms easily by adding and changing smaller areas such as tiles, a pop of colour, or repainting the kitchen so the fundamentals are still there, but you can easily update and change the style.

“Using mixed materials to get a curated look so that other pieces a family owns work well in a space – not everything has to be new. The craftmanship and quality of a product is very important too in any bathroom or kitchen project, so that it looks good and lasts well. This fits well with an underlying to classic design for a timeless kitchen or bathroom.”

Day True / daytrue.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE 2022 DESIGN TRENDS

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MANAGING THE TRANSITION

Stine Find Osther, Vice President of Design, and Charlotte Bastholm Skjold, Senior Vice President of Products at Danish textile brand Kvadrat, offer their take on the short- and medium-term priorities…

DESIGNER: What are the key design trends, materials, and ideas that are currently driving specification decisions?

Charlotte Bastholm Skjold

Stine Find Osther

Stine Find Osther: There is a consumer demand for sustainable textiles that age beautifully so the development and careful details behind the final product is driving today’s specifications. Clever processes where there is a perfect harmony between beauty, performance and sustainable solutions to create longlasting textiles is what is most important now and in the future.

Alongside this, we have recently launched Haku, the first Kvadrat design to feature a silicone-coated polyurethane top layer, designed by Teruhiro Yanagihara. As a result of the pandemic, this textile offers the healthcare and hospitality sectors a durable, wipeable, waterproof textile, and we predict that demand for these types of materials will increase.

DESIGNER: How have clients’ needs and expectations changed over the past year and how has the sector adapted to this?

Charlotte Bastholm Skjold: Since the pandemic, many homes have been transformed into working stations and incorporated office setups, which means home interiors has shifted. We have seen spikes in furniture that requires high-quality fabrics, cushions, throws, rugs and curtains as people seek to add comfort in their home as well as add more practical furniture and accessories to differentiate work and leisure spaces in the home. We have also seen industry partners adapting to this and applying textiles to their products, offering tactile interaction since there was a deprivation of this for almost a year.

DESIGNER: What are some of the emerging creative trends that are likely to influence projects over the year ahead?

Charlotte Bastholm Skjold: Next year, we will continue to build on our work in developing more sustainable practices. Our production facilities are already reducing water consumption, and we have a subsidiary brand called Really that champions circularity by upcycling end-of-life textiles, so we want to amplify this even further and build it into our everyday creative thinking. We want to continuously rethink and offer solutions for a more positive environmental impact and as a result introduce new collections to take action in the textile industry to help combat climate change.

Kvadrat / kvadrat.dk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE 2022 DESIGN TRENDS

BLURRING THE BOUNDARIES

Becky Pole, Design Manager at Tarkett UK & Ireland, says the design lines between home and work spaces will continue to disappear, and sustainable sourcing will continue to climb to the top of the agenda…

DESIGNER: How have clients’ needs and expectations changed over the past year and how has the sector adapted to this?

Pole: It has been well documented that, for many people, city living began to lose its appeal somewhat during the pandemic, as people looked to move away from metropolitan centres in favour of a sense of space and community.

If we want to change perceptions of city living, the A&D community can start to re-imagine these spaces. There are a number of considerations we discovered whilst compiling various contemporary research data for our Reimagining Cities whitepaper. One consistent factor is that people are making more conscious choices about where they live, so for our clients, the greener the building and more sustainable the products used within it, the better.

When city dwellers reimagine what they desire from urban living they look for thriving, regenerative communities that provide people with happier,

healthier places to live, work, rest and play. This means architects and designers have the responsibility to create light, airy spaces with clever, responsibly designed and sustainable interior solutions, as well making sure that nature is involved in the plan.

DESIGNER: What are the key design trends, materials, and ideas that are currently driving specification decisions?

Pole: A key design trend which is still evolving is ‘resimercial design’, which combines residential and commercial styles. With the lines becoming blurred due to a new way of working, the home office is becoming more of a considered space, instead of simply setting up a desk for your laptop. It is important for us to have areas to unwind and focus both in the workplace and at home.

A key element of the ‘resimercial’ trend is the smart use of colour to help create the correct mood for each space. Basic I know, but this has not always given the right amount of consideration, especially in corporate schemes. Hospitals, schools and care homes all really focus on choosing the best colour palette to create a calming and comfortable atmosphere, so this is something that the residential and workplace sectors will start to embrace more as well.

DESIGNER: What are some of the emerging creative trends that are likely to influence projects over the year ahead?

Pole: The merging of two styles is a very strong trend again right now when using different interior looks which complement each other. ‘Japandi’ for example – combining Scandi functionality with Japanese minimalism or the eclectic minimalist look. It gives us the freedom to combine things we like instead of sticking strictly to one style.

Sustainable sourcing is also finally climbing the ranks as people are starting to take care of the planet in a much more serious way. Recycling is vital but it alone isn’t enough, we also need to look at the materials being used to create new products and whether products can be reused at the end of their life to become something new.

People are more wary of manufacturers’ claims now, and rightly so. Products can be classed as ‘carbon neutral’ even when ultimately destined for landfill. It is about creating a circular economy, lowering our carbon footprint and being transparent about what things are made from, all of which we are really committed to at Tarkett.

Tarkett / tarkett.co.uk

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NEW DIRECTIONS

Howard Miller, Co-Founder of bespoke kitchen studio H. Miller Bros, shares his observations on some key shifts in emphasis within the home…

The role of the home: “If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that our homes are more important than ever. In the face of adversity, many of us have appreciated that our kitchen space can bring joy, pride, togetherness and a sense of security, and there’s a palpable sense of optimism, hope, recovery and reinvention in our client-base.

“During the pandemic our kitchens have never been so important. They are now the social hub of the home – no longer a functional place for just cooking, our clients report that they want flexible spaces that can easily switch from a cooking space to a working space for the whole family to enjoy.”

Multi-generational: “We have noticed a shift in clients who need design solutions to allow multiple generations to use a family space together without getting on top of each other. This is referred to as ‘broken plan’; an open plan layout with sheltering design features that help to define and differentiate cooking, dining

and living areas while preserving the open plan nature of the space.

“We have long been advocates of slatted screens, open shelving, free-standing furniture and house plants as partial seethrough room dividers within our kitchen designs. Their multi-faceted, textured surfaces can help to reduce echoing noise and maintain a calm, restful environment when the whole family are all doing their separate things together.

Design heritage: “Clients are increasingly interested and educated about the different strands of the modern and post-modern design movements of the 20th century – modernism, minimalism, deco, post war modernism, brutalism, expressionism, the international style – and how they fit together as an unfolding story of design thinking and the resulting stylistic traits.

“Still we see a lot of these design styles portrayed online simply banded together into ‘contemporary’ or ‘mid-century’ or ‘70’s architecture’ and these actually don’t do the job... What we’re noticing is quite subtle; our clients are interested in some of the more expressive styles that came about during the 20th century, especially the rich but paired back Scandinavian modernist designers and the fun and optimistic reactions to those designs at

the same time over in America – they are less and less interested in the very severe modernism of the international style and contemporary designs spawned from it.

“What does this mean for kitchens?

Timber, especially the rich looking species with interesting figured grains that were used in these design styles are very popular. Metalwork – particularly inlaid metalwork, knurled handles and brasswork – are all very popular. In-frame cabinetry, where the cabinet doors and drawer fronts are set back into the cabinet and framed by the edges of the cabinet are a hallmark of this design era. Our theory is that there is something about the general optimism of interior design and the accompanying design flair that feels really refreshing right now, rather than it being simply a nostalgia thing.

“As fans of architectural history and theory we are in our element here, and as cabinetmakers, our traditional woodworking shop thrives on this style of cabinetry that combines beautiful and unusual timbers with design flair.”

H. Miller Bros / hmillerbros.co.uk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE 2022 DESIGN TRENDS

MATERIAL MATTERS

Hege Lundh, Marketing Director at Lundhs Real Stone, explains some of the key surface trends for the year ahead…

Organic materials: “Harsh, sharp lines will start to be replaced by smoother curves and silhouettes as we seek a more organic and less stark appeal in interiors. Kitchens in particular have become places where we embrace nature in the form of raw, organic surfaces and products. This will be demonstrated through the increased use of 100% natural materials, from natural stone worktops to sustainable flooring and even cabinetry. As our attention is progressively turned towards our planet and the environment, our buying habits are continuing to become more eco-conscious, and this shows no sign of waning.”

Textures: “Our interest in organic materials and shapes has led to an uplift in smoother textures. More structured, matte finishes are becoming the preferred choice for designers and homeowners as we seek to introduce

more warmth into our kitchen décor.

More than ever before, the kitchen has become an extension of the rest of the home and a much more ‘lived-in’ space, and as such, we are noticing a shift towards more tactile and smoother textures, from hard surfaces like worktops and splashbacks to homeware and accessories.”

Colours: “Emerging from our ongoing desire to bring the outdoors inside, natural colourways and earthy shades will continue to dominate in kitchens next year. From deep olive and sage green painted walls paired with dark cabinetry to warmer surfaces like our brown Lundhs Antique natural stone, earthy colours show no sign of wavering in popularity. Teamed with wooden accents and warm metallic touches, homeowners and designers are increasingly favouring natural palettes and finishes for the heart of the home.”

Lundhs Real Stone / lundhsrealstone.com/uk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE 2022 DESIGN TRENDS

IT’S GOING TO BE EMOTIONAL

Extraction manufacturer Elica has produced a design trends research paper, considering some of the factors influencing design in the home, and the kitchen in particular. Among a number of findings, it suggests that emotional response will be the most powerful driver of consumers’ needs and wants in the coming years. Aligned to this, euphoric style explores the power of design to boost moods and incite positivity. In this trend, joy and optimism will be embraced as necessary – and sometimes even in radical forms – against a backdrop of challenge and constraint.

Designs will celebrate the creativity and freedom that come from digital expression, but also offer a supercharged take on natural and handmade themes, with a vibrant approach to craft and recycling that invokes the provocative spirit of subcultural movements.

Re-styled treasures and references from the past will be curated in clashing and sometimes irreverent mixes that also champion a sense of luxury and extreme quality. At its most simple level, colour can be used as a tool to energise basics, and at its most exuberant, psychedelic inspirations will offer a mind-altering take on reality.

The report believes that in 2022, consumers will be yearning for release through escapism and ebullience, and they will be seeking designs and experiences that enable this.

Elica / elica.com

MULTI-FACETED SPACES

Helena Myers, Director of The Myers Touch, says personalisation has become a major focal point as the kitchen has become such a key day-to-day space in the home…

“Contrasting, yet vibrant cabinetry has increased in popularity as customers have become more comfortable with seeing their kitchen as a central room in their home to create family memories for all generations. Their kitchen is now a place where they work, relax, socialise and cook in, so homeowners are often looking for a personalised, wow-factor design using a range of colours, materials, finishes and furniture that remain elegant and timeless.”

The Myers Touch / themyerstouch.co.uk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE ADVERTORIAL

Back to black From high impact to subtle elegance and a framework to introduce colour.

EVOL-S Pro, a 4-in-1 boiling, and cold filtered water tap that strikes a stunning pose in black matt with bold lines, strong forms and ingenious features.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE ADVERTORIAL

BLANCO are a specialist in clever kitchen sink, tap and organisation solutions. With a huge range of product choices in their portfolio, the German design team have seen one clear and unmistakable trend emerge. Black.

BLANCO have a stunning collection of black sinks and taps, along with a pallet of on-trend colour options, stainless steel and metal finishes that allows your creativity to extend from walls, tiles and furniture finish choices – right through to the sink and tap.

Depending on how it’s used in interior designs, black fixtures and fittings can be bold, impactful visual statements or subtle integrations that lift lighter tones or wood-based themes. Black has real depth and can therefore be the perfect partner to frame and ground the use of strong colours elsewhere in the space.

The busiest area of any modern kitchen is the sink-space. Making drinks, preparing food and cleaning up afterwards. This is the heartland for BLANCO, a place they call the BLANCO UNIT – a beautifully

designed combination of products that simplifies daily tasks by improving workflows and minimising mess, so you shouldn’t dismiss this area of the kitchen during planning.

Whether the style is a deep impact of an all-black kitchen or the intention is to use black to accessorise the space – a black tap is the perfect visual addition.

Continue that black theme into the sink to create a harmonious look that exudes subtle luxury, alternatively pair it with a coloured or stainless steel sink to really accentuate the taps aesthetic impact.

With all the possible BLANCO UNIT combinations, and all their latest developments in black and black matt finishes, there is a perfect combination to suit your vision, your customers style and improve their lifestyle.

Get in touch with your BLANCO regional sales manager to learn how to create something amazing for your customers. www.blanco.co.uk/designer 01923 635200

Above The Silgranit® VINTERA farmhouse sinks are redefining traditional design with hardwearing performance and contemporary aesthetics – creating plenty of space for modern families. Paired beautifully with the stunning CARENA-S spray tap in Silgranit black and chrome finish.

Above The ETAGON family of bowls offer three working levels in a compact design, three quality materials to choose from and three installation options.

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

Bridging Old and New

Winner of the Workspace Design of the Year category at the 2021 Designer Awards, this London project makes the very best of the building’s heritage in combination with the most contemporary of facilities

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

Harsha Kotak, Founder of category sponsor Women in Office Design, with winner Yaara Gooner, and awards host Fred Sirieix

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

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ictoria House, a GradeII listed neoclassical building in the heart of Bloomsbury, is London’s newest workplace and lifestyle destination.

Setting new standards for workplace design, Victoria House has been reimagined by workspace provider LABS and London-based architecture studio Hutchinson & Partners in a project led by designer Yaara Gooner.

The design intent was to create a holistic experience of tangible moments, while using a sensitive approach to the architectural restoration of the building.

Together, the design partners restored the 200,000 sq ft landmark to create a new iteration of the building that celebrates its original 1920s neoclassical design and its contemporary renovation from the early 2000s by Will Alsop.

Creating a harmonious bridge between these two significant styles, a new modernised layer has been added to the space with a carefully curated palette of complementary and elegant natural materials. The

result is a unified design that gathers the original, the renovated, and the new, detailed in a refined and minimal fashion, while retaining the important historical narrative that runs throughout the building.

LABS and Hutchinson & Partners replaced the floating glazed platform in the central hall with a monolithic terrazzo alongside roughly hewn travertine slabs.

Bespoke to this project, the terrazzo takes inspiration in colour and form from the old stone of the building, creating a play between old and new.

The upper floors have been transformed into a series of elegant contemporary workspaces with central timber tea points welcoming members. A series of libraries, nooks, meeting rooms, phone booths and informal workspaces are housed across every floor. Marble, terrazzo, patinated brass, oak timber and leather detailing have been used throughout, recalling the richness of these historic spaces.

Tucked into the northern corners are the preserved offices saved from the original building, replete with tumbled dice oak flooring,

ornate carved marble, hardwood panelling and grand fireplaces.

In collaboration with British designer Fred Rigby, LABS created a furniture collection exclusively for Victoria House. Fusing both LABS and Rigby’s distinctive styles, the collection is a play on organic shapes and free flowing design, with the pieces also designed to overcome typical office requirements, while maintaining LABS’ signature athome style.

Victoria House boasts an impressive set of amenities across three architecturally-striking suites: The Alsop Suite; The Long Suite; and the wellness-focused Heritage Suite.

Providing a dedicated space to escape, unwind and recharge, The Heritage Suite features a gym and multi-use studio, alongside a lecture room, boardroom and a meeting room suite dedicated to supporting future collaboration. In addition to this, Victoria House also contains a myriad of recreation and event spaces, a retail-lined arcade that runs along the edge of Southampton Row, and an outdoor roof terrace with stunning views of the West End.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE

HOUSE ON THE HILL

A strikingly contemporary extension to a Georgian farmhouse in Gloucestershire, designed by Alison Brooks Architects, has been named RIBA House of the Year 2021

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he prestigious annual House of the Year award is given by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to the UK’s best new architect-designed house. This year’s winner – House on the Hill by Alison Brooks Architects – was revealed in the final episode of Channel 4’s Grand Designs: House of the Year which aired last month.

To complement its arresting new wing, the 18th century stone farmhouse – which overlooks the Wye Valley in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – has also been carefully restored. The

Photography: Paul Riddle

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE

farmhouse and extension create a bold new home for the owners and their art collection. The three-storey farmhouse has been converted into one vast gallery space that seamlessly integrates with the contemporary extension.

Larger than the original house, the new two-storey wing is set back, partially embedded into the hillside, with its dark tones and cladding pattern inspired by the nearby Forest of Dean. On the ground floor, the kitchen, living and dining areas flow into each other and onto exterior terraces. With the kitchen in the

centre, overlooked by a gallery on the floor above, the space is flooded with natural light, and offers up panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including into a new, bespoke dry-stone-walled garden.

The home’s main staircase doubles-up as a gallery and leads up to two bedrooms, an office and a further terrace. From the skylights to the walls and the cruciform steel columns, the angles throughout the house are intentionally skewed and undulating, echoing the topography of the adjacent meadows. Niches, benches and recesses add to the

fluidity and playfulness of the space and provide practical areas to display the owner’s art.

Ground and air source heat pumps and solar panels work together to reduce the building’s overall energy consumption, and the new wing has an extensive green roof planted with native wildflowers to reduce rainwater loss. As part of the renovations, the surrounding grounds have also been revitalised with new wildflower meadows and orchards, bordered by hedges that have been repaired and renewed with various species of plants.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE

Simon Allford, RIBA President, said: “This geometric design skilfully fuses together the old with the new, connecting two architectures separated by over 300 years. Intriguing and distinguished, House on the Hill is the impressive result of a ten-year collaboration between the homeowners and their architect. This is an extraordinary labour of love in architectural form.”

Architect Alison Brooks added: “It’s a real honour to win RIBA House of the Year amongst an accomplished shortlist of beautiful projects. I see private house commissions as a rare opportunity to test new ideas in a concentrated form – they are the built equivalent of writing an essay.

So, this accolade is a testament to my client’s belief in the value of architecture and their willingness to embrace the new. I’m grateful for their trust in me and my team of talented architects, in Akera Engineers and the brilliant team of builders and gardeners whose skilful contributions produced this remarkable house and gardens, that together reveal a new way of living in the landscape.”

The jury for the House of the Year 2021 comprised: Amin Taha (chair), Chairman of GROUPWORK; Cany Ash, Co-founder of Ash Sakula Architects; and Kieran McGonigle, Co-founder of McGonigle McGrath and RIBA House of the Year 2019 winner. Jury chair Taha said: “Some decades in the making, the replacement of a very large 1970s shed housing a pool and ancillary spaces with Alison Brooks Architects’ lower-scaled and fragmented form impressed the jury, in a highly competitive year with contenders excelling in sustainability, craftsmanship, reuse, economy of means and thought-provoking sensitivity. House on the Hill balanced these where others may have, for instance reused but at disproportionate cost, or crafted but to no innovative end.

“The jury felt Alison Brooks Architects had applied their long-researched process of subtly breaking down the rigid and spatially predictable grid with gentle inflection.

Adding depth of scale and richness of experience to the existing house, and through the new extension, transitioning with ease into the beautifully landscaped gardens. It is a model of architectural approach applicable to all scales, resulting from the architects’ long practiced ideas and the clients’ successful collaboration.”

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE

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THE FINALISTS

The other projects shortlisted for the 2021 RIBA House of the Year were: 1. Corner House by 31/44 Architects (Photo: Rory Gardiner) 2. House for Theo and Oskar by Tigg + Coll Architects (Photo: Andy Matthews) 3. House in Assynt by Mary Arnold-Forster Architects (Photo: David Barbour) 4. The Outfarm by TYPE Studio (Photo: Rory Gardiner)

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5. The Water Tower by Tonkin Liu (Photo: Dennis Pedersen) 6. The Slot House by Sandy Rendel Architects with Sally Rendel (Photo: Jim Stephenson)

RIBA / architecture.com

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RIBA / architecture.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS / DESIGN WALKTHROUGH

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS / DESIGN WALKTHROUGH

"Huf Haus have been making luxury high spec houses in Germany for 3 generations," explain home owners David and Achala Knights.

"We first found them through an article in an architectural magazine 18 years ago. At the time there were only two other Huf Haus in the UK."

Haus Points

A look inside the striking interior of an equally impressive Huf Haus construction that offers a bold lesson in connecting indoors and out.

Owners David and Achala Knights pick out a few of the highlights from their home...

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“The Minotticucine Gandhara kitchen complements the architecture perfectly.

Macassar ebony adds a striking feature to the kitchen while Nero Assoluto granite worktops complement the veneer and the timber beams of the house.”

“Pocket door systems and sliding Odsidian black glass cabinets hide the appliances when not in use, so the kitchen appears more as furniture.”

“What we loved about the style of architecture is that its timeless style and contemporary open plan living,” said David and Achala Knights. “The large glass walls connect the outside to the interior. We chose natural materials for all the main areas of the house.”

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David and Achala Knights: “All the bathrooms are clad in natural stone, with stone clad bath, overlooking the garden.

“To create a calm atmosphere we kept the colour palette to neutral tones.”

Minotti Cucine / minotticucinelondon.com

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Kbsa – supporting the independent kitchen and bathroom retailer The Kbsa is the only association that supports the independent kitchen and bathroom retailer, championing their interests and providing valuable benefits. The association has grown over the course of the pandemic as retailers have realised the value of the benefits and of working together.

The Kbsa membership benefits are unrivalled in the marketplace, offering retailers a full support package to help keep their business operating efficiently and profitably.

Additions to the benefits package in the last 6 months include free access to a tax investigation service, discounted rates for consumer finance, and a range of discounts on selected IT, with business technology support from a partnership with Dell Technologies.

The HR and legal support provided by Croner and the optional consumer deposit scheme have proved invaluable to members during the last 12 months, as they have negotiated masses of guidance and legislation from the government during the pandemic.

The Kbsa Designer Awards remain one of the most worthwhile awards in the industry because they come from the only trade association for independent kitchen and bathroom retailers in the UK. With the emphasis firmly on design excellence, the Kbsa Designer Awards have developed and adapted over the years to ensure that they are best in class, truly transparent with anonymous judging so that everyone has a fair chance of winning.

Retailers that display the Kbsa badge offer consumers an unrivalled level of confidence that they are dealing with a reputable company, and customers know it's their guarantee of excellence in design, planning and installation.

Apply for membership now and give your business a clear advantage

With an uncertain economic outlook and challenging times ahead, there has never been a better time to become involved with the Kbsa, the only trade association to support you, the independent retailer.

To receive your membership pack call 01623 818808 or visit our website www.kbsa.org

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE INTERVIEW / STEPHEN BAYLEY

Photography: Philip Sinden Words: Anna-Marie Casas

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE INTERVIEW / STEPHEN BAYLEY

A QUEST FOR BEAUTY

In an exclusive interview, Stephen Bayley, Founder of the Design Museum and Chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust, talks about his latest venture to discover Britain’s most beautiful buildings

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It is a term harking back to the Eighties that Stephen Bayley accepts, but one which he doesn’t take too seriously.

Today, the ‘design guru’, for whom the phrase was arguably coined, is on a serious mission.

One of Britain’s most foremost design critics and authors, and Founder of the Design Museum in London, Bayley is launching an initiative to champion building design excellence in his role as Chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust.

Entries are now open for the Building Beauty Awards (buildingbeautyawards.com) which will celebrate buildings, engineering structures and urban landscaping schemes that add beauty to the UK’s environment, in the wake of changes being made to the National Planning Policy Framework that will see building aesthetics becoming a priority.

We caught up with Bayley to talk about the awards scheme, what, in his esteemed opinion, makes a building beautiful, and a love of design that has been the hallmark of his distinguished career, one that has seen him made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the University of Wales, a Fellow of Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, and a Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1989, France’s top artistic honour.

DESIGNER: What first triggered your interest in architecture and design, and what still drives your passion today?

Stephen Bayley: Two things. One, my father managed an aircraft factory and as a small boy – instead of playing football – I used to hangout in the machine-shop. Here I learnt about the simple beauty of things made for an uncompromised

function. Two, growing-up in Liverpool, a magnificent, but melancholy city, it is impossible not to be impressed by the power of architecture…for good or for ill. I remain absolutely convinced about the power of well-designed buildings and products to enhance life. That seems to me so obvious, I’m astonished it needs an argument. But it does!

DESIGNER: It has been said that the term ‘design guru’ was coined especially for you – how do you feel about that moniker, and do you embrace the term?

Bayley: ‘Design guru’ is obviously ridiculous. But it was a coinage of the Eighties when talking about design, as I did all the time, was as weird as discussing the Hindu Dharma. But it’s a nice shorthand, which I accept with what I like to think of as selfdeprecating irony.

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BUILDING MASTERPIECES DESIGNER: You founded the Design Museum with Sir Terence Conran in 1989 – what for you have been the most pivotal design moments over the last three decades?

Bayley: I now see ‘Design’ (with a capital ‘D’) as an historic style-label, almost as precise as, say, Baroque or Rococo. Design is – was – all about the aestheticisation of the everyday and the democratisation of luxury. But since 1989, all the old assumptions have been blown apart. Globalisation has marginalised hitherto dominant European taste; consumer fatigue means demand for new products is diminished; virtual experiences are replacing tangible ones.

DESIGNER: Tell us about the Building Beauty Awards (BBA) – how did they come about and why have you launched them now?

Bayley: The pursuit and consumption of beauty seem to me one of the purposes – perhaps the purpose – of civilised life. And nothing dominates civilised life more than buildings. Ever so slowly, politicians are becoming aware that the quality of the built environment has an overwhelming influence on wellbeing. They are daring now to talk about ‘beauty’, but with no real idea of what it means. The BBA wants to inspire a national conversation, to provoke, astonish and inspire.

DESIGNER: What makes a building beautiful?

Bayley: There’s really no simple answer. Fine proportions, meticulous detail, romantic character, elegant profile, harmonious integration with the environment all play their part.

But it’s really altogether more mysterious. My personal definition

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is that if a building enhances your mood, makes you think, laugh, or cry, then it is beautiful.

DESIGNER: It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder – does this hold true in any way in the context of architecture and design?

Bayley: One day neuro-aestheticians will have calibrated all the neural parameters which inform our responses and, in that way, drain enchantment from the world, but until then I’m happy for people to make individual responses.

However, there is often a high level of agreement among people with shared values.

DESIGNER: What long-term impact do you believe the pandemic will have in the world of architecture and design?

What do you think will be the biggest drivers shaping the industry over the coming years?

Bayley: These are really the same question. Anyway, people are now more discerning about why and how they travel. And more discerning still about what and why they buy. There is going to be ever more concentration on the here-and-now, even on domesticity.

Enduring values will become better understood. Fast fashion, for example, will soon become as obscene as ‘planned obsolescence’ once was. There’s a new appetite for beauty which we want to cultivate and enlarge.

The Building Beauty Awards 2022 offers a £10,000 prize to the architect or designer of the overall winning entry. Entries are open now with a deadline of 31 March 2022. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in early summer.

Stephen Bayley’s pick of some of the most beautiful buildings in the world – both historic and contemporary 1. The Pazzi Chapel, Florence “This is an exquisite miniature of the Italian Renaissance by Filippo Brunelleschi, designer of Florence cathedral’s glorious dome. Refinement, dignity, perfect proportions and restraint are the ingredients and the effect is an otherworldly calm. The little chapel is an expression of perfection as it was understood in 1443.”

2. Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire “Robert Smythson built this astonishing ‘prodigy’ house at the very end of the Elizabethan era. It is a completely original, even idiosyncratic, design where the walls appear to be made of glass. Prodigy houses were intended to impress the Queen on her progresses through the country. Alas, no record of Elizabeth’s reaction exists, although modern visitors cannot resist gasps of astonishment.”

3. Millau Viaduct “The French engineer Michel Virlogeux and the English architect Norman Foster completed this bridge across the Tarn in the wilds of Occitane in 2004. Its elegance is as breathtaking as its technical achievement: the piers of highperformance concrete are taller than the Eiffel Tower. Travellers find it both beautiful and sublime.”

4. Chartres Cathedral, Val de Loire “Chartres, completed in about 1220, is the ultimate medieval building: its stained glass (still intact), daring flying buttresses and delicate vaulting are an encyclopedia of the Gothic sensibility. The lofty vaults point to Heaven, the intended destination of worshippers…”

5. The Farnsworth House, Plano, Illinois “Mies van der Rohe, the last director of the Bauhaus, designed this weekend house for a Chicago nephrologist who became his mistress after she became his client.

He believed in architecture that was ‘nearly nothing’, but the Farnsworth House has an astonishing visual presence. From outside, it appears to float. From inside, you feel nature is cheerfully invading the property.”

Building Beauty Awards / buildingbeautyawards.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE INTERVIEW / STEPHEN BAYLEY

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS / KITCHEN

The homeowner had commissioned Such Designs to supply a cloakroom with all gold fittings, and after this was completed, asked them to create a statement kitchen along similar lines.

Pindoria said: “Our client gave us a brief that they wanted a kitchen which was ‘blingy but not tacky’. Gold was a colour that kept on reoccurring in our meetings and conversations and we had to incorporate gold into the kitchen. Our client also does a lot of entertaining so the kitchen had to be a showpiece but also function as a kitchen.”

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There were some restrictions in the project, which was a replacement for an existing kitchen and moving windows or doors within the room was not an option. Pindoria explained: “The existing kitchen had no island so we had to get gas pipes through the concrete floor and ducting through the ceiling to accommodate the gas hob and the ceiling extractor.

“Our client loved the idea of symmetry.

However, the room was not symmetrical, so we created areas within the kitchen of symmetry. The beautiful gold Quooker tap was centred on the back wall and our client’s daughter chose a stunning piece of Amazonite as a splashback which really sets the stunning back backdrop for the kitchen.”

Gold Star

Shortlisted in the Super Luxe Kitchen category at the 2021 Designer Awards, this super high-end scheme took bling to the max, with some clever material combinations and product specification to boot. Designer Suchin Pindoria of Such Designs explains some of the key elements…

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS / KITCHEN

Such Designs created a bar as visitors walk into the kitchen and again this was designed symmetrically using two Sub-Zero wine coolers and bespoke brass shelving placed on an antique mirror splashback.

Pindoria said: “The island was another focal point and again this was placed central in the kitchen and we decided to clad the island in Taj Mahal quartzite which is a beautiful material with natural veins and is ideal in a kitchen as it is highly resistant to staining.”

“Our client was adamant to have as much gold in the kitchen without making the kitchen look ‘tacky’,” said Pindoria. “We actually first started with the brushed brass framed glass units. Eggersmann had recently emailed us product updates showing us different glass frame details and the brass colour really caught my eye. I then chose a dark wood veneer door to compliment the brass frame and the dark stained oak door works really well in creating depth and natural wood graining and contrasts very well with the brass framed glass doors.”

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS / KITCHEN

Above the island and subtly integrated into the design is the Stratus Air ceiling hood by Westin. Its design is a standard Westin hood born out of multiple bespoke requests for an ‘invisible’ ceiling hood. The standard hood is painted in pure white as standard but Westin can finish it to any paint shade, including precision colour matching. Stratus Air is flush fitting and is available in two standard sizes – 880mm x 420mm, or 1180mm x 420mm – but dimensions can be customised.

Pindoria had plenty of finishing touches to add: “We then had to think where else we should incorporate the gold and brass details and I decided we should use it as a shadow gap detail between the ceiling infill panels and the larder units and also within the bar area as bespoke shelving. Our clients loved this but they felt there still was not enough ‘bling’ as they put it. At this point, I suggested using Bespoke Projects to customise the colour of the Gaggenau appliances so we ended up colouring the appliances to a brass colour, matching the shadow gap brass trims.”

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE EXIT / SCULPTURAL SINK

EXIT

One last thing from this month’s magazine…

The Ossimoro washbasin, designed by architects Calvi Brambilla for Antonio Lupi, is a sculptural design made from marble.

“The inspiration for Ossimoro came when attending a 2016 exhibition by Angela de la Cruz, a Spanish artist who lives and works in London,” explained the designers. “The compression effect was born from a clash between parallelepipeds and wanting to make matter fluid. In order to achieve this effect, a new technique was developed; the simulation of compressing a block in 3D.” The Italian manufacturer developed a new technique to create the sculpture, starting from the idea of a marble sink with the effect of a soft marble block that has been compressed to create an almost surreal object. The washbasin is made of Oriental White marble and can be combined with a wall or floor mixer.

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Antonio Lupi Design / antoniolupi.it

16/12/2021 01:28

ASH ELM BAVARIAN BRASILICA BEECH OAK IROKO CHERRY MAHOGANY WENGE

Designed by Steven Christopher Design, photographed by Sam Lock

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