Designer March 22

MARCH 2022 259

KBB 2022

The UK’s kitchen & bathroom showcase returns

Materials Matter

designer Why surfaces are the critical component

Creativcee Balaneading en l The wom ay for the w quality design e

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THE COOKER HOOD SPECIALISTS

WESTIN.CO.UK

VISIT US AT KBB BIRMINGHAM HALL 18 STAND N84

Bermondsey Wall Duplex Penthouse by FORMstudio. Photography by Bruce Hemming.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 259

Welcome to the March issue of Designer.

This month we return to KBB Birmingham, with a welcome opportunity to take another step towards business as usual. At the previous edition of the show – back in March 2020 – none of us could have imagined that just a few weeks later, the country would find itself in lockdown as the scale of the coronavirus threat became apparent.

Two years on and, although we are still not clear of the threat altogether, the signs are encouraging as we take steady steps towards learning how to live with the virus day-to-day.

The pandemic has affected us all in different ways, and there is every chance that this year’s exhibition will come too soon for a few visitors to feel entirely comfortable about being in such an environment. But organisers have introduced a range of measures to make the experience a safe one, including wider aisles to allow greater distancing and enhanced cleaning throughout the show – they and their exhibitors are to be saluted for their positivity and determination to get things back on track.

In this issue, we look ahead to some of the show highlights, and look forward to bringing you more from the event next month as the kitchen and bathroom sector takes the chance to showcase its very latest innovations.

M ar t in Martin Allen-Smith Editor, Designer

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

@designeratiUK designeratiUK @designeratiUK

SOCIAL

Also this month, we mark International Women’s Day (8 March) by speaking with several leading lights from right across the creative realm, finding out what has inspired and driven them to achieve success in their chosen field – and you can read the full interviews throughout the coming days at designerati.co.uk

designerati

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Making places versatile

usm.com

Play around with colours, shapes and dimensions and design your own furniture with our online configurator USM Modular Furniture 49–51 Central St, London EC1V 8AB, 020 7183 3470, info.uk@usm.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 259

CONTENTS 24 10 SOURCE Our monthly round-up of the people, products and events that matter from across the design sector 20 SHOWROOMS A visit to the striking new Coalbrook showroom in London’s Clerkenwell 24 MATERIALS MATTER We look at some of the latest surfaces and materials and consider why these touchpoints are the critical component in any project 32 CREATIVE BALANCE In the lead-up to International Women’s Day (8 March), we speak

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32 to several designers and other creatives who are helping to lead the way for design equality

showcase returns this month, with a host of products making their UK debut

38 FIRST CLASS A former post office building is transformed by a sleek, contemporary bar design scheme that really delivers

54 SUSTAINABLE LUXURY A strikingly modern coastal home offers high-end living while also striving for net zero impact

44 BEN DI LISI The world-renowned designer talks to Melissa Porter about his career and inspirations in the very first designerati podcast 48 KBB BIRMINGHAM 2022 The big kitchen and bathroom

60 BREATHING SPACE Combining the best in hospitality and workspace creativity, this striking interior for a private banking space offers customers a next-level experience 66 EXIT A colourful pavilion at the better-latethan-never Expo 2020 in Dubai

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SEE YOU IN BIRMINGHAM MEET THE TEAM

HALL 19 THE BAR

2022

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KBB BIRMINGHAM – SHOW EDITION

KBB BIRMINGHAM – SHOW EDITION

KBB BIRMINGHAM – SHOW EDITION

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

2022

2022

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 259

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 MANAGING DIRECTOR ALLISTAIR HUNTER OPERATIONS DIRECTOR TRACY MEAD

MARTIN ALLEN-SMITH

CLARA DEEKS

STUART SINCLAIR

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

Designer Magazine is published monthly by The DS Group 7 Faraday Close, Oakwood Industrial Estate, Clacton-On-Sea, Essex CO15 4TR thedsgroup.co.uk Tel: 020 3538 0268

ACCOUNTS FINANCE DIRECTOR CHRIS CORKE accounts@thedsgroup.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER DONNA FENNELL ADMINISTRATOR KIM BLACK To subscribe email subscriptions@thedsgroup.co.uk or phone 020 3538 0268. Only those who meet the terms of our controlled circulation are eligible to receive a free copy of Designer Magazine. If you do not reach the criteria, subscription rates are UK £35, Europe £70, Worldwide £115

MARCH 2022 259

KBB 2022

The UK’s kitchen & bathroom showcase returns

Materials Matter

de esigner Why surfaces are the critical component

e Creativce Balan

ng en leadi The wom for the way lity design equa

designerati.co.uk

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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 MARCH 2022

Designing for Tomorrow Lexus has announced the six finalists for the Lexus Design Award 2022, selected from among 1,726 entries submitted by creators from 57 countries. Finalists gain the privilege of mentorship by four international creative experts who will help them develop prototypes of their designs, with a budget of 3,000,000 yen (approx. £19,400) each.

Now in its 10th edition, the international competition aims to support and nurture young creators. Finalists were chosen for their original ideas contributing to a better tomorrow, while articulating the Lexus brand’s three core principles – anticipate, innovate, and captivate.

Lexus Design Award 2022 judge Anupama Kundoo said: “I was impressed by the creators’ sensitivity to real-life issues faced by individuals with disabilities and the challenges facing society, such as sustainable coexistence with nature. The mentoring process will optimise the impact of the finalists’ designs. I greatly enjoyed working with such a diverse jury and finding so much alignment. Where there were different perspectives, those too were complementary and aligned in their core values.”

Earlier this year, the six finalists participated in a five-day workshop with four professional mentors. Their guidance helped them explore the potential of their ideas and bring them to life. The finalists will continue working with mentors to further develop their prototypes from now until the award’s Grand Prix which will take place in Spring 2022.

The judging panel, consisting of Paola Antonelli, Anupama Kundoo, Bruce Mau and Simon Humphries, will select the winner, based on the finalists’ presentations of how their prototype designs would work in practice. In individual follow-up sessions, the finalists will receive personalised consultations with each of the panel members to explore career paths and offer advice on further professional development.

Above: Ina Vibe (Nigeria) by Team Dunamis (Obasogie Okpamen, Obasogie Osasumwen, Anastacia Amadi, Uwague Aizeyosabo and Omolehin Emmanuel). Ina Vibe is a lightweight, portable, gas-powered cooking burner/stove with a thermoelectric generator that harnesses heat energy to produce sustainable, affordable and clean electricity, making it possible to cook, charge and light in a sustainable and healthy way.

Sound Eclipse (Russia) by Kristina Loginova and Shamil Sahabiev. Sound Eclipse is a noise cancelling device that reduces noise from outside when placed near an open window. A microphone on the back of the unit captures external noise, while speakers emit sound waves of identical amplitude to cancel it out.

Below: Tacomotive (Japan) by Kou Mikuni.

Tacomotive is an analogue driving game with a tactile quality, inspired by the concept of co-creating communication in the education of children with visual and aural challenges. The texture of the paper, especially its roughness and softness, changes subtly with pattern cutting.

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designerati.co.uk

Top: Chitofoam (USA) by Charlotte Böhning and Mary Lempres. Scientific research has shown that mealworms can safely digest polystyrene.

Chitosan extracted from their exoskeletons can be used to make biopolymers – an environmentally friendly alternative to polystyrene foam.

Above: Rewind (Singapore) by Poh Yun Ru. Designed to evoke memories, Rewind uses a motion-tracking tool to guide elderly people with dementia in re-enacting familiar gestures. These actions are then presented in audio-visual feedback on a paired device to help trigger recollection.

Hammock Wheelchair (Malaysia) by Wondaleaf (Alex Wong, Reuben Tang, Louis Tang, Wong Ping Ming, John Tang, Lau Yien Yien and Sii How Sing).

By combining features of a wheelchair, forklift, and hammock, care givers can move and transfer patients without having to manually lift them. A cloth with tunnel casings serves as a pallet, while a wheelchair with two prongs acts like a forklift.

Lexus Design Award / lexusdesignaward.com

COOL COLLABORATION Italian appliance brand Smeg has partnered with The Coca-Cola Company to launch a new special edition fridge combining the two brand’s signature looks.

The limited edition Iconic refrigerator is designed with Coke’s signature red and white colour palette and SMEG’s classic retro design at its core, merging the two styles to pay homage to 1950’s Americana.

Designed as part of a two-piece collection with Coca-Cola, and modelled after SMEG’s retro FAB28 refrigerator, the Iconic is adorned in Coca-Cola’s trademark colouring and signature slogans from the brand’s long heritage. The fridge is on display at Smeg’s flagship store on London’s Regent Street.

Smeg / smeguk.com/coca-cola-iconic

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE MARCH 2022

Black Magic Occhio’s new black phantom finish aims to offer some dark elegance to the brand’s range of lights.

The brushed finish with metallic depth is now available for all products in the Occhio luminaire series.

The finish is produced using high-temperature anodizing, a complex aluminium-refining process. The process ensures the finish is scratch and wear resistant, is easy to maintain, and does not tarnish or oxidise.

Sculptural Stone The Fida bathtub by Antoniolupi is a sculptural piece carved from a monolith of brushed Vicenza Gray Alpi Stone. The material has a light grey colour, characterized by the presence of macrofossils, giving the bath a striking blend of material and functionality.

The external line takes its cue from the organic forms of rivers, which give the work a feeling of fluidity. The edges are rounded and the lines smooth, while the inside of the bathtub is an ergonomic and carefully-designed

environment intended to convey safety and comfort.

Andrea Lupi, CEO of the Italian manufacturer, said: “The particular shape of the tub allows placement of the taps at the centre, emphasising the different material thicknesses at the same time; thin in the narrower part and wider in the broader part.”

Occhio / occhio.com

He added: “For a more natural result, we decided to use a sandblasting finish that gives the whole work a more material effect.”

Antoniolupi / antoniolupi.it

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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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DESIGNER MAGAZINE MARCH 2022

TIME AND TIDE

Furniture brand Montana has added the Marée range of chairs to its portfolio. Designed by Jens Martin Skibsted, Marée – meaning tide in French – has a seat made in 100% recycled plastic and is available in eight colours, with legs in both chrome and lacquered finishes.

Originally inspired by the movement of the tide creating the distinctive wave-shaped sand grooves, Danish designer Skibsted believes this shape provides both structural strength and an aesthetic element. It took five years for the designer to develop Marée from idea to

final product, with many hours put into finding the ideal seating comfort and mastering the complexity of the upholstering due to the cut-out in the back.

The design of Marée is complemented by the eight curated colours from the Montana range, including oat, mushroom, amber, beetroot, flint, parsley, anthracite, and black.

It is available as a shell chair, with seatonly upholstery, inside upholstery and full upholstery, making it suitable for both private homes, hospitality and meeting areas.

Montana Furniture / montanafurniture.com

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Timeless Elegance... the stunning Coupe range from 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

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ASH ELM BAVARIAN BRASILICA BEECH OAK IROKO CHERRY MAHOGANY WENGE

Designed by Steven Christopher Design, photographed by Sam Lock

WALNUT

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Contact Sales Manager Mark Williams on 07894698682 and visit us online at spekva.com

SPEKVA.COM

AT SPEKVA WE CARE ABOUT QUALITY

Therefore, we manufacture everything ourselves from scratch, something that is unique nowadays. Every single piece of wood is sawed, planed, sanded and glued by hand by our experienced craftsmen. During the journey from raw material to a finished surface individual items are meticulously checked during each of the 9 stages in production, to ensure you receive the very best. We cater for your every wish and have something to offer for every taste and purpose.

MORE THAN A SURFACE

TAILOR MADE SOLUTIONS

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE MARCH 2022

Room set designed by Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead of 2LG Studio

Making a Splash

Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead, founders of design house 2LG Studio, created a room set to mark the launch of Sealskin Duka shower enclosures into the UK. At a launch event at London’s Tate Modern, the brand was introduced by Coram UK and comprises a selection of bespoke, high-end enclosures. The product is the result of a partnership between Dutch bathroom brand Sealskin and Italian shower enclosure specialist Duka.

Cluroe and Whitehead said: “We are beyond excited to help bring the Sealskin Duka range of enclosures to the UK. The portfolio features beautifully hand-crafted enclosures from sustainable sources and boasts bespoke attention to detail and stunning finishing options for the premium enclosure market.”

The Sealskin Duka range is currently being rolled out across the UK via selected bathroom retailers.

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Pura 5000, a range of hinged shower enclosures from Sealskin Duka

Sealskin / sealskin.uk

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tune in every Monday morning

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WATCH O T N A SC

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS

Photography: Nicholas Worley

COALBROOK

The Market Building is a new experienceled showroom in London’s Clerkenwell.

Created by interior architects Holloway Li, the space showcases products from bathroom brand Coalbrook and celebrates the brand’s industrial heritage.

The brand is the latest from bathroom distributor Davroc, and was launched in response to what it saw as a gap in the market for design-led bathroom products at competitive prices. The Coalbrook name is derived from the town of Coalbrookdale, the site of the world’s first iron bridge and industrial-inspired design is central to the brand’s identity.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS

The ground floor of the showroom is designed to appear like a landscape of industrial chimneys, with ghostly casts of Victorian bathroom wall panels in piercing orange and amber resin, which glow like furnaces. Shower displays are mounted onto ‘chimneys’ and situated beneath chainmail curtains.

A solid stone, post-tensioned staircase with rough quarried edges leads down to the basement level, where two large industrial boiler-like structures house working tap displays.

The new showroom is also home to Davroc’s Bard & Brazier, who designed display units fabricated from brass tubing, and Bard & Blackwood who crafted the bespoke joinery.

Other brands are also in residence as the FF&E is by Danish furniture supplier Menu and the lighting is manufactured by Phos.

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Chris Dodds, Managing Director at Davroc and Coalbrook, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of Coalbrook and the opening of The Market Building. The brand and products have been many years in development, after we noticed a gap in the market for stylish and affordable brassware.

“We have created a brand with design and quality at the forefront to bring our customers innovative, exciting and affordable solutions that will elevate any bathroom space. We are thrilled to open the doors to The Market Building, which not only showcases the Coalbrook products, but brings the brand history and narrative to life, offering a memorable experience beyond the possibility of online channels.”

BLACK SELECTION

POWERFUL ACCENTS

Coalbrook / The Market Building, 72-82 Rosebery Avenue, London, EX1R 4RW / coalbrookuk.co.uk keuco.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE S U R FA C E S & M AT E R I A L S

MATERIALS MATTER

We look at some of the latest surfaces and materials and consider why these touchpoints are the critical component in any project…

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Exclusive supplier of Corian solid surface in the UK and Ireland, CDUK, has launched the new Corian colour range for 2021, adding eight new additions to the existing range including natural, muted tones, with new textures for a contemporary look and feel. Carrara, inspired by marble stone with prominent veining, gives a simultaneous modern and classic effect, and the four Artista colours in the range combine smooth effect, intricate vein patterns and neutral tones. Corian / cdukltd.co.uk

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Top left: Santorini Marble from the BerryAlloc Wall & Water HPL bathroom wallpanelling range is one of 10 contemporary tile designs available from IDS in 10.2 x 600 x 2400mm panels. The range is waterproof, UV-resistant and has strong environmental credentials.

Panels can be glued directly onto solid walls or locked into place with the brand’s Hydroloc system. IDS / idsurfaces.co.uk Top right: Ceralsio Croma is one of a few of the Ascale surfaces available from CRL Stone. It is available in three

thicknesses, and is suitable for use in kitchen worktops and bathroom countertops, as well as wall cladding, splashbacks and flooring solutions.

CRL Stone / crlstone.co.uk Left: HIMACS in Alpine White for the vanity surface and splashback and basin

by Catalano in this apartment project

by Francisco Sutherland Architects in London’s Barbican. HIMACS / himacs.eu Right: Italian surfaces brand Bencore focused on sustainability when it

exhibited at last month’s Surface Design Show, with materials such as Ecoben Wave Green Cast on display.

It is 100% sustainable honeycomb with a recycled cardboard core and acrylic green cast skins.

The brand also promoted the materials of 3Form, including a range of sustainable surfaces with distinctive textures and combinations.

Bencore / bencore.it

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Poggenpohl has 17 points of sale throughout the UK & Ireland · uk@poggenpohl.com For your nearest Poggenpohl Studio please go to www.poggenpohl.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE S U R FA C E S & M AT E R I A L S

Above: Versilia Marble from RAK Ceramics is a porcelain tile inspired by the natural beauty of marble, with all the practical advantages that porcelain brings to interiors. It features a grey veining set against a neutral white backdrop, suitable for worktops, wall surfaces and floor coverings. It is 9mm thick and in measurements from 60 x 120cm per tile. RAK Ceramics UK / rakceramics.com/uk Above right: Silestone has introduced Ethereal, a collection of white canvas surfaces with intricate marble-look patterns. The range includes the Noctis pattern pictured.

Cosentino / cosentino.com Right: PaperStone is made from recycled paper with natural resin, creating a surface which has a unique, textured effect creating an organic warmth, which can be specified in a range of natural hues and tones.

Selected colours are produced from 100% FSC recycled paper and cardboard. It is suited to interiors across the commercial, office, space, hospitality, residential and healthcare sectors. Including applications such as bars and tabletops, furniture, vertical decorative wall panels, washrooms, kitchen worksurfaces and cabinet doors, and washrooms. Paperstone / cdukltd.co.uk/paperstone Opposite page: Uniquestone by Ceramiche Piemme are stoneeffect porcelain tiles that offer easier installation and maintenance than marble or stone. Ceramic is also recyclable at the end of its life. Ceramiche Piemme / ceramichepiemme.it

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JUST ADD WATER! AND NOW... JUST ADD WATER.

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Maggie’s Southampton by AL_A

Prize Picks The winners of this year’s Surface Design Awards were announced on the final day of the 2022 Surface Design Show at London’s Business Design Centre last month.

BAFTA headquarters in London by Benedetti Architects

Three New Bailey in Salford by Make Architects

The dozen awards, chosen from nearly 200 entries whittled down to just under 50 finalists, celebrate material innovation in both interior and exterior applications and recognise the role those involved in the built environment have to play in tackling climate change.

space, balancing members’ needs with raising income and increasing public access. Classic travertine has been used throughout with warm natural colours harking back to the area’s Art Deco heyday, repositioning original Victorian plasterwork and reusing oak flooring.

care centre. Simple brick was redefined to create texture and colourful walls.

Ceramic stoneware blocks form a holistic loadbearing and insulating construction system while rippled steel on the corners of the building reflect the garden, create a calming, Impressionist-like portrait.

The BAFTA headquarters in London by Benedetti Architects clinched not only the award for the Public Building Interior category but the scheme was also selected as the Supreme Winner. The judges were captivated by the sensitive reconfiguration of the Grade II Listed project and the expansion of the original

Maggie’s Southampton by AL_A won awards in two categories: Light + Surface Exterior and Public Building Exterior.

The architects transformed what was a set of nondescript buildings surrounded by car parks into an understated space that lifts the weight from the shoulders of all who work and visit this cancer

Three New Bailey, a gateway building immediately adjacent to Salford Central train station, impressed with Make Architects’ use of intricate brick façades and was a joint winner in the Commercial Building Exterior category.

Surface Design Show / surfacedesignshow.com 31

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Creative Balance In the lead-up to International Women’s Day (8 March), we spoke to several designers and other creatives who are helping to lead the way for design equality, to find out about some of their inspirations and the challenges they have faced along the way

Anna Stathaki

Emilie Fournet

Interiors and architecture photography used to be quite a male-dominated profession, but this is changing over time. Education is the best way to counteract anything in life, as it broadens your horizons and makes you able to confront any difficulties. It is not about hate, it is about accepting each other and working together, communicating and being positive, with hard work, listening and continual learning.

There has definitely been big change when it comes to gender equality in this area of work. There are more women photographers now than there were before and the salaries are more equal now in a lot of respects. But there is still work that needs to be done.

But in this job, being an interiors and architectural photographer, automatically you have the power to create and help your client to achieve their vision. You have the ability to understand the bigger picture and create trustworthy relationships.

Women are slowly starting to be represented more in design, architecture and in the construction industries. But progress can still feel so slow and we are still massively under-represented in these industries. I have seen more businesses headed by brilliant women, and slowly more women in trade like electricians, plumbers, builders and decorators. Most progress I see is in the form of women organising themselves in collectives and supporting other women. There is also the issue of intersectionality where progress and equality cannot be achieved until everyone is truly included and represented.

So how can we go about achieving gender equality? Educate men and boys. Businesses – from small firms to individual traders – need to be more active at removing gender bias from their work culture and their thinking processes.

Schools, colleges, businesses should develop training programs and local mentorship groups specific to women’s needs. Women should also be more included in the hiring process.

Interiors & Architecture Photographer

Anna Stathaki / annastathaki.com

Interior Designer

But it starts young. The foundations of education about our industry are immediately skewed towards men and boys in construction or architecture. It damages our chances of equality by producing these deeply unhealthy stereotypes.

Right from the whole idea that diggers, hammers and drills are for boys. Gender bias in young people has to be challenged, and educating boys and men is the biggest step we just haven’t taken yet.

It doesn’t take much to realise when you look at who is in power in the world to see how very male and pale it all is from governments to boardrooms, to high earners and tradespeople. It’s all around. Of course, so many women are doing incredible things and taking up space which is great and uplifting but the progress is slow, too slow.

We must do better, all of us, men more so than women. They hold all the cards, they can deal them better and make changes, the onus shouldn’t be on women to instigate change and to constantly have to ‘fight’ for equality.

From pointing out when they see or hear sexist remarks amongst their friends and by educating themselves.

All of this might sound pessimistic but the truth is I’m tired, tired of seeing bad things – both in overt ways and at micro levels – to women all the time. Too often I feel like I am fighting things that my mother’s generation was fighting against. I certainly don’t want the same for my children.

Emilie Fournet Interiors / emiliefournetinteriors.com

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FIND OUT MORE…

Full versions of these interviews – compiled

by Designer’s Publishing Director Clara Deeks – will be published on and around International Women’s Day (8 March 2022) at designerati.co.uk and across our social channels.

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Ella Fielding Sculptor

It is imperative we are taught from a young age that anyone can do anything, and that gender doesn’t confine or define you. It’s skills that mean you can or can’t do something, not your assigned gender. We all can up-skill. We all have value.

Within the workplace, there needs to be more visible representation of all genders and neurodivergence with more of a focus on enabling everybody. If there is a work culture where people feel they need to assert themselves under the banner of feminism, then it’s probably a culture that already needs addressing to diversify and include.

If people feel excluded or defensive against the term feminism then they should open up dialogue and unpick why. It will be a greater learning experience for them and may well make a change for good.

I had pure luck that I was born in a time, country and family where I never questioned that my gender had anything to do with what I did with my life and how I chose to work. I feel that is a huge shift to even my mother’s generation.

Within my work, designing and creating sculptures and instillations out of wood, it can often feel I am on my own. In working terms I am, but within the wider world, there is a large growing collective of sculptors and this is where the use of social media really shines.

This has made being a lone ranger feel less lonely. Social media within design has been a such a positive way to show and spark creativity, sharing skills, feeling part of a

network and in doing so can spur you on and inspire.

One of the biggest challenges for women is balancing how and when to start a family and how that interacts with your career. It is so complicated and financially crippling that often you are paying your entire wage to pay for the childcare that enables you to be at work. As a self-employed person, I didn’t have the backing of a company for maternity pay nor was I able to work whilst pregnant as it was too dangerous with chainsaws.

If I wasn’t in a partnership that could stay afloat it would have been impossible to survive. Women are always going to at a disadvantage to their male counterparts if this obstacle is not removed.

We need a better system where people don’t have to choose between work and childcare. If it were made more economically feasible to work, there would be a much greater range of people progressing in their careers.

I know so many horror stories of friends trying to go up the ranks of various creative industries where, if you are not aggressive enough or thick skinned enough you’ll crumble.

There are many talented people out there who haven’t ‘made the cut’ because it was all too much. If the opportunities to enter into these industries was more inclusive and supportive you would get a bigger range of personalities and divergence.

There is, in a lot of creative industries, a strange void where to get in you need experience, but to get experience you need to be in the industry – so how does someone without contacts break into this space? This is where the role of more apprenticeships could come in. They are an incredible way for you to see an industry and learn where and what within it you might want to do, hopefully within a supportive environment.

If there were more official apprenticeships which opened

up the process to all walks of life that were properly set up with participants fully supported, we would start to see a real change.

Ella Fielding / ellafielding.com

Holly Ormrod-Stebbings Architect

Photo: Dug Wilders

I was fortunate to have parents and teachers who never suggested that gender could limit what career I could pursue, and actively encouraged me in subjects that might not be ‘typically for girls’.

But so many children even today are exposed to terrible stereotypes in the content they view online, their toys, advertising, and representation within jobs. Having good role models is important in all industries, but I think particularly within design and construction there needs to be a narrative of feminism and equality as so many women and minority groups could be put off by the image of the stereotypical white male architect/ builder/project manager.

Since I started studying architecture, the percentage of female architects in practice in the UK has

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approximately doubled, which I think is very promising. However, women still only represent around 28% of the total registered architects, compared to the approx 50/50 split when starting undergrad. It’s a hard job to do at the best of times, and in some practices, staff can be expected to work very long hours for low pay, which can be highly discriminatory towards women with children.

Working practices need to change and the value of women architects fully appreciated.

But I have seen improvements in the overall attitude towards women in architecture and construction – it seems to no longer be a surprise having a woman on site (although I have been on many building sites where there are no women’s WCs) and we don’t all just get ignored, with our male counterparts spoken to instead, which I’m sure would have been prevalent not too long ago. I almost didn’t get my first job in architecture because my interviewers thought I would be too ‘prim and proper’ to fit into the very masculine environment. How wrong they were – they soon learnt that I swear more than the rest of them put together!

But from there I moved to a practice where a lot of women including myself became qualified in a very supportive environment. Seeing other women balance careers and family life was very inspiring.

So how does the industry improve its approach to gender equality? Well, I think the media has a big part to play. I wrote my Masters thesis on the representation of architects in the media, and although it was only a few years ago, the brief summary was that most architects on TV are white, male, middle aged and rather pretentious.

George Clarke has made a positive contribution by presenting the ‘everyman’ image of architecture, but the portrayal of women architects was until recently limited to an occasional glimpse on Grand Designs. It just takes some planning and thinking about in the production. Programmes like

Your Home Made Perfect have done a brilliant job of presenting a much more diverse offering of talented architects (including the wonderful Laura Jane Clark), showing that the profession is relevant to normal people’s lives.

I think this needs to transfer into other types of representations aimed at consumers – the inwardfacing architects’ journals are great at portraying and rewarding the works of women architects, but this doesn’t necessarily filter into the consciousness of those outside the profession. Girls will be encouraged to become architects and designers if they see others like themselves represented amongst the household names.

Astrid Architects / facebook.com/ astridarchitects

Jade Chau Architect

I have been in the architecture and construction industry for over a decade, and the fact that gender equality is now a common topic of discussion is important progress.

I think in my younger years it was a topic that people were aware of, but it got swept under the carpet, and the fact that we work in a male-dominated industry was just accepted as the norm.

Now people who identify as women, men, and non-binary are using their voices, their positions, and their networks to do what they can to create positive change and to educate one another.

Although there has been progress, the change has been frustratingly

Photo: Jack Hobhouse

gradual, but it is encouraging to see people becoming more vocal and highlighting the issue. We are becoming more conscious of our actions, our choices, and what or how we are saying things or addressing individuals. I know that I am always learning and listening as we strive towards gender equality.

Building a gender equal world starts with everyone making a concerted effort to be more accepting of people’s differences. This is what makes our life/work/human interactions colourful and interesting. For anyone of any gender – it is our uniqueness that shapes our world, and it is through understanding and respect for one other that we will shape a gender equal world. We live in a world that is still dominated by individuals who lack respect for the different opinions and beliefs of others, and this often overshadows the progress that has been made.

The beauty and empowerment of architecture and design is the collaboration during the design process by so many different and individual creatives and experts. It is no easy feat to see a building project realised, especially from the initial stages of concept design. There is a massive effort on all fronts; from clients, funders, stakeholders, users of buildings, architects, engineers, cost consultants, planners – you name it, working together to make it happen.

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I think that it is truly empowering to see different people with different skillsets and expertise working together. It makes that finished product – that 1:1 constructed building which is adding to the city skylines and the built environment, and enjoyed and used by everyday people – so satisfying and a big accomplishment by everyone involved.

Bennetts Associates / bennettsassociates.com Siren Sister / sirensister.co.uk

Lara Raffaelli Garden Designer

Trying to tackle negative views of feminism in the workplace by saying ‘act like a man’, doesn’t resolve the issues that typically tend to stereotype women. Emotional, insecure, defensive, neurotic are some negative stereotypical attributes that come to mind. What does it mean to remove those attributes (which may or may not be true of some, all or indeed any women)? Must we behave without emotion like a robot? Must we ride roughshod over everyone else?

Must we adopt language that characterizes a gung-ho, thoughtless, rampant egos? Must we cancel out every type of behaviour towards others that negates their selves, their lives, their situations?

I head a team in which I try to get to know each of the people who report to me, and I try to lead by example. In only very few cases does this fail. I don’t preclude emotion. I hear it and accept it and get the job done, and that’s what I expect of my reportees.

So, in a nutshell, to counteract the stereotypes, get the job done and do it well. Always be rational, and always bring a solution to every problem that arises – I’ve never known a manager to solve my problem. I solve them myself even if it means couching it in a language that men will accept. Because unfortunately men will still have their egos in front of their faces blocking their ears and eyes. Do the job in a way that it doesn’t occur to anyone to say, oh, that was done by a woman. Just do it, well.

So how can we build a gender equal world? We have to change the language. We’re already doing it with gender-neutral pronouns and vocabulary – this is not new. I think a quiet revolution is the only way to do it: leading by example, again.

Getting the job done well, with intelligence and ingenuity, and with emotion. I don’t take notice of men who think women are lesser beings, but I know and I have experienced the boys’ club, which is totally closed to women and always will be. Until those last vestiges of patriarchy are dead, we won’t have gender equality.

Enchanted Gardens Design / enchantedgardens.design

Tash South

Creative Director, South Place Studio In the years before I started my own business and worked full-time for companies, I saw women either let go whilst on maternity leave, or being treated unfairly upon their return. It actually happened to me – I was refused training after returning

from maternity leave, because I had returned on a part-time basis and therefore “wouldn’t be in the office enough”. I started my own business soon after.

I know things have improved, and are improving slowly, with flexible working now seen as being more acceptable, but I know for sure that gender inequality still exists in the workplace and this needs to be addressed.

There is still so much to be done.

The main thing we need to do is rethink the old ideas of leadership and what makes a good leader.

There are many others, but in my opinion, previously ‘feminised’ jobs should be more appreciated and compensated, which will also make it a much easier decision for men and women to share maternity leave. We must provide girls with the skills to serve them for our new future, and we need to keep addressing the structural challenges women and girls face, like systemic violence against them.

And a gentle reminder; we need to support one another, and by that, I mean women need to support other women much more. I’ve worked in teams of only women where I’ve seen resentment when one has a baby or is promoted. We must also do better to build a gender equal world.

I feel empowered by the need to just be in this industry, as a brown woman. The industry definitely needs more of us. It’s lacking diversity, or rather, the diversity may be there, but we are still not seeing it enough in the regular channels, like interior design magazines, TV shows or awards. There is a lot more to be done. We should be actively encouraging diversity, and the richness and authenticity it will bring to the design industries. Isn’t that what creativity and design is all about? A total mishmash of gorgeousness from all over the world from all sorts of minds, to inspire every single one of us?

South Place Studio / southplacestudio.com

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In-Wash® In-Tank®

The brand-new Smart Toilet from Roca with integrated cistern. www.uk.roca.com

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FIRST CLASS

A former post office building is transformed by a sleek, contemporary bar design scheme that really delivers…

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Photography: Stefan Bunkofer

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ondon-based design and architecture practice THDP has completed work on the new Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery at the Hilton Cologne, with a design concept inspired by the heritage of the distinctive building.

The hotel is nestled in a prime location in the heart of Germany’s fourth-largest city, and is a stone’s throw from the most visited attraction in the city – Cologne Cathedral. The hotel refurbishment included a new bar and kitchen, offering a combination of local dishes and beverages mixed with Mediterranean ingredients and infused with international influences.

The Hilton Cologne lobby, bar and social space were redesigned throughout with a modern dining concept at its core. The centerpiece is the new ‘Pigeon Post’ – a combination of restaurant, bar and lounge and social working area – with a clear reference to the history of the building, which operated as a post office in the early 1950s through to the late 1990s. Later, after a long period empty, in 2002 it was finally stripped back and converted into the Hilton Hotel.

Replacing the previous lobby bar and IceBar at the hotel, the Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery invites guests to enjoy coffee and breakfast in the morning, after which it becomes the

‘Eatery’ with a separate entrance for external guests. At lunchtime and in the evening, there are refined à la carte dishes on the menu, while the bar tempts with a variety of cocktails and drinks from 5pm. The chic restaurant and bar comprises a total of 110 seats, with a variety of furnishings and seating options including intimately-lit dining areas. THDP implemented the new concept and included some quirky details, with typewriters as artworks and mailboxes for leaving books and magazines for other guests all featuring prominently.

The design concept was to create a space that is charming, fresh, inviting, invigorating characterful, and focused on fun. The hotel was once home to Cologne’s postal savings bank, and is a landmark on the city’s famous Marzellenstrasse.

The building’s heritage is the inspiration for the interior design – expressing this vintage vibe, considered, contemporary, and with fun quirky details.

Other key features include a central feature bar with prominent overhead gantry in wood and copper colours, and table tops in faux marble effects from Dekton and Neolith, which express something of

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the building’s previous function but updating the effect to offer a more intimate and contemporary look.

Seating options in the bar are either at the bar on new Stellar Works bar stools, and custom-made half-moon cosy booths fabricated by Hagenauer, providing private dining in a more intimate space.

Dining/lounge sets of four and two are for more casual occasions.

The interior uses a simple earthy colour palette of blues, greens, and greys drizzled with mustard, and seeks a balance between industrial, vintage, and modern styling.

Visually attractive textures and materials were chosen as guest touchpoints, offering visual appeal and durability.

Curating the artwork and accessory package sprang from the narrative of the F&B concept, with an early choice to re-use obsolete German 70’s office equipment and furnishings and to re-appropriate them in a relevant contemporary way. The overall effect was to convey a sense of heritage with a 1970’s vibe. Vintage mechanical typewriters, light fittings and objet d’art were curated to give an aesthetic appeal and to be a curio or an ornamental talking point for guests.

Artworks were inspired by the building’s postal heritage and represented using various mediums, including mixed media painting, stamp collages, ceramics, wood and

digital prints created by local and international artists.

Fun, colourful decorative objects, books and curiosities were incorporated for the dressing of the social working area library.

Artworks inspired by collages, typography recalling the graphics of old German post offices, with perching wooden pigeons, and screening inspired by typewriter keys, were all incorporated to layer the interior. Typewriters are mounted in glass display cases each with love letters being typed, while post boxes and writing counters are positioned to invite guests to pick up a free postcard and write to a loved one or friend – the hotel then posts them for free.

The cool relaxed dining area uses dark faux stone for the table tops, while seating is framed by rear glass privacy screening with bespoke lighting which is retro illuminated and visible from the street. Signage is taken from post office graphics mimicking postal or travel signage, and incorporating post marks and postage stamps.

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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

MASTER OF STYLE World-renowned designer Ben de Lisi was the guest for the first ever designerati podcast. He shares his thoughts on the upbringing that guided his sense of aesthetic, the evil of numbers, and why lasting style will always win over passing trends…

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Ben de Lisi on….

CREATIVE BEGINNINGS

“I come from a creative family. We all have a view of life that makes everything seem like a little vignette. We are highly emotional, vociferous and dramatic kinds of people. It means everything is inspiring – the world is my studio. I can be walking down the street and see drapery in a house, or even a plastic bag blowing in the wind, and it could trigger something to get my mind going.

It’s always been this way. I remember being very cognizant of how mum would dress when we had to go out, aware of school clothes, what we wore on Easter. Then when I got my first job and started buying my own clothes, I had a sense of just knowing what was right.”

Ben de Lisi on…

TRANSITIONING FROM FASHION TO INTERIORS

“You build a name for yourself in one facet of the industry but then other things happen quite organically. I was asked to work with a company called Countryside Properties to work on a new project for them in Manchester.

I guess they had seen that my work in fashion was quite understated and subtle, although I don’t consider myself an interior designer – I can do interiors but I would never presume to call myself an interior designer.

I did that project and it became one of the fastest-selling projects in the area, so I was given another one, and then another. This wasn’t home-staging the interiors though – these buildings were being built from the ground-up and I was sitting with architects specifying floors, ceilings, and other structural details. I worked on ideas for the bathroom too which then led me down the route to create our own bathroom range too.”

BEN DE LISI

Born with an innate sense of style, Ben de Lisi has made his mark on the world of fashion and interiors. With a focus on beautiful fabrics and innovative design, de Lisi’s distinctive look is sexy, vibrant and modern – for home or the wardrobe.

He designed extensively for his own fashion label before joining Debenhams in 1992 with his hugely successful BDL by Ben de Lisi collection which became one of the largest selling ranges within the womenswear ‘Designers at Debenhams’ portfolio.

In 2001, he expanded into the interiors market and began working with Countryside Properties in North West England, adding his stylish touch to the interior design of apartments. Following this, he worked with Abacus, developing a unique range of branded bathrooms, and later adding a homeware range to his collections at Debenhams. He continues to work on his own interior range for private clients around the world and later this year will launch new collections for QVC. Ben de Lisi / bendelisi.com

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Ben de Lisi on…

BALANCING BUSINESS AND CREATIVITY

“I’m a creative person and a businessman… but I hate numbers. Numbers drive me crazy.

I hate them and I always have – they’re evil.

Years ago, I found that dealing with that side of running a business sapped my creativity.

It wasn’t fun anymore, so I took a step back and made a conscious decision to focus on the things that were really important about my business, and that was the brand and the creative value in what I was doing.”

Ben de Lisi on…

FINDING INSPIRATION

“I feel inspired always. Whether I’m designing a dress that will cost £70 or one that is £7,000, it’s still inspirational. I’m working on prints now for my upcoming collections and I’m very hands-on.

I’m an avid collector of art, an avid collector of ceramics, I’m always going to markets and antique fairs – at home I no longer have any wallspace left, so I have paintings on the floor propped up against the wall. But all of these things are important because they will always inspire me to do something.”

THE DESIGNERATI PODCAST

Watch or listen to the full interview with Ben de Lisi 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

Ben de Lisi on…

TRENDS

“I don’t follow trends. Trends come and go, but styles last forever. For my first fashion show, I put a note on every seat that said ‘If you’re coming here for theatrics, you’re at the wrong show! I’m going to show you beautifully-made clothes that flatter women’s bodies.’ I have stuck to that mantra my entire life, and through everything I’ve done.”

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60 cm SMALL SIZE

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POSITIVE OUTLOOK

READY TO RETURN

The UK K&B’s sector’s biggest exhibition is back this month when kbb Birmingham opens its doors, offering a first chance to get up close to a diverse range of new products that are fresh to the market…

The run-up to this edition of kbb Birmingham has been an unpredictable time, with a surge in Covid numbers in the New Year causing concerns about whether the event would be affected.

Chris Edwards, Group Director of kbb, said last month: “There are a few companies based in the EU that are only now being affected by the Omicron wave that led to dramatic case rises in the UK through December and early January and are therefore unable to make our 2022 show.

We appreciate the difficult circumstances they are facing and look forward to welcoming them back to the event in 2024.

“We would also like to extend our gratitude to our exhibitors who are still coming to the show and are reaching out to us to tell us how excited they are to reconnect with friends and customers after so much disruption to our industry over the last two years and feel that buzz that is so unique to in-person events.”

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urope’s largest dedicated kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms exhibition, kbb Birmingham will see over 200 industry exhibitors take to the floor of the NEC from 6-9 March to reveal their latest product innovations.

Boiling water tap manufacturer Quooker will launch its new and improved Quooker CUBE – an accessory that delivers filtered, chilled and sparkling water and reduces the need for singleuse plastic bottles by providing carbonated water more responsibly.

Global polymer company, REHAU, will display for the first time its latest RAUVISIO noir monotonic matte surface in a full kitchen display. The range is fully integrated, so it runs seamlessly from kitchen front, to worktop, to edgeband to tambour door.

Kitchen Furniture company, Villeroy & Boch, will have the UK launch of its striking new Carrè Signature kitchen furniture collection, complete with the distinctive Mettlacher Platte embossed design.

The company will also partner with German pioneers of cooking technology Küppersbusch to showcase its new appliance collection.

The CDA Group will be launching its touch-free, gesture-controlled kitchen extraction and a new range of large cavity ovens with additional self-cleaning functionality across the range.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom sector, Roca will be showing its latest bathroom collection, Ona, a high-performance range inspired by the Mediterranean Sea. The new collection will be seen for the first time in the UK. In keeping with the theme of nature, Ca’ Pietra will be revealing a beautiful new addition to its National Trust Tile Collection, with the designs paying homage to the natural beauty of British streams, marshes and wetlands.

KBB BIRMINGHAM 2022

Polymer manufacturer REHAU returns to KBB this year, showcasing its surfaces, edgeband and tambour door collection.

The brand will display its latest RAUVISIO noir monotonic matte surface in a full kitchen display.

Appliance brand NEFF celebrates its 50th anniversary at kbb with a range of activities at the show. It will show how its appliances can be used effectively within accessible kitchen designs, and will present new collections from the brand.

There will also be live cooking demonstrations, and the iconic Slide&Hide oven will also be celebrated as it reaches the important milestone of turning 20 years old.

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Acquabella will showcase its new Tempo Arabba made-to-measure shower trays. The new highdefinition, textile-finish product simulates natural hand-woven fibres, blending with the stone finish, for a beautiful minimalist appearance.

Swiss bathroom manufacturer, Laufen will be launching for the first time in the UK its new Lua collection. A range of stunning bathroom sanitaryware and furniture, with sculpted oval shapes by designer Toan Nguyen.

In partnership with Cosentino, Dansani will be launching a range of Silestone basins, available in six finishes to complement its Calidris range of bathroom furniture.

There are plenty of material options on show too. UK tiles, mosaics, outdoor porcelain and flooring distributor Verona will be launching its range of porcelain patterned tiles, designed in house and are exclusive the brand.

Top Left: BA will display a series of kitchen and bedroom schemes at the show in what will be its 12th year exhibiting at kbb.

It will showcase its new InRail handleless kitchen range as well as 72 new handles from Formed’s Momo handle range. Pictured is the Jayline door show in supermatt indigo blue.

Top Right: BORA will be showing S Pure, a cooktop with an integrated extractor offering performance and optimum cooktop use while preserving maximum storage space. With a width of 60cm, the compact cooktop features four asymmetrically arranged cooking zones, plus an air inlet nozzle that comes in six different colours.

Above Left: Extraction specialist Elica is to use kbb Birmingham to show for the first time in the UK its innovative new Open Suite modular system, combining a range of aspiration, lighting, and shelving units. Designed

by Fabrizio Crisà, Director of the Elica Design Centre Director, Open Suite and Open Suite Superior (as the island version is known) come in wall mounted 80cm and 160cm modules.

The aspiration and lighting modules can be configured with a wide selection of shelving, while the height of the island version is adjustable to allow installation in any room, regardless of ceiling height.

Above Right: Worktop brand Königstone will be showing the latest addition to its portfolio – KönigOutdoor, a durable, modular kitchen range for outdoor use. The weatherproof structure features all of the functions of a regular working kitchen and is available in eight sintered stone finishes from classic marble to contemporary concrete.

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Bringing the KBB Community Together Credit: Roca

kbb Birmingham 6-9 March 2022, NEC Birmingham

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, PLEASE VISIT WWW.KBB.CO.UK Organised by:

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE KBB BIRMINGHAM 2022

Quartz surface manufacturer Quartzforms will be presenting Forest, a creative range of delicately textured luminous slabs in new colours inspired by nature. Woodbased panelling experts Finsa will present its new collection – 12Twenty Specialist Surfaces – a selection of decors and finishes chosen to enhance the value of melamine as a decorative material. The specials include high gloss, coloured core and ultramatt options to add depth and texture to furniture projects.

Andy Bishop, Creative Director at kbb Birmingham, said: “Brands from across the industry come together for our biennial event, to proudly demonstrate their latest products, some of which are launched exclusively at kbb. Visitors will be able to meet with global brands such as Samsung Electronics UK, BORA and Rotpunkt Kuche and experience what the industry has to offer face-to-face.” kbb Birmingham will feature over 200 exhibitors across 26 different product categories. The event expects an audience of over 12,000 visitors over the four days, attracting senior decision makers from the retail and contract sector.

Above: Kitchen manufacturer Rotpunkt will be presenting its latest collections of contemporary furniture for the kitchen living space with an emphasis on the latest wood effects and ergonomic solutions. New innovations will be shown across four kitchen and two utility room displays and include a range of Memory RI doors, new Fenix colours, laminate furniture solutions, and new wallpanel system accessories.

Top: Kaelo will be exhibiting at kbb Birmingham 2022, presenting its products on the brand’s largest stand space to date.

An open bottle host, Kaelo keeps drinks chilled using patented drycold technology.

Above: Visitors to kbb will have the opportunity to see the UK launch of the new Carrè Signature kitchen furniture collection from Villeroy & Boch Kitchens.

The brand wi also partner with German cooking technology manufacturer Küppersbusch which will be showcasing its new appliance collection.

Right: Awardwinning interior designer and InSinkErator brand ambassador Kelly Hoppen will be joining the InSinkErator team at its stand on Monday 7 March, where the manufacturer will also be presenting its range of food waste disposers and specialist kitchen taps.

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TRAINING FOCUS

The Kbsa will focus on training and education at kbb Birmingham 2022. Education partners The Kitchen Education Trust (TKET) and FIESTA will be supporting the Kbsa to promote the range of training and education opportunities currently available.

Richard Hibbert, Kbsa Chair, said: “The Kbsa is committed to working with our partners to strengthen training and educational policies in our sector. During the past year we have worked with Kbsa corporate members to provide bursaries for students on the Foundation Degree at Bucks University.”

“As part of our ongoing strategy we intend to reach out to other organizations worldwide, like the NKBA in the United States and the Furniture Trade College in Cologne, Germany – the only industry school of its kind in Europe.”

He adds that the Kbsa team will also be on hand at kbb Birmingham to demonstrate the benefits of membership to those wishing to find out more, adding that the association have seen record numbers of new members in 2021.

“Retailers value the business support and added value membership brings. As independent business they want to be part of a networking community that is committed to working on behalf of the independent sector, protecting their interests and helping them make the most of future opportunities.”

Kbsa / kbsa.org.uk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

The residence consists of four separate ‘cubes’, separating living and sleeping quarters.

The primary three cubes on the western side are comprised of floor-to-ceiling glazed sliding doors, serving as the western walls, which take maximum advantage of the expansive views of the Pacific ocean, as well as allowing for strong connections to the pool.

The fourth cube, the guest suite, faces the hills and courtyard.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

Sustainable Luxury A strikingly modern coastal home offers high-end living while also striving for net zero impact…

Photography: Joe Fletcher / Tim Griffith

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

The Kauri dining table by Rea 1920 and Ginger dining chairs

by Poltrona Frau sit center stage within the dining room, flanked by ocean views to the west and the interior courtyard to the east.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

By taking cues and inspiration from the surrounding landscape, Studio Schicketanz, led by Mary Ann Schicketanz, designed a breathtaking, sustainable home that literally blends into the hillside for a Silicon Valley-based family, their two daughters, and live-in nanny, looking for a new lease of life.

What was initially planned as a weekend getaway in Monterey, California, has, given the pandemic, turned into the ultimate quarantine escape, where they can enjoy the ocean front pool and views, a game room, a den, a large kitchen, and everything else that the property has to offer.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

Schicketanz and her team specified the home with a high calibre range of products and finishes, including pieces from Coup D’etat, Holly Hunt, Larsen, Moooi, Piet Boon, Miele, Brizio, B&B Italia, Tai Ping, Phillip Jeffries, Giorgetti, Pindler, Restoration Hardware, and Concrete Works. The pool features petrified wood stumps by Leos Enderle and Rodney Hunter, while the sculptural artwork of Eric Gushee and Casey McCafferty, as well as pieces by Silvia Poloto, are found throughout the home. Each of the beds, ottomans, book cases, and media cabinets were custom designed.

Material selections include local granite for the rock walls, integral plaster for the ‘cubes’ placed in front of the rock walls, and Savannah Brown Duras flagstone to complement the wall stone and entry way connectors.

The ‘shell’ was kept in all neutral and earth tone colours, while the interior showcases accents of colour from the custom-blend mosaic walls and Venetian plaster accent walls.

Left: The media room showcases a darker furniture palette with Flexform’s cozy Soft Dream sectional, B&B Italia Fat Fat Lady poufs and a Metropolitan arm chair. The dark woven Philip Jeffries wall covering sets the mood for relaxation.

Centre: As visitors step into the home’s entry, they are surrounded by a neutral material palette and look directly through three sliding doors that open into the courtyard. The guest wing is to the left and the main living cube and view to the ocean is to the right. Concrete flooring was selected to compliment the stone and is used for flooring in the connectors of the living cubes. The reclaimed ceiling from wine barrels extends from the main living cube into the entry creating a warm welcome.

Right: The Vegas tub by Concreteworks is prominently featured below a circular skylight in the primary bathroom.

Below: The living room furnishings were selected for their shape and comfort and the materials of the furnishings were kept neutral as a reflection of the architectural finishes.

Cognac leather on the Moooi swivel chairs speaks to the warm oak boards on the floor and ceiling. These are also functional pieces allowing one to swivel towards the ocean, courtyard, and dining/kitchen.

In addition to the home’s high-end finishes and furnishings, and given its extreme location, the home is anticipated to achieve net zero due to power and hot water (for the pool) generation from solar panels and Tesla Power Walls, which will power the house when grid power is not available. The power produced onsite covers all of the power needs of the house, as well as charging for two electric vehicles.

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MAKING KITCHEN LIFE EASIER EVERYDAY

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

Breathing Space Combining the best in hospitality and workspace creativity, this striking interior for a private banking space offers customers a next-level experience

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

Photography: Kris Provoost

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

T

he QRC Suites at HSBC HQ Hong Kong, created by international design studio Hassell, combine the best in hospitality, workplace and meeting space design in this new private client centre – a dedicated place for building valuable relationships.

The international bank’s Global Banking & Markets and Global Private Banking team wanted a world-class, amenity-rich space to set them up for the future. The QRC Suites – on the 15th floor of HSBC’s

iconic Hong Kong HQ – can now accommodate individual and group meetings in spaces that feel calm and secure, no matter how much activity is happening around them.

Tom Herron, Hassell Principal, said: “From competition to completion, this unprecedented outcome is the result of two years of collaboration between HSBC and Hassell. We hope that this will ensure this space will remain one of the most enduring and valuable spaces for HSBC for many years to come.”

With discretion and confidentiality at the heart of the design brief, the suites consist of a series of pavilions housing meeting rooms that range from small, private booths to larger meeting spaces and outdoor social areas that still feel secluded. The floor also features a central, multi-purpose event space with a café, bar and dining area.

The spaces can also expand or contract readily – or be repurposed entirely to meet the changing demands of the business.

The QRC Suites are in step with a corporate real estate shift toward a

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

‘clubhouse’ model – something that Hassell says has become increasingly important in the current global context. Under that model, the floor acts as the central HQ, with outer and regional offices, co-working and remote working options revolving around it to respond to the everincreasing need for agility.

An important component is the custom-designed terrarium pods by Unifor, which can function as either secluded focus spaces or semi-open sanctuaries when their doors are open. And with their plants seasonally selected and rotated by a local nursery,

they offer a moment of retreat for both employees and visitors.

Other key design components within the client centre are a custom blade ceiling design and joinery by Hassell, wallpapers by Signature Prints and 1938 Wall Coverings, and rugs and carpets that are hand-tufted custom inlay Zealand wool rugs by Argent Carpet. All of the suites and pavilions are custom-made by Unifor from Italy, including the marble credenzas and conference tables.

Herron added: “We knew from the outset that success

would mean working with the building’s architecture – designed

by Foster + Partners and completed in 1986 – giving the iconic features ‘breathing space’. A blend of classical proportions and contemporary finishes make the interiors feel as if they have ‘grown’ out of the architecture, but as a timeless, elegant new generation.

“This incredible floor uses natural materials, customised detailing and the highest of workmanship standards, setting a new benchmark for private banking spaces.”

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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 E X I T / C O LO U R C R E AT I V E

EXIT

One last thing from this month’s magazine…

Expo 2020 wraps up at the end of this month having presented a showcase of innovation and ideas from different countries around the world. Originally scheduled to take place two years ago but delayed by the pandemic, one of the visual highlights from the Dubai exhibition is the Russian pavilion.

It is the vision of architect Sergei Tchoban, whose structure is in the form of two hemispheres, one inside the other. “We set out to tackle several very important objectives,” he explained. “First, to propose a spectacular volume whose architecture would express the theme of this section of the exhibition and simultaneously contain associations with Russia as a great country.

One such association is the way the small domed volume sits inside the larger: this may be modern and emphatically dynamic, but it also resembles the traditional Russian matryoshka [Russian dolls].

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“Secondly, we wanted to give visitors the most comfortable possible conditions not just when viewing the exhibition but also when waiting to do so. The space under the lower dome serves as a convenient and capacious ante-area; it is well protected from the scorching sun and the heat and is packed with a variety of public functions.”

The building’s façades are made from intertwined thread-like pipes of different colours that are intended to express the ideas of movement, the development of meanings and knowledge. The motif of lines of different colours outlining the building’s shape is intended, says Tchoban, to refer to the tradition of the Russian Avantgarde and the ‘exprimatic’ method – the use of a free treatment of lines to generate new forms – invented by the Constructivist architect Yakov Chernikhov.

The ‘threads’ are made from aluminium tubes with a diameter of 8cm, which are bent at different angles and braid the volume of the pavilion in several directions.

Sergei Tchoban / sergeitchoban.com Speech Architects / speech.su

18/02/2022 06:04

PURELINE PRO Powerful, discrete, and framed with intuitive full perimeter lighting

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Novy has expanded its popular Pureline ceiling hood collection with the launch of Pureline PRO. Already the quietest and most energy efficient ceiling hood available, the Pureline PRO is also completely intuitive. When adding our ‘Novy Sense’ (a unique sensor which detects cooking vapours rising from the pans beneath), it will activate and will then automatically adjust to a more powerful extraction level when required. www.novy.ie Novy In Ireland - NAA Appliances Ltd - Lower Ballymount Road, D12 E292 - 01-4600064 - novy@naa.ie

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SOMETHING SPECIAL IS ON ITS WAY! 04-2022

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KITCHEN BEDROOM LIVIN G

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