THE DESIGNERS ISSUE MAY 2022 261
Work to Live
Creating spaces with wellness in mind
Dream Team
The best new designer/ maker collaborations
designer Nature’s Way
Utilising biophilic design to help a project bloom
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE M AY 2022 / ISSUE 261
Welcome to the May issue of Designer. One of the most fundamental aspects of creativity is teamwork. Few, if any, successful architectural or design projects can ever be singularly attributed to just one person, so understanding and appreciating the essence of collaboration is a vital component in developing new ideas. In this issue of Designer, we discover some of the latest partnerships between designers and manufacturers, taking a look at the results of combining bold and innovative ideas with the manufacturing and marketing know-how to bring them to market. Finding the right partnership is not necessarily as easy as it might seem – differences can be many and varied, and the creative vision, technical realities, and commercial expectations all need to be perfectly in sync. The great Philippe Starck often speaks about the importance of making good design accessible and affordable to everyone, and not just those who can afford to pay huge sums to own it as if it is a piece of high art. It is another one of those aims that is far easier said than done of course, but when the outlook of both designer and manufacturer are neatly aligned, the synergetic possibilities can be almost limitless.
e: martin@thedsgroup.co.uk w: designerati.co.uk
Enjoy the issue!
M ar t in
@designeratiUK designeratiUK
Martin Allen-Smith Editor, Designer
SOCIAL
@designeratiUK designerati
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Woven Gradience
The inspiration for Woven Gradience came from fusions of colour in nature colour blends caused by light, texture, and form. The way that we see colour can shift and change.
Celebrating colour whilst seamlessly blending into your surroundings.
Just like nature, the colours of Woven Gradience are both soothing and exciting. Vibrant pinks blend seamlessly with calming emerald tones. Rich terracotta transitions beautifully into soothing aqua. Each shade is grounded by soft, relaxing grey tones that allow you to connect spaces and create bespoke areas for space users.
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Woven Gradience is carbon neutral throughout its full lifecycle. +44 (0)800 313 4465 ukcustomerservices@interface.com interface.com/wovengradience Come and see us at Clerkenwell Design week! 1st Floor Pennybank Chambers, 33-35 St Johns Square, London EC1M 4DS
25/04/2022 13:30:48 25/04/2022 14:10
DESIGNER MAGAZINE MAY 2022 / ISSUE 261
CONTENTS 18 10 SOURCE Our monthly round-up of the people, products and events that matter from across the design sector 18 SHOWROOMS Interface unveils its striking Clerkenwell showroom, with sustainable design ideas throughout, while kitchen studio Nicholas Anthony unveils its newly-refurbished Wigmore Street space 24 DREAM TEAM A look at some of the recent collaborations between designers and manufacturers in creating products that offer the perfect marriage of creative vision and production know-how
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39 39 IDEAS HUB Clerkenwell Design Week returns for its eleventh edition this month (24-26 May), with a multitude of showrooms and exhibition spaces for visitors to explore 42 CAFÉ CULTURE Tucked away in an unassuming Hong Kong neighbourhood, this unique venue is an irresistible riot of brutalist geometry, soft colours and handcrafted details 48 NATURE’S WAY Biophilic design is becoming more and more embedded within interiors, as an appreciation of wellness and the tangible benefits of integrating nature become ever clearer
56 WORK / LIFE BALANCE A full-scale refurbishment turned a large but segmented office building into a seamless workspace with sustainability and wellness at its design core 63 THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED Robert Jamison has a vision of architecture that rethinks convention and instead engages with far broader ideas on how to unlock the potential of a space 66 EXIT Ready for take-off with Zaha Hadid Architects’ mesmerising airport project in Beijing
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE MAY 2022 / ISSUE 261
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
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THE DESIGNERS ISSUE MAY 2022 261
Work to Live
Creating spaces with wellness in mind
designerati.co.uk Dream Team
The best new designer/ maker collaborations
designer Nature’s Way
Utilising biophilic design to help a project bloom
Designer 261 Cover 2022.indd 1
On the cover: The interior of TROIS Cafe in Hong Kong, designed by Nelson Chow of NCDA
INSPIRING PROJECT CREATIVITY 25/04/2022 09:01
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 MAY 2022
Sound Solution The Embossed Series from Woven Image is a collection of acoustic wall panels, designed to embrace the trend towards more tactile surfaces and three-dimensional textures. The collection consists of Zen, Ion, Gem and new addition Pico (pictured). Pico’s smaller scale design is available in 20 colourways; including sage, olive, vanilla and orchid. Reducing reverberated noise to deliver acoustic comfort, the wall panels are intended for use in floor-to-ceiling applications, and pattern match from panel to panel. Manufactured using solar energy and made with recycled PET from plastic bottles, Pico also offers high-level environmental credentials. Woven Image products are distributed in the UK by The Collective Agency.
Woven Image / thecollective.agency/acoustics
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designerati.co.uk
Sunny Disposition
Riobel is expanding its kitchen brassware collection with the introduction of the Solstice tap. One of five new additions to the brand’s kitchen collection, Solstice is tall and sleek with a slender handle. The design incorporates Riobel’s 2-jet Boomerang spray technology with an integrated 360 swivel, which is accessed by a subtle catch hidden behind the spout to avoid interrupting the clean visual lines of the tap.
House of Rohl / houseofrohl.uk
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE MAY 2022
In the Round
Italian lighting specialist Lodes has joined forces with Italian architect, Vittorio Massimo, to create IVY, a minimal, geometric lighting piece composed of a ring hanging on a cable, which gives power to a made to measure LED module. IVY I is a single pendant featuring one straight cable looping around the ring. The pendant can be hung alone or as a set on multiple canopies. IVY V features a double cable which forms a V by hanging the cable from the power source in the ceiling to wherever users decide to fix it. IVY V can also be used on a new multiple canopy that consists of a base with a central hole from which up to 6 or 12 cables hang.
Lodes / lodes.com
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The tap that does it all 100°C BOILING, CHILLED AND SPARKLING WATER With a Quooker in your showroom you can offer your customers the only tap in the world that dispenses true 100°C boiling, chilled and sparkling water. Well-known, extremely popular, and already sought after by your customers thanks to our extensive national marketing campaigns. Quooker offers high-quality, innovative kitchen taps that are already being used by millions of households throughout the world. As an official Quooker dealer, our in-house service team will take care of all after sales matters for you, and we can even arrange installation by a Quooker engineer. We also have a unique industry-leading virtual online platform that enables consumers to choose the right product for their kitchen without your involvement. This way, you can focus on what you are good at: selling beautiful kitchens. Contact us for more information on how to become a Quooker dealer.
Quooker UK Ltd. Beaumont Buildings Great Ducie Street Manchester M3 1PQ +44 (0)1617 685 900 enquiries@quooker.co.uk www.quooker.co.uk
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE MAY 2022
Multi-Tasking Following the launch of the Cross Table 120 – designed to do double duty as a dining table and work desk – the Cross Task Chair is a versatile, ergonomic task chair created for compact spaces. Long-standing TAKT collaborators Pearson Lloyd have taken the design language that they established with the brand’s flagship products – the Cross Chair and Cross Chair Tube – and translated it into the new typology. Pearson Lloyd’s design takes the lightweight look and elegantly minimal material
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expression of the Cross Chair Tube – with its slim wooden back fitted to parallel tubes of recyclable high-pressure steel – and incorporates the adjustability necessary for a task chair into the wheeled base while maintaining a clean and simple appearance. In addition to the standard variant with an oiled oak seat and backrest, the chair is available with a range of upholstery fabrics and colour finishes, allowing it to complement any home interior style. The contemporary colours have been curated from a palette that
TAKT developed in collaboration with visual artist Malene Bach, inspired by the historic colours of the Scandinavian cityscape. Luke Pearson, Co-founder of Pearson Lloyd, said: “Covid 19 has propelled a cultural shift and most of us need to create spaces to work at home. However, typical office products are aesthetically at odds with our homes. We wanted to address this. We wanted a more reductive, simple and tactile quality to allow the chair to fit in with existing interior spaces.”
TAKT / taktcph.com
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British manufacturing and design International Design of the Year New designer of the year Student designer of the year Showroom of the year Super Luxe Project Design Sustainable Project of the year
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS
INTERFACE
Commercial flooring brand Interface has opened a new showroom in London’s Clerkenwell. The 2,000 sq ft space is located in the architecturally inspiring Pennybank Chambers, a former Victorian artisan tenement block on the corner of Clerkenwell Road and St John’s Square. The space has been designed with sustainability in mind, with all elements of the showroom carefully specified based on their sustainability credentials. Created in partnership with office design specialist Morgan Lovell, the showroom also embodies the principles of biophilic design, with planting incorporated throughout which can be seen from all angles. Meanwhile, a neutral colour palette and natural materials and finishes, such as timber, come together to complement the original architecture.
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The Pennybank showroom has been created as an immersive space for Interface’s team as well as customers, architects and designers to meet and collaborate. The flexible, hybrid working space includes collaboration zones, quiet working areas, flooring mock-up spaces, a private phone booth and a kitchen and bar, as well as an outside terrace. The space showcases Interface’s portfolio of carbon neutral products including carpet tile, LVT and nora rubber flooring which come together as a centrepiece, connecting all zones, while mirroring the ceiling and lighting grid above. Collections on display include the recently launched Woven Gradience as well as the company’s first collection to feature carbon negative carpet tiles, Embodied Beauty. Laura Light, Concept Design Team Leader at Interface, said: “Clerkenwell is the heart of the
design community so our new showroom really had to live up to this reputation and rich heritage. The new space is dynamic and flexible, giving us the opportunity to host a whole range of workshops, seminars and consultations for our clients. As soon as we viewed Pennybank, we knew it was the perfect location and we’ve worked closely with Morgan Lovell at every stage of the project to create a space that truly reflects our values and incorporates the latest trends. We’re really proud of this incredible space that our colleagues and customers can come and enjoy.” Karolina Samuilaite, Senior Designer at Morgan Lovell, added: “This space is more than just a showroom for Interface; it’s a statement of who they are as a company. It is a hub for collaboration and creativity, and completely embodies the company’s incredible sustainability story.”
Interface / First Floor, Pennybank, 33-35 St Johns Square, London, EC1M 5RN / interface.com 20
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS
NICHOLAS ANTHONY
SieMatic and interiors specialist Nicholas Anthony have unveiled their newly renovated Mayfair showroom in London. Under the creative direction of Design Director, Niko Rasides, the studio on Wigmore Street draws on the architectural history of this part of London. Clean-cut lines and minimalist forms are combined with natural materials and artisanal finishes to create a contemporary design look. The team renovated the Mayfair studio during the lockdown months, embracing a similar set of challenges that many individuals have found at home. They engaged local stone masons, lighting specialists, wallpaper designers and more; sourcing stone from Spain and Italy, precision engineered fixtures from Germany and artisanal craftsmanship from the UK.
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SieMatic’s Interior Architect, Marc Sporer, said: “The experiential showroom exhibits a cross-section of SieMatic’s diverse and flexible room planning concepts. As the brand is driven by customer centricity, no two SieMatic’s are the same; they are precisely tailored to the needs of our customers and that is what is reflected through the displays.” Rasides added: “For us, design is a language with a sole purpose of elevating our everyday experiences. What’s crucial about home design is that it reflects the character and values of the people who live there – not just who they are, but who they want to be. We know that design has the power to be transformative, and our goal is to help our clients to create homes that take their ideas and daily rituals to a whole new level. That’s the journey we want them to engage with at our Mayfair studio.”
Nicholas Anthony / 44-48 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2RY / nicholas-anthony.co.uk
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SOLID BRASS DOOR AND CABINET HARDWARE & ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES
Visit us at Clerkenwell Design Week 2022 Elements Pavillion, Stand E12
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE D E S I G N C O L L A B O R AT I O N S
DREAM TEAMS
Partnerships are integral to successful design. We take a look at some recent collaborations between designers and manufacturers in creating products that offer the perfect blend of creative vision and production know-how
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE D E S I G N C O L L A B O R AT I O N S
Christopher Duffy
Lois O’Hara
LOIS O’HARA / DUFFY LONDON
Artist Lois O’Hara has teamed up with design studio Duffy London on a project that will be on show during Clerkenwell Design Week this month (24 – 26 May). In place throughout the week next to the entrance of Projects on St James’ Green, the collaboration is in the form of a limited-edition Swing Table painted by O’Hara. It is colourful interpretation of Duffy’s distinctive table, which can be used in the boardroom, as a dining table or even outdoors, with hanging chairs suspended from a fourposter frame around a solid table top. Lois O’Hara / loisohara.co.uk Duffy London / duffylondon.com
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE D E S I G N C O L L A B O R AT I O N S
BRUCE KENNETH / KNIGHTSBRIDGE FURNITURE
British furniture designer and a regular maker on BBC series Money for Nothing, Bruce Kenneth, has worked with Knightsbridge Furniture to create the new Tron range. Fascinated by the sense of static objects appearing ‘in action’, Bruce brought this detail to the project as a key inspiration behind the piece. It has been designed with clean, hard lines, in turn creating interesting geometric shapes within the chair frame and table legs. Kenneth’s says that it “takes your eye on a journey around the chair” to evoke a personality and dynamic motion to the piece. Tron has been predominantly designed for healthcare settings and the new collection includes a highback lounge chair, midback lounge chair, upright chair and 25 tables in dining, occasional and coffee table heights, available in various shapes and sizes. Bruce Kenneth / brucekenneth.co.uk Knightsbridge / knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk
PHILIPPE STARCK / DURAVIT
The latest in a long-established partnership between French ‘starchitect’ Philippe Starck and German bathroom brand Duravit is the Soleil range. The design aims to create a natural and calm atmosphere with distinctively subtle lines and includes a compact range of washbasins, WCs and bathtubs. Philippe Starck / starck.com Duravit / duravit.co.uk
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE D E S I G N C O L L A B O R AT I O N S
LUDOVICA+ROBERTO PALOMBA / IDEAL STANDARD
RENZO PIANO / SMEG
Smeg is re-launching a limited run of 1000 of its design classic, the Piano Hob, first designed by multi awardwinning architect Renzo Piano in 1995. The design comes in two sizes, with a four or five burner hob, and is made from polished stainless steel and coated in a unique plasma technology, preventing the hob from tarnishing. This commemorative launch comes on the tenth anniversary of the Piano-designed Shard’s construction, and 35 years since the hob was first unveiled in Milan. Piano is an Italian architect best known for his high-tech public spaces. Some of his most famous works include the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris (designed with Richard Rogers) as well as London’s Shard. Renzo Piano / rpbw.com Smeg / smeguk.com
Ideal Standard has added to its Atelier Collections with the Calla and Joy Neo ranges. Designed by Ludivica and Roberto Palomba, the two additions are part of the brand’s ‘singular’ philosophy aimed at enabling custom bathroom schemes to be created from within the offering. Inspired by the Victorian age and early ceramic production, Calla features clear, simple geometric shapes with strong horizontal and vertical lines. It includes a range of ceramic pieces, including basins and pedestals, toilets and bidets, and a free-standing bathtub. Joy Neo aims to present an evolution of classicism, combining features from the more contemporary and cylindrical Joy collection with classic, square design elements, and either cross or lever-handles. It offers a variety of pieces, including single lever basin mixers, dual control basin mixers, wall-mounted basin mixers and 3-hole basin mixers as well as different bath and shower products. Roberto Palomba said: “It was never our intention to create collections that can only be used in classic interior design, but instead our aim was to design products that can be adapted and fused with elements from other eras to give customers freedom to express themselves. Innovation, heritage and the needs of the modern day are key elements represented in the neoclassical Calla and Joy Neo ranges.” Palomba Serafini Associati / palombaserafini.com Ideal Standard / idealstandard.co.uk
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Contemporary and colourful, a curated collection of fabrics selected by Jaime Hayon enhances Fritz Hansen’s easy chair designs. Inspired by Hayon’s travels to Thailand and selected specially by the Spanish designer, the premium upholstery fabrics in distinctive colourways and fabric pairings accentuate the chairs’ frame and cushions to full effect. Hayon said: “The vibrant mix of colours, textures and patterns experienced on my travels through Thailand led me to find unexpected combinations of upholstery fabric that would bring new life to the chairs.” Jaime Hayon / hayonstudio.com Fritz Hansen / fritzhansen.com
JAIME HAYON / FRITZ HANSEN
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Beautiful wood flooring for any interior
Visit our showroom in the heart of Clerkenwell Havwoods Showroom, 26 – 27 Great Sutton Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1V 0DS www.havwoods.com/uk | info@havwoods.com | +44 (0) 01524 737000
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PATRICIA URQUIOLA / GLAS ITALIA
Prolific Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola worked with Glas Italia to create the Simoon range of tables. The project is based on simplified geometrics, bringing to life constructions based on clearly defined lines, with the aim of highlighting the material which is intended to be the real star of the show. The project involved experimentation with materials to make a ground Murano glass surface created using recycled glass from production waste. A sheet rests delicately on the slabs that define the shape of the table, in bold dark topaz and amethyst colours. Patricia Urquiola / patriciaurquiola.com Glas Italia / glasitalia.com
KONSTANTIN GRCIC / LAUFEN
The Val bathroom collection has been designed by Konstantin Grcic for Laufen, and the latest addition targets compact and tricky bathroom spaces. Made using the manufacturer’s SaphirKeramik material – which enables thin dimensions and slender edge radii, the washbasins are kept small and consise. Using the additional space created in the basin, Laufen has integrated new functions in the form of semi-dry shelves, giving the user storage space to keep soap, shaving brushes or cosmetics close to hand, as well as maintaining sufficient basin volume. Konstantin Grcic / Konstantin-grcic.com Laufen / laufen.co.uk
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AXOR / BARBER OSGERBY
In a continuation of their collaboration with AXOR, British designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby have extended their AXOR One collection with a curated palette of coloured taps. Inspired by a specific set of naturally occurring interactions between light, colour and water, the range features six new colours. Launched in 2021, AXOR One features over 30 products including
basin mixers, bathtub mixers and a wide range of shower items. The six new colours have been selected to evoke specific aspects of water in relation to the earth and the sky, and includes Aquamarine, Coral, Stone, Shell, Ice and Sand. Designers Barber and Osgerby said: “Each colour balances the ability to become part of a calm visual field with limitless scope for
self-expression and individuality, reflecting the way in which bathrooms and small cloakrooms are increasingly becoming places that are less about neutral utility and more about original and impactful design. The colours have been chosen to complement the widest range of bathroom finishes, from enamel and concrete, to marble and wood.”
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NESTWELL / SIEGER DESIGN
Based on twelve principles of design for wellbeing, the wellness themed hotel bedroom program Nestwell aims to define a new approach to hospitality. German studio Sieger Design has incorporated these guidelines to develop a spa suite concept called ‘Re-Charge’. The design brings together key trends from sustainability, health maintenance and relaxation. The bathroom area is one central theme of the 60-80 sq m spa suite and makes the regenerative power of
water a therapeutic experience. The multifunctional space offers a dry and wet zone with a high level of design and functional quality in a compact space. The zones are separated from one another with a glass wall. Instead of a bathtub, there is a horizontal shower, which saves space and turns the primal power of flowing water into a relaxing experience. The guest can enjoy a range of water delivery options while lying or sitting comfortably on a heated bench, as well as making use of various spa functions.
To complement the regenerative effect of the spa area, a large mirror is integrated into a wall element in the middle of the suite and, among other things, serves as an always-on physical and digital programmable screen for fitness videos – to exercise in the privacy of your room. Thanks to a luxury foldaway massage bed, which looks like a wall cabinet when not in use, the area in front of the mirror can be transformed into a private spa for soothing treatments within a few seconds.
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Christian and Michael Sieger, Sieger Design
The sleeping area and bathroom in the spa suite are separated by sliding partitions, enabling business travellers to enjoy their breakfast with guests in a neutral area. From here, the separate WC can be accessed freely, without a view of the bed or bathroom. Additional comfort comes in the form of a kitchen unit with water dispenser for filtered drinking water and equipment for preparing tea or small meals.
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A key component of the ‘Re-Charge’ concept is the bio adaptive and circadian lighting system, which follows daytime rhythms and has a positive impact on health. The energy efficient LED light can be operated on both sides of the double bed and can be adjusted so as not to disrupt a partner’s sleep. High-quality doors and walls with good soundproofing protect against external noise. Motti Essakow, Co-Founder of Nestwell, said: “The solution is about a multi-level approach to design, as
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well as about a multi-dimensional view of what we actually mean by wellness, and how that translates into a hotel room design.” As improved indoor air quality is conducive to a great night’s sleep and rest, clean, oxygen-rich air generated by an efficient air filtration system increases the quality of the stay. Depending on the location and time of year, underfloor heating or a high-performance cooling system ensure a pleasant ambient temperature, and humidity is also
regulated. The wooden floor is warm underfoot and is sustainable, just like all the natural materials used in the suite. “I want to see the same quality I have at home in the hotel,” adds Christian Sieger. “In my experience, there were no hotel rooms that met my demands for comfort and furnishing. With the Nestwell spa suite, we want to bridge this gap and make the stay as pleasant, inspiring and relaxing as possible for business travellers.”
Nestwell / nestwellhospitality.com Sieger Design / sieger-design.com
25/04/2022 07:54
Style & Purpose
The superb new ‘Buzz’ seating range designed by Charlie Fowler for Knightsbridge Furniture.
Knightsbridge handcrafts beautifully designed contract furniture in the heart of Yorkshire. Contact 01274 731 900 or enquiries@knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk to find out more.
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knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk
25/04/2022 13:43
SCAN TO
WATCH
tune in every Monday morning
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE EVENT / CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK
Ace Collection by Patrick Norguet for Ethimo
Ideas Hub
Clerkenwell Design Week returns for its eleventh edition this month (24-26 May), with a multitude of showrooms and exhibition spaces for visitors to explore Since making its debut in 2009, Clerkenwell Design Week has become a familiar platform for brands in this creative district to showcase their latest products. With over 100 resident showrooms in this part of London, there are also a number of additional venues giving other brands the opportunity to connect with visitors from across the architecture and design sectors.
This year marks a return to the design calendar for the first time since the 2019 edition, which welcomed 34,185 attendees and over 300+ exhibiting brands, including industry names such as Deadgood, Ercol and Benchmark. 2019 included leading names like Established & Sons, who debuted works from renowned designers Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec and Konstanin Grcic;
Nuez Lounge BIO Chair by Patricia Urquiola for Andreu World
Prototypes by Swarf Hardware
Adjustable spotlight by Fritz Fryer Lighting
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE EVENT / CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK
Attitude collection by Leonardo
Furniture by WOUD
Stellar Works launched the Crawford Collection by Australian designer Tom Fereday, and Thonet celebrated 100 years of Bauhaus at CDW with new interpretations of side tables by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. This year, CDW’s festival route has been extended to include Charterhouse Square which will see
Orticolario’s Delenimentum installation taking centre stage, with a gigantic version of the iconic Adirondack Chair created in 1903 by the designer Thomas Lee. Across EC1, there will be nine exhibitions, in both purpose built and historical venues, all showcasing a curated mix of leading brands and emerging
talent covering furniture, lighting, textiles, surfaces, accessories and product design from around the world. New for 2022 is Covered, sponsored by RAK Ceramics, an exhibition dedicated to interior surfaces. Forming part of a new festival location in Charterhouse Square, Covered will display the best in surface design and material innovation.
Also new for 2022 is Contract where visitors can view the latest products for commercial interiors. Clerkenwell’s subterranean House of Detention, formerly a prison in the mid19th century, will showcase Light + Rising Stars where up-and-coming designers will exhibit alongside leading lighting brands. Clerkenwell Design Week / clerkenwelldesignweek.com
Concrete grey flooring by Recork
Palissade Park dining bench by HAY
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Smart locks for more intelligent spaces How people use their spaces is changing. Smart lockers or intelligent locker systems are reshaping the way you work by delivering security, convenience, and an outstanding user experience. Whether you’re looking to make life easier for customers, staff or visitors, our range of intelligent locker systems helps make every interaction more efficient. Contact the experts at Lowe & Fletcher to discuss your requirements today! T: 0121 505 0400 E: sales@lowe-and-fletcher.co.uk W: www.connectedlocking.com / www.lowe-and-fletcher.co.uk
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE HOSPITALITY DESIGN
Café Culture
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE HOSPITALITY DESIGN
Tucked away in an unassuming Hong Kong neighbourhood, this unique venue is an irresistible riot of brutalist geometry, soft colours and handcrafted details
The interior of the TROIS Cafe, Hong Kong, designed by Nelson Chow of NCDA
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ith its juxtaposition of brutalist geometry and cheerful bubblegum hues, NCDA may have created Hong Kong’s most Instagrammable café of the past year. “We wanted something eye-catching and unique, but I didn’t realise it would be like this, where people line up just for photographs,” said designer Nelson Chow. Inspired by the city’s iconic public housing estates and its playgrounds, which can be found all across the territory and have become social media attractions in themselves, the cafe is immediately recognisable, thanks to its vivid blast of colour
and texture among the city’s sea of minimalist, all-white coffee shops. Flanked by car dealerships and office blocks on a bland, busy stretch of highway in Wan Chai, its coralpink facade certainly catches the attention of passers-by. The recessed entrance and signage signals the importance of dimension, while a single circular window looks into what appears to be a basketball court, with a glass-topped communal table in the shape of a free-throw area. The retro-futuristic ‘spaceship’ design wouldn’t look out of place in a sci-fi film set, with pink leather chairs that resemble Memphisstyle robots. Chow used colour to delineate the playful interior. The
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front bar and main room is swathed in shades of pink, from ceiling to serving counter and plaster walls, which have been finished to resemble concrete. Soap-like resin blocks emit a warm glow, with concealed lighting throughout a stand-in for natural light. The back wall and flooring utilise a palette of pastel blue-greens, with an artificial skylight above. A ceramic-tiled bench runs along
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the rear wall, and trellises add depth and texture. The tiles are enlarged versions of the mosaic tiles found in housing blocks, with each piece individually attached to the wall without any grouting. It is Chow’s favourite area as it mimics the feeling of sitting under an outdoor trellis with ambient light coming from above. “Everything you see is customised and handcrafted,” explains Chow.
“The tiles and resin blocks are handmade, the chairs and tables are custom made, nothing is bought from a shop. That’s actually difficult and timeconsuming to create, and it is rare for a cafe, because it’s a big investment.” The undoubted effort was well worth it though, in creating a unique destination that ensures that this café stands out boldly from the crowd.
NCDA / ncda.biz
25/04/2022 08:00
NOVY EASY Luxury reinvented
THE COOKER HOOD SPECIALISTS
Winner category Company
WESTIN.CO.UK
The Novy Easy simplifies cooking in the kitchen. Bespoke Island hood in a Roundhouse Design kitchen. Interior design by Studio Clement
The Novy Easy is the latest addition to Novy’s collection of vented induction hobs. Featuring four high performance flex induction zones and a central surface vent, this simple to use induction hob and extraction combination features a sensor that automatically regulates the Adverts 261.indd 47 extraction speed to make the cooking process easier. novy.co.uk
25/04/2022 13:50
DESIGNER MAGAZINE BIOPHILIC DESIGN
NATURE’S WAY Biophilic design is becoming more and more embedded within interiors, as an appreciation of wellness and the tangible benefits of integrating nature become ever clearer
The Observatory at W London
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE BIOPHILIC DESIGN
The Observatory at Wardian London
Wardian London, a residential-led development situated adjacent to Canary Wharf comprising two towers of 55 and 50-storeys, has launched The Observatory, a botanically-inspired sky bar and lounge for residents located on the 53rd floor.
ervatory at Wardian
One of the highest bars in London, The Observatory has floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides to flood the space with natural light and showcase panoramic views of the iconic London landscape. Featuring stylish and comfortable lounge and dining spaces, as well as a wraparound balcony and fully equipped bar and kitchen, the resident-only hideout has been designed as a space to relax, work, eat and drink within an ‘outside-in’ ethos which underpins the development. Developed by EcoWorld Ballymore and designed by Glenn Howells Architects, Wardian overlooks South Quay in London’s Docklands. The Observatory at Wardian is inspired by exotic botanicals, integrating indoor and outdoor living, featuring tropical flowers, plants and trees from around the world, with an enclosed glass plant house entrance at its core. Wardian contains 767 homes including suites, one- and two-bedroom apartments and penthouses. The towers house a grand lobby, 25-metre open air swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym and wellness facilities, with restaurant and retail outlets due to open this year. Garnering inspiration from the Wardian glass case, used to transport tea plants across the globe, the scheme includes more than a hundred different species of exotic plants from across the world. With its own indoor and outdoor landscaping service tailored to fit residents’ lifestyles, there are also seasonal plant packages and comprehensive garden maintenance available to to maximise the floral variety of each apartment. It also brings the exceptionally uncommon Wollemi pine as well as a collection of over 100 species of other succulents, rare plants, trees and flowers to public spaces across the development. Wardian London / wardianlondon.com
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When environmental charity ClientEarth relocated to a 10,405 sq ft office in London’s Drayton Park, sustainability had to be at the core of the brief handed to office design specialists Peldon Rose. Sasha Jenner, Project Designer, Peldon Rose, said: “The standout objective was for the project to be as sustainable as possible, so that has been applied to every aspect of the design. As well as reusing existing furniture to avoid making unnecessary new purchases and saving on landfill, we selected recycled, reclaimed or reworked items. “To ensure that employees feel connected to the charity’s mission, artwork exhibiting the positive impact its work has is displayed throughout the office. We worked hard to bring the outside in through a sustainable design and as a result, staff are able to feel connected with nature.” The project took on a rustic feel and natural materials were utilised in conjunction with a biophilic design to deliver an environment that showcases the very best nature has to offer. The FCS certified, recycled plywood pallet boards used as panelling throughout the office create an eyecatching entrance that is then continued as you walk through the space. The low VCO level paint selected by Peldon Rose and A+ rated environmentally efficient flooring meets the green seal standards. Additionally, by opting for motion activated LED lighting and energy efficient equipment, the space actively reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
A Scandi-inspired open plan garden room with Daval Mayfair furniture is part of a bespoke project by Daval and oak building specialists Paragon Oak. The two West Yorkshire companies collaborated to create a kitchen living space within an oakframed building for a manor house property, instantly adding an extra dimension to the living and entertaining spaces available for family members and guests in the client’s rural property. The Mayfair kitchen in Talpa, a contemporary matt finish in taupe, complements the natural oak hues of the timber. Simon Bodsworth, Managing Director at Daval said: “We all really enjoyed working with Paragon Oak to install a made-to-measure kitchen to enhance indoor outdoor living for the client. We are very proud to partner with other experts in our vibrant local design community so that we can pool our knowledge and develop new concepts together. With an upsurge in investing in the home and garden predicted for 2022, the luxury kitchen market is willing and able to support property owners and developers who are keen to optimise their surroundings as home comforts continue to be of prime importance.” James Bodsworth, Design Director at Daval, added: “As sustainability is fast becoming a must-have element in all interior projects, we are proud that all our raw materials are sourced from reputable suppliers and that we have a closed-loop production system which minimises carbon emissions and waste products.” Daval / daval-furniture.co.uk
In the open plan woodland area near the entrance of the office, planting provides a natural canopy connecting staff with nature whilst undertaking their daily work. The ‘bunker’ provides a place for staff to gather thoughts and ideas, while the passageway through the reception and garden café are flooded with natural light. The greenery and planting inside increases occupant connectivity to the natural surroundings while the courtyard area allows teams to spend more time outdoors which is proven to boost mood and productivity. The space features bee houses and bird feeders, encouraging teams to enjoy nature and wildlife. Peldon Rose / peldonrose.com
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“
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I was very much influenced by the environment I grew up in... Jigs Adefuin
#AroundTheWorld Interviews featuring a top international designer/architect from a specific country, focusing on how they got to where they are, the design/cultural/historical/ geographical influences that have shaped their world, the trends driving the country’s industry, the importance of sustainability in their country, diversity, and their advice to new designers starting out. Read all the interviews now on designerati.co.uk
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE BIOPHILIC DESIGN
The scheme's extensive planting scheme included hanging glass globe terrariums
Felt-walled single-working booths from Buzzispace
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The Terrace is demarcated along the building’s circulation void by high-back booth seats from Icons of Denmark
25/04/2022 08:03
For its second project for an Australian financial services group, workspace specialist Align was briefed to design 13,745 sq ft of new working, meeting, presentation and break-out space across 1.5 storeys at their client’s City of London offices in order to meet a period of sustained growth and house three divisions of the company, totalling around 150-170 people.
DESIGNER MAGAZINE BIOPHILIC DESIGN
The scope of work mostly covered the building’s 8th floor, where general workspaces are located, along with a staff kitchen/pantry, a large presentation and townhall space (which can also be used for other purposes, eg yoga classes), five meeting rooms and a large breakout area with an indoor-outdoor feel (‘The Terrace’). The client brief requested the use of glass to maximise natural light and the scheme features fire-rated glass for dividing walls wherever possible. As the more traditional working zones for the teams also require privacy and security for FCA compliance, privacy manifestations are used for some of the glazed partitions. Further light was created via white-painted ceilings, deliberately exposed, allowing for a generous 3m ceiling height – almost a metre more than the average office interior – whilst at the same time ensuring a less corporate feel. From an energy perspective, the large elements of glazing pull in as much natural daylight as possible, with cellular spaces confined to inner core areas and the lighting scheme is entirely LED-driven, with suspended up and down-lighting to limit glare to work surfaces. Floor finishes, meanwhile, feature a high degree of recycled content, as do the slatted timber acoustic panels in the presentation space, made from off-cuts of Australian red cedar. Workspace furniture includes sit-stand desks from Hayworth, along with a mixture of desks and seating by Naughtone, Orangebox and Brunner. Whilst the scheme created a suite of varied workplace environments for an agile workforce, each work zone also encompassed small meeting spaces and work areas, screened with combinations of furniture elements, hanging planting and open Abstracta frameworks, to create more intimate neighbourhoods within larger zones, along with jump-in jump-out phone booths to provide local quiet spaces. A commitment to creating a biophilic environment meant an extensive planting strategy for the space too, creating a natural connection via externally-planted roof terraces, which also improve internal air quality and help mitigate the breakout of sound into the building’s shared atrium space. The feel of The Terrace area was to be homely, cosy and intimate. The manifestation on the folding glass wall linking it to the presentation space is a pointillist take on a field of bluebells, in a further biophilic-inspired element. Furniture here includes a row of bleachers, a form of mobile storage with the appearance of wooden trunks, whilst loose furniture includes striking red and blue hexagonal stools with white tables and green and ocean-blue chairs with angled backs. “The Terrace is a communal space with major biophilic impetus and the planting strategy for it has had a very positive reception from staff,” said Nigel Tresise, Align’s Director and Co-founder. “Align worked together with Plant Plan to achieve this. Other planting includes a series of eight hanging terraria set within glass globes, which are visible from other parts of the office through the glass walls. There is also an indoor garden alongside two phone booths, a meeting table and chairs and shelves where awards the company has won are displayed, along with inverted sky plants by Boskke, used both within The Terrace and on the 9th floor.” Align / aligngb.com
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Dolce Vita Tejo retail centre, Lisbon, Portugal
Retail Therapy
Jorge Beroiz, Principle at CallisonRTKL, explains how the practice integrates biophilic design principles into many of its retail space projects… Our design decisions are based on a comprehensive study of the local climate and cultural values, which then inform our approach and material selection, using locally sourced natural materials where possible. When it comes to using biophilia in our designs, it is far from a new concept. However, the realisation and application of its purpose – that interior spaces can promote health, productivity and well-being by bringing the outdoors inside – is still being explored and, since the pandemic, has become front of mind. Efforts to inject a little green into the built environment take many shapes and forms, whether those be in residential, hospitality, retail or office spaces. Taking retail as an example, we know that shopping is a highly emotional experience, and the look and feel of a store has a tangible impact on shoppers. In order to design a standout shopping destination where people want to stay for long periods, such as a shopping mall, biophilia can bring a natural comfort. Designing spaces to include water features, trees and semi-open spaces with multiple view corridors can create an environment that delivers the kind of psychologically soothing and calming effects of nature that have been proven to draw shoppers into stores, lengthen dwell time and boost sales. “Data from The Economics of Biophilia bear out the multitude of benefits that biophilic design can provide in the retail space; for instance, shoppers’ perception of the value and quality of goods increases proportionately to the level of greenery and vegetation within a space. As such, they are more likely to accept higher prices. And don’t forget – people like natural light as much as plants do. Stores with a high level of daylighting can realise significant profit margin boosts of 15-20%.
360 shopping mall, Kuwait
One of our favourite ways to integrate nature indoors is through ‘the living wall,’ a vertical garden that serves as a natural air purifier, removing VOCs and other harmful toxins while exhaling oxygen into the space as a by-product of photosynthesis. The vertical configuration allows for a higher volume of plantings within a smaller space. Take our 360 Mall’s living wall in Kuwait that is composed of over 101 different species of plants, with each square metre of the wall hosting 33 individual plants. Living walls help to keep things cool through a process known as evapotranspiration. Studies show that green walls can reduce heat gain by up to 10°C, resulting in significant energy savings, reduced cooling costs and decreased electricity costs (up to 20%). Similarly, the living wall provides an extra layer of insulation, which helps to retain heat in colder temperatures. One of the lesser-known benefits of living green walls is that they can reduce noise levels in buildings, similar to the way in which plants have been used worldwide to reduce noise along roads and highways. Vegetation naturally blocks high frequency sounds while the wall’s supporting structure and mass help diminish low frequency sounds; together, each element reflects, refracts and absorbs acoustic energy. This sense of biophilic design to keep shoppers happier and healthier with a sense of calm, also works the same way in our homes and in our workplaces. While good for people, biophilia helps with the planet too, with usage of natural materials creating less emissions. At CRTKL we are designing climate positive and sustainable buildings that also provide memorable experiences, by amplifying the connection to nature and including elements that mimic the local landscape and we expect to see more of this over the next few years as buildings become more sustainable. CallisonRTKL / callisonrtkl.com
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creating a more agile world. Meticulously developed and manufactured in-house, OE are dedicated to providing cutting-edge agile power solutions, tailor-made to the dynamic working environment & beyond. Award-winning product lines & complete electrical distribution systems; OE knows power. Bring your furniture to life with OE; Masters in design & innovation of power & data delivery modules since 1986. Visit: www.oeelectrics.co.uk Speak to us: +44 (0) 1924 367255
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE W O R K S PA C E D E S I G N
Photography: Ed Reeve
Work / Life Balance A full-scale refurbishment turned a large but segmented office building into a seamless workspace with sustainability and wellness at its design core
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DESIGNER MAGAZINE W O R K S PA C E D E S I G N
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ondon-based architecture and design studio Bluebottle undertook an ambitious refurbishment for the new London office of venture capital firm Atomico. Niklas Zennström, Atomico founder, was seeking a new base to accommodate his company’s mission and vision to invest in game-changing enterprises. Housed within The Gaslight, a striking Art Deco building on Rathbone Street, London, three floors and a mezzanine level were transformed into an office environment with high aspirations for longevity and wellbeing. As an expanding company Atomico required a clear and functional design solution for its new headquarters which would retain the small company ethos while supporting its business partners’ needs. The client brief was to provide a modern workspace for staff that is multi-functional, inclusive and ranks highly in sustainability, comfort, and acoustics. Adapting The Gaslight from a multi-tenanted building into a single occupier called for a radical and ambitious architectural intervention to ensure the vertical stacking and circulation gave a seamless visual connection through the floors while maximising the use of all available space. Creating a large opening for a central link in the heart of the building
enhanced the sense of openness and transparency across each floor by allowing free-flowing transitions between collaborative social spaces and private working areas. The introduction of a suspended hanging staircase created an open central circulation route which connects shared spaces on the ground and first floors, to more private spaces and meeting rooms on the upper floors. The new floorplan allows for flexibility by allowing for both meetings and events, fostering the exchange of ideas and driving creativity and collaboration. Sustainability was at heart of the project, and the client wanted to focus on a data-driven approach to minimising energy consumption both in construction and throughout occupation. Working within the constraints of an existing building meant that some low carbon technologies were unsuitable and had to be addressed. Bluebottle worked closely with a wide team of experts including engineering and sustainability practice Max Fordham, which carried out extensive earlystage analysis to select appropriate technologies using an innovative design tool developed by the Energy Group at Cambridge University. The sustainable design approach considered all travel-related energy (business and commuting), embodied energy, operational energy and
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construction site impacts for the duration of Atomico’s 10-year lease. The project has achieved ‘net zero carbon in construction’, in line with the UK Green Building Council’s net zero carbon framework. Atomico is also a finalist at this year’s BCO awards in the workplace fit-out category. Frans Burrows, Founder and Director at Bluebottle, said: “Our collaboration with Max Fordham sustainability consultants was crucial in making the most cost-effective, and impactful, energy reduction decisions for the project by using the results drawn by their Energy Cost Metric tool. Our design has focused on how an office fit-out can best reduce the whole life energy use of
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the building and business. While the Cambridge design tool has been used on large-scale university projects, this is the first time the model is used in an office fit-out like ours.” High impact materials, finishes and furniture were chosen for their circular economy value, such as solid wood floors, desking made of cabinetry that can be adapted and reused, and acoustic panels that can be re-upholstered. Many lighting and furniture pieces were sourced from vintage suppliers. Inclusivity is a core value of Atomico’s ethos and the new office space was designed to allow seamless transitions between collaborative social spaces to private working
areas all with integrated acoustics, technology, consolidated services, and individually-controlled spaces. The scheme has had a positive influence on employees, giving an optimal workspace solution working from the office. The spaces are spacious and feel safe to use during the ongoing Covid pandemic. Ample meeting areas, phone booths, plants, advanced integrated technology, well-stocked fridges, snacks, and access to fresh air contribute to the feeling of wellbeing in this office environment. Bluebottle also completed the redesign of Atomico’s café which follows the same ethical and sustainable principles as the workspaces.
Bluebottle / bluebottle.co.uk
25/04/2022 08:19
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NEW LOOK
WEBSITE
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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
The Road Less Travelled Robert Jamison has a vision of architecture that rethinks convention and instead engages with far broader ideas on how to unlock the potential of a space. He spoke to Melissa Porter for a fascinating designerati podcast, sponsored by Blum, that truly challenges the status quo
Robert Jamison on… THE PRICE OF ARCHITECTURAL PASSION
“Architects don’t always make a lot of money on every project. Sometimes you agree a fee but you work way beyond it and sometimes it ends up costing you money – it’s happened to me. “I work constantly, even when I’m doing other things, because often it’s just a thought process and it means that your mind is always occupied with these thoughts and ideas all the time.”
Robert Jamison on… BROAD HORIZONS
“To be an architect, you need to have experience of the world. You have to have experienced a relationship with yourself, with others and the world around you. In my younger days, even going out clubbing was all part of that process – even walking home at 4am and seeing things from that perspective is one of many ways that can help us to understand the world we live in. “Growing up in Belfast in the 1980s – which was not a pleasant experience because of the Troubles – also gave me a real awareness of the energy within an environment. It’s being able to sense that something is about to happen even before it does, or entering a room and just knowing that you shouldn’t be there, knowing that it could have a negative impact on your health and wellbeing.”
ROBERT JAMISON
A former starring architect on the BBC Series Your Home Made Perfect, Belfast-born Jamison is known for his innovative and unconventional approach to architecture. In 2005, he launched his own practice, but the economic crash of 2008 prompted him to re-evaluate. He left the UK with a one-way ticket to India to start a period of extensive travel. Upon his return to London, he continued to grow his practice with his new approach to life and architecture. He is influenced by ‘spatial prana’, a life-force energy which flows within space and feeds off of the surrounding environment. Much of Jamison’s design process is influenced by the energies he has adopted from yogic practices. On his website, he explains: “In studio, my ambition is to test and experiment. To demonstrate the healing potential of architecture, and bring architecture to the people.” Robert Jamison Architects / robertjamisonarchitects.com
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Robert Jamison on… SPATIAL AWARENESS
“We can all ‘feel’ a room or a building, and it affects how we act when we are there. If you walk through a dark alley for example you want to move through that space more quickly than if you were walking in a nice open park.
Robert Jamison on… GOING BACK TO NATURE’S BASICS
“We are tied to regulations that aren’t healthy. We live in hermetically-sealed boxes in which the air doesn’t flow and the light is often not enough. And there are almost always ways in which to improve some of these fundamentals – whether the budget is £500 or £500,000.”
“Much of our existing building stock comes from previous generations. They were designed for a certain way of living and not for how we occupy space today and as a result, most of our buildings are ill-considered in terms of modern living. Reworking building stock is what particularly interests me.”
Robert Jamison on… THE NEED FOR MORE THAN JUST QUALIFICATIONS
“You don’t need to go to school to be an architect, you just need to ‘feel’ space. But to do it well, you do need a library of experiences. I had already worked on many projects and had become established when I decided to go travelling, because I wanted new experiences and to really see.”
THE DESIGNERATI PODCAST
Watch or listen to the full interview with Robert Jamison on the designerati podcast. Subscribe and tune in every Monday wherever you get your podcasts – including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, Google Podcasts and many others – to hear fascinating insights by guests drawn from all corners of the creative sector. Join our host Melissa Porter for a conversation on all things design with some of the biggest design names and brightest new creative talent. designerati / designerati.co.uk
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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.
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25/04/2022 14:02
DESIGNER MAGAZINE E X I T / F LY I N G H I G H
EXIT
Continuing the legacy of the late great Zaha Hadid, the architecture practice that bears her name has overseen the stunning Beijing Daxing International Airport. Developed to alleviate congestion at the capital’s existing airport, Beijing Daxing will be a major transport hub for the region with the world’s fastest growing demand for international travel. Initially serving 45m passengers per year, it will accommodate 72m travellers by 2025 and is planned for further expansion to serve up to 100m passengers annually. Echoing principles within traditional Chinese architecture that organise interconnected spaces around a central courtyard, the terminal’s design guides all passengers seamlessly through the relevant departure, arrival or transfer zones towards the grand courtyard at its centre – a multi-layered meeting space at the heart of the terminal. Natural light also enters the terminal via a network of linear skylights that provide an intuitive system of navigation throughout the building, guiding passengers to and from their departure gates. Five aircraft piers radiate directly from the terminal’s main central court where all passenger services and amenities are located, enabling passengers to walk the comparatively short distances through the airport without the need for shuttle trains. Photovoltaic power generation is installed throughout the airport to provide a minimum capacity of at least 10MW. The airport also implements rainwater collection and a water management system that employs natural storage, natural permeation and natural purification of up to 2.8m cubic meters of water in new wetlands, lakes and streams to prevent flooding and counter the summer ‘heat island’ effect on the local microclimate.
One last thing from this month’s magazine…
Zaha Hadid Architects / zaha-hadid.com
Photography: Hufton+Crow
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