itsu is now part of UK’s Cool Brands, the official barometer of Britain’s coolest brands, people and places.
Afroditi Krassa created the original branding back in 2004 and has continuously been involved in the development of the overall concept and future direction of all aspects of branding and design.
Exhibition runs 13th – 26th Sept 2012
Private view 13th Sept
Talk by Michael Trainor 18th Sept
Location: Gallery & Project Space
An international exhibition of over one hundred models designed by artists and architects who re-imagine the British beach hut for the first time in three hundred years.
Great Western Studios and The National Centre for Craft and Design present The Bathing Beauties® exhibition which evolved from the Bathing Beauties® project www.bathingbeauties.org.uk. This inspired 240 architects, artists and designers from 15 countries to compete for commissions to build their designs on the stunning Lincolnshire coast. The competition, organised by artist Michael Trainor, elicited one of the most exciting responses to any architectural competition this century. A selection of models (scale 1:15), showing the incredible virtuosity of approach will be on show in the exhibition.
‘The beach hut is one of the few building forms which has been seriously overlooked by contemporary architects the world over. They are perceived as a treasured feature of our coastal landscape, as quintessentially British as fish and chips and the knotted hanky, but in reality are usually little more than a painted shed’. Michael Trainor, Lead Artist & Project Curator.
The brief to re-imagine the simple beach hut produced an amazing array of design solutions which catapult our ideas of seaside micro-architecture into a new aesthetic, rather than an endless pastiche of imaginary heritage. Traditional seaside references are gone, replaced by structures incorporating wind turbines, saunas, camera obscura, viewing platforms and space-age materials with only the most oblique of witty nods to sandcastles and stripy windbreaks. Striking, unconventional and surprising, many of the models celebrate the idea of happening upon something by chance when strolling along the beach, whilst others are bold creative exercises in space, light and line.
Examples on show include the scale model which won ‘Best Model’ prize for outstanding craftsmanship, Lazy Susan by Thurgood Hobson Design, London; partly inspired by the American Airstream caravan, the beautifully crafted Lazy Susan is designed to rotate to follow the sun. Mark Thurgood is a designer, model maker, 3-D illustrator and skilled carpenter with a strong media background having designed for both television and magazines. Kevin Hobson is a designer/maker and silversmith jeweler with a variety of craft skills. Other scale models on show include: Jabba by i-am associates Ltd, London, a 21st century cave of laminated wood and glass whose organic form wouldn’t look out of place in one of the desert scenes of Star Wars; The Wizard of Oz by Lionel T Dean, Future Factories, Lincolnshire, a ‘twister’ of a beach-hut which plays with the idea of being boarded up out-of-season; Cheese 42 by Christian Uhl, Germany, literally a giant cheese block with surprisingly practical features; and Alien Drum Sensorium by Alasdair Tooze, Gareth Hoskins, UK, which is inspired by beach detritus such as washed-up containers and features a sound-amplifying horn for deeper enjoyment of the crashing waves.
This is a show for all the family to see design at its best and most innovative. Wonder at the way in which architecture and design can solve problems and make imaginative places.
Opened in October 2003 as ‘The Hub’ and rebranded as The National Centre for Craft and Design entirely dedicated to the exhibition, celebration and promotion of the very best of national and international craft and design and receives over 85,000 visitors a year.
Further information: www.nationalcraftanddesign.org.uk
Melissa Hunt’s new book, Stonesetting For Contemporary Jewelry Makers: Techniques, Inspiration and Professional Advice for Stunning Results contains a collection of techniques for combining gems and metals. It outlines the properties of stones, how to choose them, then design, make and market stone-set jewellery.
It presents traditional techniques alongside contemporary stone setting ideas, with tutorials appropriate for all skill levels: it offers tips for the beginner and demystifies more complicated techniques for the advanced maker.
Screenings: Start from 6:30pm
Location: Gallery & Project Space
6:30pm – ‘In memory Of A Free Festival’ presented by Lizzy Piffany
7:15pm – ‘Written in sand’ presented by Pip Hackett
9:00pm – ‘A Brief History of The Arcola Cinema’
6:30pm – ‘In The Dark I Sat’ presented by Sarah Jane Swann & Roger Simon
7:15pm – A selection of short films and artist talk presented by Jemima Burrill
7:45pm – A selection of short films presented by Beata Marta Rzepecka
6:30pm – Bathing Beauties, a film about 100 beach huts designed by architects from around the world, presented by Neil Baker & Steven Hatton of Electric Egg
Portobello Film Festival was created in 1996 as a reaction to the moribund state of the British film industry, to provide a forum for new film-makers and give exposure to movies on different formats.
This international film festival has a fantastic reputation as being ‘the biggest celebration of independent film in Europe’ (The Independent) showing tomorrow’s films today. Now in its 16th year, Portobello film festival has screened films which have gone on to win awards and become highly successful.
This is a great opportunity to see interesting films in inspiring surroundings and to meet the film makers and directors behind them.
Further information: www.portobellofilmfestival.com
Bethan Gray is excited to announce her first lighting collection designed for John Lewis. The clean and contemporary lines of the Noah collection can now be found in a range of lighting products that Bethan has developed exclusively for the John Lewis Design Collective.
A perfect complement to Bethanʼs Noah dining and bedroom ranges, and made from high quality solid oak and natural linen shades, the Noah light is available in table lamp, floor lamp, or pendant options that combine style and functionality and exude a welcoming atmosphere into the home.
The Noah collection was launched in 2011 and is one of John Lewisʼ best-selling dining and bedroom furniture ranges. The on-going collaboration with John Lewis reaffirms Bethanʼs long-standing commitment to creating timeless and beautiful products and the perfect synergy her creations have with Britainʼs best-loved retailer.
Bethan says, “The pared-back simplicity of Noah lighting, using high quality materials and highlighting craftsmanship, resonate particularly with how I love to design. The design itself is associated with longevity and understated luxury.”
The decision to enhance the Noah range with a collection of lights is a natural progression for Bethan, whose long-held passion for lighting is reflected in her own personal collection of antique lamps.
In addition to the launch of the Noah light, and to celebrate the first anniversary of the John Lewis Design Collective, Bethan has also updated the Noah dining range.
Such is her inimitable creative force within the British design industry, Bethan Gray has recently prompted Sir Terence Conran to highlight her as “one to watch” for her “exquisite appreciation of materials” and “fine attention to detail”.
She launched the G&T collection to great acclaim last year and continues to work passionately on a variety of projects.
As seen in the recent issue of Grand Designs Magazine, Innovation Imperative’s new Tetra shed will soon be assembled in the GWS courtyard.
Daisy kickstarted the stacking rings concept and continues to pave the way in this ongoing trend with their new ‘Alpha’ rings. Gold, silver, hearts and flowers and now letters are piled high to create a look that’s as stylish as it is personal.
The Royal Parks Foundation Drinking Fountain is intended as a formally elegant addition to the repertoire of urban furniture already provided in London’s Royal Parks. It is hoped that Moxon‘s design will be understood as being at once understated, accessible and joyful.
Saturday & Sunday, 7th & 8th July 2012
Now in its 18th year, our renowned Open Studios weekend presents a thriving community of established and emerging artists and creatives from all disciplines including architecture, drawing, digital media, fashion, jewellery, music, painting, photography, sculpture and much more.
We support talented designer-makers and present a rare opportunity for the public to see and shop behind the scenes. With over a 100 creative studios showcasing exceptional work, there is something for everyone.
There’s also a full events program throughout the weekend. Fashion designers – Orlebar Brown, ilovegorgeous and Froufrou Boudoir amongst others – will be holding exclusive sample sales.
Artist Richard Wentworth will present a silent auction of 67 prints by sculpture students of the Royal College of Art.
In-house & guest jewellery designers will fill the atrium – an ideal gift for a friend, family or just a treat for yourself!
As part of London Festival of Architecture – Innovation Imperative, Light Architecture, Pitman Tozer, Moxon and Threefold will also be doing their Architects’ Surgery. Mark Lutyens will be holding an Open Garden Surgery and there’ll also be interior design consultations.
Artist demonstrations will include screen printing, traditional methods of oil colour mixing and working with mosaic.
For children there’ll be a new multicoloured children’s art trail that leads them on an interactive quest around the building – and back by popular demand – Health Cuts will show them how to create a 3D hand print.
Under the Westway, invited exhibitors will be showing their wares in the Arts Market and to round it all off the increasingly popular Annual Open Dog Show takes place on the Sunday evening – all shapes and sizes welcome!
‘Excellent display of talent, will definitely recommend it to all of my friends.’Visitor at the Christmas Open Studios 2012.
Threefold Architects’ design for Foxbourne Road involves the renovation and extension of the ground floor of an existing Victorian terraced family house in South London. The brief called for the renovation and re-organisation of the existing ground floor as well as for the creation of new space to create a sequence of family rooms: a kitchen, dining, and living areas, as well as a large study.
Threefold Architects responded with a design that transforms and extends the previously cellular and dark ground floor into a series of connected, spacious, and light filled spaces. The kitchen is characterised by elegant tilted ceiling lights, allowing light to reflect off the white surfaces.
