Clerkenwell Design Week 23-25 May 2022, London
Having made its debut back in 2009, Clerkenwell Design Week has become a main stay of the design calendar and one we all sorely missed over the past couple of years. So, it was no surprise that Interior designers, architects and creatives from far and wide flocked to trendy East London when it returned last month. We obviously didn’t want to miss out and took a trip to London to join in the creative fun.
Integral to the festival are the local resident design showrooms, providing the festival with a stimulating programme of topic-led events including talks, workshops and product launches.
The resident showrooms included Teknion, who is blurring the lines between what we expect to see in offices and what is now being seen (more of that to come in our next blog). Also, Fritz Hansen the Danish brand which was marking 150 years with an anniversary collection paying tribute to the greats of Danish design.
Billi – the water system specialist – was on hand not only in its own showroom where there was a full display of all its boiling, chilled and sparkling water systems, but throughout the show to rehydrate, tempt attendees with a treasure hunt and offer advice on its products. We think they won most “the most fun had by a brand” at the show with its treasure hunt!
Firm favourite, RAK Ceramics was showing off its wares in a new purpose-built showroom – a global Design Hub – that allowed visitors to explore limitless design possibilities for their projects and showcases a wide range of RAKs ranges. This new showroom is now open to all and Abdallah Massaad, Group CEO, RAK Ceramics told us; “London is the obvious choice to launch our first global Design Hub concept…the RAK Ceramics Design Hub is a unique concept where the design community can experience the innovative possibilities of our products.”
Lighting was well represented, and we were pleased to have spotted Fritz Fryer who had on show a fabulous offering of its glass bespoke lighting in both modern and retro designs. Originally opened in 1982, Fritz Fryer is known for its antique light restoration in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire. More recently it has been growing a following for its new designs which we can see looking stunning in many residential settings. It had an amazing cluster display that would be perfect for a commercial space. We especially liked its window display and bright yellow frontage.
Leading Spanish company, Kettal was new to CDW 2022 and showing its range of outdoor furniture and workspace products. Showcasing its Pavilion O range which offers a bespoke solution to workplace design it was interesting to see how outdoor furniture is now much more of a style statement both in residential and commercial settings. We also loved Giro – a collection which blends interiors and exteriors and, in a word, is stunning.
Exhibitions
Along with the show rooms, there were several separate exhibitions being hosted in some of the unique and historic spaces in and around Clerkenwell. These included a former prison, a church and club!
Our personal favourites were found in the Light + Rising Stars exhibition housed in Clerkenwell’s subterranean House of Detention – previously a prison. Here we found some amazing emerging talent such as Anna Hayman Designs, The Monkey Puzzle Tree, Tatie Lou, Kinkatou Studio London, Pour and Chris Murphy Design.
We particularly liked Pour which produced the most stunning collection of lighting using a slip casting method – a process that is thousands of years old. These handmade fine bone china lamps were just exquisite.
We spotted the award-winning artist designed fabrics and wallpapers on offer from The Monkey Puzzle tree whilst in this exhibition and having met at The Surface Design Show (link to that blog?) went along to say hello. The designs always raise a smile whenever we see them and the “naughty nets” were proving to be a big hit from what we were told.
The British Collection highlighted local brands in the atmospheric Crypt of St James’s Church and housed the likes of Forest to Home, Benchmark, John Eadon, Roger Lewis, Dare Studio, Another Country and OMK 1965.
We were particularly taken with the stunning dining table that Forest to Home were displaying. A mastery in design aesthetic it was one we had spotted online and found it was even more striking in real life. From a workshop in Wiltshire, the company handcraft beautiful, sustainable solid timber furniture that lasts a lifetime. Great to see strong design coming from the UK.
Benchmark, the powerhouse of craft and one of the UK’s leading furniture makers had an interesting collection on offer. We were impressed by its keeness to display its ‘Environmental Product Declarations and Declare Labelling’ which sets out to provide clear and unambiguous information about what is in its furniture and the impact it has on our environment and our health.
We also couldn’t resist a visit to Pop, the former cold store, turned nightclub which had a unique atmosphere and meant we could boast that we’d been to a trendy nightclub whilst in London! We must admit we didn’t get there until late in the day and so missed many of the immersive experiences.
Another company we spotted during our visit was Agilita. With an emphasis on simple, minimalist, Scandinavian-inspired designs, Agilita provides design-led furniture to support new ways of working. We had an interesting chat about the ‘new office space’ – more of which we will talk about in our next blog. We found its Chill piece particularly interesting – a backed bench set with a table that has been designed to open up previously dead space to offer somewhere individuals can touchdown and work or to facilitate an impromptu meeting. Looked great, was comfy to sit in and would fit in a small area.
Hot topic
Whilst sustainability is not new news, it’s still very much big news and was being talked about throughout the week. Arper, an Italian company that creates tables, chairs and furnishings for community, work and home presented Mixu – a sustainable and versatile collection of chairs and stool that can be customised to suit all workplace, hospitality and residential environments. It uses FSC-certified wood, post-industrial recycled plastic and VOC-free powder-coated metal.
Then there was the new kid on the block, Habbio. With 90% of furniture in the UK currently ending up in landfill, and the fact that sofas can contain up to 20% harmful VOCs it was interesting to hear how this company is offering a sustainable option. All its products are made from 100% recycled or sustainable sourced materials and just as importantly, are 100% recyclable at the end of their life. Yes they look good and are comfortable too!
Here’s to next year!
With the 100+ resident showrooms flinging their doors wide and over 300 brands showcasing their products Clerkenwell Design Week really was a creatives dream. Lighting, taps, flooring, upcycled furniture, bathroom suites, office desks, wallcoverings, clocks, outdoor tables, handmade benches. There wasn’t an item inside or outside the home or business that wasn’t represented. Other highlights of the show that we missed due to time constraints were the many “conversations at Clerkenwell” which we will allow more time for next year.
We felt completely inspired and uplifted by what we did see and can’t wait for next years show.