British architect John Pawson's name has been synonymous with quiet, chic minimalism ever since his celebrated career kicked off in the early 1980s.
Marking a busy and successful year for the architect - his new Design Museum space commission at the former Commonwealth Institute building was only announced a few months ago - the Design Museum exhibition, 'John Pawson - Plain Space' opens today and promises to offer the visitor the full Pawson experience. Not only has the museum's third floor exhibition space been transformed into a calm room of minimal white boards and simple wood pedestals, but a life-size model of a site-specific installation has been constructed at the show's heart, allowing design-lovers to fully immerse themselves in Pawson's gracefully reductivist world.
From his landmark works, like Our Lady of Novy Dvur and the Baron House, to his numerous ongoing projects, such as the house and chapel for the Casa delle Bottere complex in Veneto, Italy (presented in Wallpaper*139)), as well as a thumbnail-style full project list, everything is included in this detailed display.
Long-term Pawson collaborator, Danish wood company Dinesen, has added its elegant touch to the show's final result; all the wood used in it has been sourced from the company's rich product selection. Dinesen first collaborated with Pawson almost 20 years ago on his own house - their shared passion for perfection and beauty meant that the architect was the first to use Dinesen to create furniture and special architectural fittings, and he has since worked with them on many commissions, carefully selecting his raw wood materials with them.
For those who won't be able to make it to the Design Museum in London (the show ends on 30 January 2011), a well-informed publication by Phaidon - written by Alison Morris - is out now, presenting Pawson's 'Plain Space' architecture.
Interior model of the chapel, Casa delle Bottere
The exhibition's site-specific life-size installation was constructed with Dinesen wood
The site-specific reconstruction offers a space for reflection within the exhibition's heart
A model study for the house at Casa delle Bottere
A study of surfaces for the Casa delle Bottere's exterior
The Casa delle Bottere house model, shown here in its context
House model of the Casa delle Bottere, revealing its spartan and beautiful interior
At the opening of the exhibition, the life-size installation attracted a crowd.
One wall of the installation at the exhibition is semi-transparent, allowing visitors to be seen through the show's entrance
Visitors enter the installation through a door at the back of the show.
Plain Space is published by Phaidon and written by Alison Morris
The exhibition offers a detailed documentation of Pawson's work since the 1980s
Large photographic prints present Pawson's recent work
On the table: some of Pawson's work through the ages.
The exhibition allows a glimpse into Pawson's work, ranging from project models and design products to photographs and sketches.s
A photographic index of Pawson's work is complemented by models of ongoing work.
A moment of quiet: a visitor to the show's installation - which is made fully from Dinesen wood - enjoys the serenity of the environment.
John Pawson and CEO Thomas Dinesen pick the right wood at The Black Forest
ADDRESS
Design Museum
28 Shad Thames
London SE1 2YD
-
London's coolest design-led coffee shops for your Fashion Week fixCoffee shops are the heart of London’s neighbourhoods, discover those fusing speciality beans and stylish interiors for the perfect brew
-
Martine Rose’s first gallery show celebrates the radical queer energy of Bronski BeatTaking place at Sadie Coles over London Fashion Week, ‘Everything Must Change’ centres on a 2016 short film by menswear designer Martine Rose and image-maker Sharna Osborne starring Bronski Beat frontman Jimmy Somerville
-
Out of office: what the Wallpaper* editors have been doing this weekA taste of the dolce vita in London, some permanent artwork and a new eyeshadow palette – it's our editors' picks of the week
-
A Danish twist, compact architecture, and engineering magic: the Don’t Move, Improve 2025 winners are hereDon’t Move, Improve 2025 announces its winners, revealing the residential projects that are rethinking London living
-
This Hampstead house renovation in London transcends styles and periodsThe renovation of a Hampstead house in London by Belgian architect Hans Verstuyft bridges the classic and the contemporary
-
London’s Sloane Street has been transformed into a ‘green boulevard’Iconic shopping destination Sloane Street has had a facelift, now boasting wider pavements, enhanced seating and lighting, and a massive planting scheme
-
New book takes you inside Frinton Park Estate: the Essex modernist housing scheme‘Frinton Park Estate’, a new book by photographer James Weston, delves into the history of a modernist housing scheme in Essex, England
-
Conran Building's refresh brings a beloved London landmark into the 21st centuryConran Building at 22 Shad Thames has been given a new lease of life by Squire & Partners, which has rethought the London classic, originally designed by Hopkins, for the 21st century
-
Inside Powerhouse: The redevelopment of Lots Road Power Station, which once fuelled the London UndergroundThe twin-turreted building has followed in the footsteps of Battersea Power Station, being transformed into luxury homes and retail units
-
Sadler’s Wells East opens: ‘grand, unassuming and beautifully utilitarian’Sadler’s Wells East by O’Donnell and Tuomey opens this week, showing off its angular brick forms in London
-
2025 Serpentine Pavilion: this year's architect, Marina Tabassum, explains her designThe 2025 Serpentine Pavilion design by Marina Tabassum is unveiled; the Bangladeshi architect talks to us about the commission, vision, and the notion of time
