Clerkenwell Design Week 2012

Lights by Swedese. The Swedish brand made its Clerkenwell Design Week debut this year

(Image credit: TBC)

last updated 29 August 2022

There is no doubt that London’s Clerkenwell Design Week has begun to establish itself on the design circuit despite its relative infancy. Now in its third year, the three-day festival is offering an ever-increasing line-up of established and emerging designers, new venues, installations, talks and parties, ensuring a well-deserved space on our list of calendar must-sees.

As with previous years, the main event hub is the Farmiloe Building, a dramatic disused 19th century repository that was once a lead and glass merchant’s warehouse. Located south of the Clerkenwell design district, the building is this year playing host to a slew of local and international exhibitors, from Muuto and Ligne Roset, to Dare Studio and Another Country.

Across the road, new festival venue Order of St John - a 12th century crypt and priory - provides an ecclesiastical setting for brands such as Benetton's research group Fabrica and Vessel Gallery, who is exhibiting a lighting installation. A short stroll away, returning venue The House of Detention – a subterranean Victorian prison - proves an atmospheric setting for young up-and-coming designers to showcase their wares.

Organisers have also orchestrated a series of installations for this year's festival. Dotted around the area are the likes of designer Ross Lovegrove’s six-metre Solar Tree for Italian lighting brand Artemide and architect Francesco Draisci’s striking red umbrella forest in St James’ Church garden- a testament to the festival’s desire to inspire and highlight the value of art in the everyday.

Design week poster and map — London's annual Clerkenwell Design Week is now in its third year

Wooden chair — 'Another Chair' by Mathias Hahn for Another Country

yellow chair with red frame — Chair by Very Good & Proper, whose mission is to create practical, long-lasting, beautiful and reasonably priced products

Stools stacked — Stacking chairs in the new season's colours by Spanish furniture brand Andreu World

Three legged stools — Back for its third year, Assemblyroom have teamed up with menswear label Albam under the title A x a

Block couch and bright coloured cushions — Sofa by Swedish furniture brand, Mitab

White colour and wood colour chairs — The Spline Chair by Dare Studio

Wired hanging lights — Lights by Australian brand Matilda

Living room with grey couches and yellow walls — Finish brand Muuto's living room setting in the Farmiloe Building

Hanging glass flowers — Ice Flowers by Mylen Elliot for Vessel Gallery

Simple wood chair with red ack bars — Chair by 9 Across, exhibited at The House of Detention

Three hanging Lights by 9 Across — Lights by 9 Across

Hanging lights by Tobyhouse — Lights by Tobyhouse, exhibited at The House of Detention

Desk lamps by studio design — Lamps by newly-established design studio Room 9. Set up by London-based Guy Brown and Donald, the studio makes its debut show at Clerkenwell Design Week

Yellow lounging chair — Lounge Collection by Architecture & Associés for Knoll

'Spring Forest', an installation by Draisci Studios and Fulton Umbrellas, dominates St James' Church Garden

Boxes on the floor — Bolon by Missoni House. The Swedish flooring company have teamed up with the Italian fashion house to create an installation in St John's Square

Ross Lovegrove's 'Solar Tree' installation for Artemide will be housed in St John's Square until September 2012

Lauren Ho is the Travel Director of Wallpaper*, roaming the globe, writing extensively about luxury travel, architecture and design for both the magazine and the website. Lauren serves as the European Academy Chair for the World's 50 Best Hotels.

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