Now in its fifth edition, Clerkenwell Design Week has once again gathered its roster of international brands, local artisans and young designers to the London district. With a programme featuring events, talks, installations and new launches, the three-day festival takes over a clutch of local landmarks as its main hubs, creating a lively contrast between historic architecture and contemporary design.
Acting as a central focus for the area is 'Tile Mile', a collaborative project presented by Turkish Ceramics with design practice Russ + Henshaw. The designers have interpreted the classic Turkish patterns with a site-specific installation that takes over the 16th century St John's Gate in the heart of the district.
As with past editions, the fair's venues are dotted around the neighbourhood, with four centres holding distinct exhibitions. For the fifth year, the Victorian Farmiloe Building forms the striking backdrop to Design Factory, where a cascading lighting installation by Jaguar and Foscarini welcomes visitors to a showcase of international furniture brands, including Stellar Works, Discipline, Zeitraum and Artemide.
Further up the road is Detail at The Order of St John, which presents decorative design solutions and a display of highlights from the collaboration between Edra and the Campana Brothers in the underground crypt. Meanwhile, Platform returns to the cavernous House of Detention, displaying young craft, while the newest introduction to the hubs is Additions, a smaller show dedicated to lifestyle objects and held at the Crypt on the Green, adjacent to St James's Church.
Alongside the temporary exhibition spaces, the area's resident brands further animate the week by opening their showrooms to display new projects as well as their existing collections. One of the most striking is Vitra's exhibition, titled 'Tailor my Tom Vac', a showcase dedicated to Ron Arad's iconic chair design. Twenty-two architects and designers have been asked to re-interpret the piece with interventions that range from discreet paintjobs to outlandish transformations.
Acting as a central hub for the area is the Tile Mile, a collaborative project of Turkish Ceramics with design practice Russ + Henshaw. The designers have interpreted the classic Turkish patterns with a site-specific installation that takes over the 16th century St John's Gate in the heart of the district.
Ferruccio Laviani's 'Tuareg' LED lights for Foscarini form a striking site-specific installation at the Farmiloe Building, presented in collaboration with Jaguar.
The intricate lighting sculpture hangs dramatically from the Victorian building's ceiling, throwing new light on Jaguar's F-Type Coupé below.
Also at the Farmiloe Building, German furniture company Zeitraum presents the latest addition to its carefully crafted collection, including this essential 'Carla, Carlo' vanity by Florian Schmid.
Stellar Works' display is a recap of its recent Salone del Mobile debuts, with a lively display of indigo-dyed leathers.
On the top floor of the Design Factory, Vibia is presenting new iterations of its 'Meridiano' lighting
Swedish lighting company Örsjö Belysning is showing the Folkform-designed 'Skyline' fixtures, whose shape is inspired by the buildings of Stockholm.
London-based Austrian designer Georg Œhler is debuting his first solo collection, called 'Æsh & Tweed'. The designs, produced by Austrian craftsmen, playfully contrast stark ash wood with textured tweed.
Norwegian outdoor furniture company Vestre, which has been 'enjoying the outdoors since 1947', makes its London debut with a selection of its minimal furniture in the leafy gardens of the Crypt on the Green, adjacent to St James's Church.
At the heart of the Clerkenwell design district, Vitra is staging a 'Secret Garden' installation, creating a green oasis in a corner of its showroom.
At the same time, the Swiss company is displaying a tribute to Ron Arad's iconic 'Tom Vac' chair, handing over the piece to 22 architects and designers ranging from Morag Meyerscough to Alford Hall Monagham Morris, whose re-interpretation of the design is pictured here.
Homages to Ron Arad's design include the aptly-titled 'Tom Void' cast by GMW Architects (left) and [Re]design's wheeled 'Move Over Rover'
Morag Myerscough and Luke Morgan transformed the chair into a playful swing
Swedese is introducing new designs from Gamfratesi, such as the 'Manga' chair, which plays with proportion and contrasts a rigid wooden frame with a flamboyant upholstered back.
Anglepoise handed its iconic Kenneth Grange-designed 'Timeless Type75' lamp over to Paul Smith, who updated it with his signature bright pops of colour.
Christopher Jenner was tasked with creating a collection for British bathroom brand Drummonds. The designer's take on the classic aesthetic of the brand is a refreshing combination of pure lines and exquisite craftsmanship.
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