There are so many memories over a quarter of a century – from the young talent we as a team have nurtured between the pages, to some of the most extraordinary creative minds in the world. But my personal favourite moments have been those where serendipity has had its play. The most memorable was the tenth-anniversary shoot (W*92) across a few double-page spreads, where the idea was to ask fashion designers whom they most admired in architecture, and then to have the pairs photographed together by an art photographer, bringing together as many disciplines as possible that the magazine addresses.
My first call was to ask Karl Lagerfeld, and he came back saying his answer would be Zaha Hadid; he knew her show was opening at the Guggenheim that week. I wanted to know if he was in New York, and he was, staying at the Mercer hotel. I then found out that Zaha (whom I knew well) was also in New York for her show, also staying at the Mercer. They were both there together, literally in the same building at the same time. So within an hour we found Roe Ethridge at the Gagosian, and he hot-footed it to the Mercer to photograph the pair.
When Karl Lagerfeld met Zaha Hadid
They had never met before: that first photograph for the tenth-anniversary edition marks literally the first moment Karl met Zaha; they became firm friends and subsequently worked together. It was raining that day and the doormen put up umbrellas as the pair walked out – we had no time for lighting inside, so it had to be a daylight shot. I will never forget that moment nor the photograph and the story behind it – a bit of history in the making.
In the same story, Alexander McQueen elected Norman Foster as his most admired architect – Tom Ford, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith all followed. I guess what I am trying to say is that Wallpaper* marks quite some history, and has taken its responsibility within the industries very seriously, but it has been a lot of fun too being a cog in the wheel.
INFORMATION
A version of this article appears in the October 2021, 25th Anniversary Issue of Wallpaper* (W*270), on newsstands now and available to subscribers – 12 digital issues for $12/£12/€12.
-
A friendly rivalry coloured by kinship: Wendy Maruyama and Tom Loeser on their two-artist show'I wanted to make furniture, just not traditional furniture, but weird furniture,' says Wendy Maruyama on ‘Colorama’, a two-artist show presented at design gallery Superhouse (until 11 January 2025)
-
Tranquil and secluded, Lemaire’s new Tokyo flagship exudes a sense of homeIn Tokyo’s Ebisu neighbourhood, Lemaire’s tranquil new store sees the French brand take over a former 1960s home. Co-artistic directors Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran tell Wallpaper* more
-
‘I wanted to create a sanctuary’ – discover a nature-conscious take on Balinese architectureUmah Tsuki by Colvin Haven is an idyllic Balinese family home rooted in the island's crafts culture
-
25 years of Wallpaper* magazine marked by team members past and presentWallpaper* friends and family on 25 years of special memories, from having tea in a Richard Neutra house to shooting behind the scenes in the Vatican. These recollections feature in the ‘25 Years of Wallpaper*’ series, published in our October 2021, 25th anniversary issue
-
Artist and designer Faye Toogood on how Wallpaper* shaped the way we liveArtist and designer Faye Toogood, a Wallpaper* contributor since 2007, on our forward-thinking magazine. Toogood’s recollections feature in the ‘25 Years of Wallpaper*’ series, published in our October 2021, 25th anniversary issue
-
Albert Hill: how Wallpaper* inspired The Modern HouseAlbert Hill, who joined Wallpaper* as associate design editor in 2001 and remained a contributing editor until 2019, on how one particular commission inspired him to found alternative estate agency The Modern House. Hill’s recollections feature in the ‘25 Years of Wallpaper*’ series, published in our October 2021, 25th anniversary issue
-
When Joseph Kabila summoned Wallpaper* to his Presidential PalaceRichard Cook, Wallpaper’s editorial director from 1999 – 2016, remembers his encounter with an unlikely fan of our magazine, Joseph Kabila. Cook’s recollections feature in the ‘25 Years of Wallpaper*’ series, published in our October 2021, 25th anniversary issue
-
Tony Chambers, former editor-in-chief, on Wallpaper’s greatest journeysAdventures in Brazil, Russia, India and China – Tony Chambers, Wallpaper’s former creative director-turned-editor-in-chief (2003 – 2018), reflects on epic journeys during his tenure. His recollections feature in the ‘25 Years of Wallpaper*’ series, published in our October 2021, 25th anniversary issue
-
Culture shock: Jeremy Langmead on his days as Wallpaper* editor-in-chiefJeremy Langmead, former Wallpaper* editor-in-chief (2003 – 2007), remembers the spotless office and flawless staff who introduced him to the wonderful world of design and architecture. Langmead’s recollections feature in the ‘25 Years of Wallpaper*’ series, published in our October 2021, 25th anniversary issue
-
Wallpaper* founder Tyler Brûlé on the magazine’s ‘occasionally naughty’ startTyler Brûlé, Wallpaper* founder and editorial director from 1996 – 2002, on the auspicious start of our ‘curious, global, slightly decadent and occasionally naughty’ magazine. Brûlé's recollections feature in the ‘25 Years of Wallpaper*’ series, published in our October 2021, 25th anniversary issue
-
Design studio Takt Project’s ‘bird’s-eye view of the world’Takt Project founder Satoshi Yoshiizumi was chosen by Nendo as one of 25 creative leaders of the future for Wallpaper’s 25th Anniversary Issue ‘5x5’ project. His studio’s work explores design's impact on society through technology and engineering
