The ‘thoughtful home’ was the theme of the inaugural Nest Supper club, held on an atypically tropical London evening earlier this summer. Set on launching high-powered, but pleasantly so, evening pow wows, the Google-owned pioneer of smart and sharp-looking thermostats, smoke detectors and more, turned to Wallpaper* as the suitable partner. (As they would. After all, who has thunk domestic more deeply than us?)
Given the theme, and the credentials of our co-hosts, we needed the smartest of spaces as a venue. And found it in the Hampstead Heath home of Medhi and Elli Norowzian; the most elegant of glass boxes designed, by architects Stanton Williams, in an almost arcadian situation.
Co-hosted by Wallpaper* editor-in-chief Tony Chambers and Nest founder and CEO (and frankly, Silicon Valley royalty) Tony Fadell, the evening was the first of what we hope will be an on-going series of informal summits in remarkable settings. Among the guests were architects David Adjaye, John Pawson, Kevin Carmody and Stanton Williams’ own Paul Williams, designers Ilse Crawford, Edward Barber, Martino Gamper, Tom Dixon, Ron Arad, Ian Callum and the artist Francis Upritchard.
All gathered, guests mingled in the Norowzian’s well-tended outside spaces while supper was prepared by the Michelin-starred Skye Gyngell, taking a night off duties at her new Somerset House-set restaurant, Spring. (The menu included fresh salad of Fern Verrow leaves, heirloom beetroots and a verjuice and honey dressing, followed by a summery salt-baked wild salmon, served with chard, crushed broad beans, nasturtium and lemon aioli. Heating things up was a chickpea, carrot and chard curry, served with cooling yoghurt with pickled lime. Sweet closure came with a blackcurrant summer pudding with crème fraîche and a lemon verbena tea. And miniature parcels of Gyngell's signature white chocolate, pistachio and rosemary nougat were packed up as midnight treats. Just in case you’re interested). Meanwhile, illustrator Charlotte Trounce recorded events in a painterly - and pleasingly analogue - way.
Having finessed the art of the dinner party Stateside, home product company Nest partnered with Wallpaper* to host the first of what we hope will be an ongoing series of informal summits in remarkable settings
The dinner celebrated the 'thoughtful home' – Nest's revolutionary approach to domestic technology
Hosting the evening were Nest founder and CEO Tony Fadell, left, and Wallpaper* Editor-in-Chief Tony Chambers, right
Ahead of dinner, guests mingled in the Norowzian’s well-tended outside spaces
The homeowner herself, Elli Norowzian
Industrial designer Tom Dixon was among the celebrated guests...
... as was architect Kevin Carmody
Architect John Pawson (left) surveys the scene as Edward Barber (centre) makes merry
Wallpaper* Editor-in-Chief Tony Chambers
Architect Paul Williams – the man behind our dinner setting – was also in attendance
Supper was prepared by the Michelin-starred Skye Gyngell, taking a night off duties at her new Somerset House-based restaurant, Spring
The stylish table setting, with thanks to Skultuna at Skandium...
... and Emeco’s '111 Navy' chairs
Console table by Ceccotti at Mayfair Design Studio, displaying the Handmade 2015 issue of Wallpaper*
Nest's intelligent thermostats and smoke detectors have taken everyday, basic objects and elevated them to intuitive, beautifully functional items
Illustrator Charlotte Trounce recorded events in a painterly – and refreshingly analogue – way...
Captured in her caricature signature were mini portraits of guests – chef Skye Gyngell pictured left – as well as the sensational setting, right
Nest chief marketing officer Doug Sweeny, left, and Ilse Crawford, right
Jaguar director of design Ian Callum, left, and a new vantage point on the table setting, right
Martino Gamper is pictured with a few of his reconfigured chairs, left, and Tom Dixon, right
Hampstead Heath home owner Elli Norowzian, left, and Ron Arad and a selection of his iconic designs, right
Miniature midnight treats of Gyngell's signature white chocolate, pistachio and rosemary nougat proved to be a perfect, sweet ending to the evening
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