Swarovski Crystal Palace 2010

Swarovski has pulled out all stops for this month's Crystal Palace, calling in five design world heavyweights to create a series of one-off installations for Milan's Salone del Mobile.

Drawing on Swarovski crystal for inspiration, Tokujin Yoshioka, Gwenaël Nicolas, Yves Béhar, Rogier van der Heide and Vincent van Duysen have each been commissioned to come up with a crystalline reinterpretation of the traditional chandelier, as Nadja Swarovski says: 'Our designer collaborations not only push the boundaries of the designers' own work but also of the use of Swarovski crystal in an artistic, decorative and functional way.'

Curated by the Wapping Project's very own Jules Wright - whose background in theatre has no doubt informed her Crystal Palace concept -- the show features a series of rooms, in which visitors will find each designer's work ensconced within various palatial backdrops.

Each of the rooms have been inspired by palaces from around the globe, including Versailles and its hall of mirrors, the Winter Palace in St Petersburg and Tokyo's Imperial palace. The final room of the exhibition will feature a special exhibition, in celebration of some of the most innovative Crystal Palace concepts from the past eight years.

To learn more about the designers, curator and this month's Crystal Palace commissions see the links below.

Tokujin Yoshioka

Rogier van der Heide

Gwenaël Nicolas

Vincent van Duysen

Yves Béhar

Jules Wright