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www.thedesignermagazine.com
It’s not just because of next year’s Olympics that the capital is a big topic of international conversation – this month’s London Design Festival will once again be making waves
NOW
in its ninth year, the London Design Festival will be the
largest yet, with more than 250 events celebrating the creativity of the capital. Chairman of the London Design Festival,
Sir John Sorrell said, “This year the key word on everyone’s lips is growth. With a £60bn creative industries sector that employs over 2million people and produces nearly 6 per cent of GDP, the Government has identified our creative industries’ sector as crucial to growth. “We all know design is the engine that
drives the creative industries, so this year the London Design Festival will promote design not only as absolutely central to society and to culture – but also to the economy, to growth and the future.” The London Design Festival has
commissioned landmark design installations all by renowned British architects and designers across the city, at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and, for the first time, St Paul’s Cathedral. Festival Director, Ben Evans, said: “This year’s Festival will demonstrate the power and versatility of design across London; offering a series of quality projects that fulfil London’s design credentials.” Here are some of the key locations to
visit if you are planning on attending during the week.
THE V&A For the third consecutive year, the London Design Festival will run a broad ranging programme of activity in residence at the V&A Museum. There will be 12 specially commissioned installations throughout the Museum, complemented by a host of events, workshops and talks. A standout installation of the
programme will be the transformation of the Museum’s Grand Entrance by award-winning architects Amanda Levete Architects working in collaboration with structural engineers at Arup. A majestic three-dimensional latticework spiral made from American red oak will span the height of the Museum doors. Opening up long views along Cromwell Road, the installation takes the V&A out onto the street. Inside the V&A, France’s most
accomplished design duo, the Bouroullec Brothers, will create Textile Field - an expansive, coloured foam and textile installation with gentle inclinations that
Above: Bespoke enamelled signs by Transport for London will be launched at the Festival and on show at both the V&A and Tent London
Right: Textile Field by the Bouroullec Brothers will be at the V&A
produce a sensual environment on which visitors can comfortably lounge and immerse themselves in the stunning Raphael Gallery. The 30-metre long installation is
supported by materials manufacturer Kvadrat.
ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece was declared complete by Parliament exactly 300 years ago. As part of this year’s Festival, architect John Pawson has designed an installation responding to Wren’s desire that each of his buildings should include a scientific element. Working with Swarovski Crystal Palace,
he is creating a metal and crystal hemisphere at the base of the Geometric Staircase in the South West Tower. With a reflective curved mirror at the top of the tower, visitors looking down into the hemisphere will see a view as if from the top of the tower but
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