March/April 2025 REPORTER


011 Reporter The 14th edition of Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) returns this spring with this year’s event introducing three new exhibition venues


012 The Business The latest news from the design sector


016 Top Ten The best new products to come to market


019 Diary The pick of the events coming up over the next few months


020 One to Watch Meet Charlotte Gaisford, a British fabric and wallpaper designer and MD of the eponymously named company


022 Profile Ben Webb, the co-founder and MD of hospitality and branding agency 3Stories, discusses the philosophy behind the business and its plans for 2025


PROJECTS


026 Studio Moren / Hyde London City, London This lifestyle hotel and restaurant destination ‘embraced the design challenge of incorporating the building’s rich history and architectural nuances’


032 Gensler / Virgin Media O2 HQ, London The purpose-built headquarters was designed with connectivity, inclusivity and sustainability at its core


036 Thirdway Interiors / Fenwick, London Blending modern elements with the store’s storied past has created varied ofice environments that cater to diverse working styles and neurodiversity needs


FEATURES


040 Radical Thinking Saffron Brand Consultants’ Matt Atchison names the people that have inspired his career…


044 Brief Encounters When planning a cultural, the scale of facilities makes a huge difference to viability. But the atmosphere and welcome are what wins hearts and minds. Veronica Simpson beams to Hertford’s new multi-purpose venue


046 Brief Encounters How do we encourage people to engage with the problem of climate change? By focusing on everyday issues and using artistry and ingenuity to pose important questions. And by making the experience free and fun, as we discover in a new Science Gallery show


050 Client File Philip Tait, director of development for Canada Water, British Land, provides an insight into the vision for the location


068 Dificult Sites A RIBA exhibition that runs until 31 May 2025 showcases the skill, perseverance and creativity of architects in overcoming awkward and demanding conditions. David Trigg reports


This image


The London School of Economics’ Saw Swee Hock Student Centre – see Difficult Sites


CONTENTS


080 Rural Culture Regeneration Rising big city rents and house prices plus the normalisation of online meetings and remote working are drawing many creatives to the countryside for a better quality of life. But investments in culture and tourism are boosting the attraction as well as generating a more vibrant creative ecosystem. Veronica Simpson reports


094 Benin With its participation at the Venice Biennale, a new National Assembly under construction, and a quartet of new museums in architectural planning, the West African nation of Benin is an emerging name on the cultural and design scene. Stephen Hitchins reports


FOCUS


053 Lighting An opinion, a project and products are brought to you by Jill Entwistle this issue


TECH SPEC


103 Light + Tech Jill Entwistle reports on bioluminescent light sources and immersive artistic experiences


BACK PAGE


122 If Only… we could bottle fleeting moments and revisit them at any time, reliving emotions and sensations


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125