094 DESIGN SEMINAR


THE APPEAL OF PATTERNS is an enduring presence across a vast swathe of the design world. From fabrics to fashion, from residential to the public realm, patterns are everywhere. But while some patterns are designed to grab the attention and make an impression, others are specifi cally intended to off er a subtle backdrop, with a repeating pattern that somehow puts our minds at ease with its uniformity.


So where are we now with pattern? And how does this decorative technique sit within the design process in terms of ideas and production? Tim Gledstone, partner at Squire & Partners, believes technology has opened up its potential: ‘T e digital revolution means that we can generate patterns without having to rely on mass manufacture. We can create an idea or production that is unique to a project and not dependent on an entire rollout. Micro production represents a big change perhaps over the past 10 years or so in terms of printing your own plywood or wallpaper for a specifi c project – it has become accessible throughout a multitude of price ranges and scales.’ He added that, prior to this, such individual design would only have been possible through handcrafted printing block techniques which would have a higher price point and would therefore be considerably more limited in its application. ‘If you can make a project special to your client with more and more “layers” to it that make it considered, sensitive and unique, then the client is very happy with that.’


‘The question of “what is a pattern” for me is that it has to repeat – otherwise it is just a design – but it can repeat at all sorts of diff erent scales. Today, we can probably repeat patterns on a much bigger scale than ever before because it’s possible to scale things up in all kinds of ways.’ Tim Gledstone


Above left Tim Gledstone, partner at Squire & Partners


Above right Julie Gaulter of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and Alex Franklin, director of architecture, Basha-Franklin


Alex Franklin, director of architecture at Basha-Franklin, added: ‘Contextualisation works in lots of diff erent ways and pattern can be great for that. T e building blocks that we are working with might be brick or Portland stone, but pattern can be used eff ectively to add further to this process.


‘It’s interesting that the word “pattern” is often associated with software design and algorithmic problems rather than the kind of design those of us around this table are involved with, but often I think pattern can be thought of as a commodity, something that you’re buying as seen, or alternatively, as Tim


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