We take a look at some of our favourites from this year’s Clerkenwell Design Week.
There’s certain things we’ve come to expect from Clerkenwell Design Week. In a nutshell, big ideas; bright talent and bold innovation and with the festival now in its 7th year; it certainly didn’t disappoint us. On arriving into Clerkenwell, we saw people zipping around in tiny Renault Twizys and throngs of cyclists passing on the VELLO tours. We were blown away by the Museum of Making, where a strong-armed moustached carpenter was setting to work on hewing the wood for the leg of an armchair. We had a ball at the late night parties and the early morning seminars – more refreshing than a triple espresso. Without further ado; here are just a few of our furniture highlights from CDW 2016.
Bene – Settle
We were rather taken aback by Bene’s new Settle range. This modular seating system is at once sprightly and refined with bright, soft blocks of colour inviting you to sit. The units float on an unassuming sled base, which mimics the light contours of the seat. With addable powerboxes, slim back acoustic panelling and table ledges, it’s incredibly simple to transform the solution from a comfortable waiting area into a meeting hub or collaborative zone to share and explore ideas.
Interstuhl – Upis1
We’ve all heard the reports on how sitting is the new smoking. Interstuhl’s answer to this is UPis1; a fun perching stool which looks like an e-cigarette from the future. Offering a healthy alternative to the ‘long-term sit’, the stool keeps the body in motion by constantly moving its centre of gravity, giving you a mini workout as you sit or perch – perfect for those quick, informal meetings. The simple, streamlined aesthetic in a rainbow of colours imparts UPis1 with a playful edge and there’s height-adjustability at the pull of a strap. It’s great to have some fun added into ergonomics!
ByBailey – Credentials
In the stylish Mad Men-esque showroom of ByBailey, we came across the kind of sleek, sophisticated private office we could all aspire to call our own. The Credentials series is an range of cabinets and casegoods that have been carefully considered from an architectural perspective, creating a clean, monolithic presence with minimal distractions from gaps or reveals. There’s a real sense of skilled craftsmanship in hewing the same lumber to retain consistency in the panelling’s grain and the attention to detail in the soft close drawers and rolling cabinets inspires a high quality luxury.
Boss Design – Myriad
For those offices where variety is the spice of work; Boss Design’s new Myriad collection is pretty exciting. This assortment of upholstered modular furniture puts you in the interior design seat, allowing you to choose how the individual pieces (huddles, islands and chains) link together. With power, privacy screens and tables; you can reconfigure the system from a private huddle space to a great meeting island in a matter of moments: perfect for those high churn environments, and spaces where you can let your imagination run wild.
Icons of Denmark – Swoon Chair
There’s something quite majestic about Icons of Denmark’s Swoon Chair. Characterised by soft, sensual lines (reflecting that the chair largely is drawn by hand); the shell is moulded in one piece, thus making armrests, back and seat merge into a sculptural entity. The shell has a firm upholstery, which is balanced by the soft cushions of the seat and back. We like how your choice of upholstery completely changes the dynamic of the chair; from deep, tactile leathers to soft and light wools; working equally well in hospitality and reception environments – offering every sitter the lap of luxury.
