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Emily Martin takes a look at what London’s creative hub has in store for this year’s super-sized Clerkenwell Design Week

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Words: Emily Martin

Clerkenwell Design Week

24 - 26 May

Clerkenwell, London
It's destination Clerkenwell this month as May brings sun, culinary delights and design to London's architecture and design hub; the seventh edition of Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) will soon commence. With more than 85 showrooms taking part, it has grown in size, both in exhibitor numbers and ground cover, largely due to the eventual redevelopment of the Farmiloe Building, where the festival was previously centred. Now running from Exmouth Market down to Smithfield, you'll be wise to grab a map and wear comfy walking shoes! Although the number of food and drink opportunities are likely to keep you refreshed, before heading out the door read on to find out what some of the showrooms and exhibitors have in store.

Furniture Showrooms
The new showroom for BD Design will bring the works of Salvador Dali to life with the launch of a new Dali chair. Humanscale has a packed programme of talks and new launches curated by brothers Mustafa and Erhan Afsaroglu from HLW and UMO Architecture at its showroom. Orangebox has created a 'living lab' to demonstrate the company's Smartworking philosophy; visitors can explore the five-floor space dedicated to collaborative workplace for the first time during CDW. Workplace furniture expert naughtone will be showcasing its new collection of 100 per cent UK-made pieces.

Design Fields

Design Fields, located at Spa Fields, is set to become a vibrant new destination for the show as CDW expands its boundaries north to Exmouth Market. As part of this new CDW space OMMX has designed a series of temporary structures that invite visitors to explore innovations, events and presentations. Alongside some of the most exciting homegrown designer-makers, the show itself -- set across two floors -- will present a diverse range of the best in international contemporary design. Exhibitors will include Thonet, Dedon, MAGIS, Offecct and Mater.

Installations
Sam Jacob's installation One Thing After Another is designed to question our limits, while Sto Werkstatt promises to be a must-see, and international design practice Hassell -- along with Scandinavian seating brand HAG -- will create Sensorium for its showroom. The installation draws on the colourful history of 18th-century Clerkenwell and will take visitors on an immersive journey through an urban pleasure garden. Vitra is creating an installation focusing on colour and textiles that features the new colourways of the Polda sofa, by Dutch designer Hella Jongerius.

Detail & Detail Pavilion

The principles of fine craftsmanship and luxury are laid out to explore in Detail. Selected brands will feature throughout the majestic St John's Church and cloister garden. In addition to the church itself, the venue stretches on to the street with the Detail Pavilion, in St John's Square, with a focus on luxury surfaces. Explore uplifting fabrics from Harlequin & Scion; Sebastian Blakely's Italian-inspired, industrial-edged furniture pieces, the latest international collaboration between family-run firm Poliform and Marcel Wanders.

Platform

Platform returns to the House of Detention, with more than 40 exhibitors in the atmospheric venue for emerging and cutting-edge design. Artist and sign painter Archie Proudfoot will exhibit A Gilded Cage -- a new body of work to adorn the venue's cell walls and combining gold, glass and steel. Baker Street Boys will showcase its furniture collection Pick n Mix, and south-London designer Lorna Snyson's compelling textile designs as part of En Masse's We Are The Women Collective; a new collaboration between designer Sarah Evans and artist, agent and gallery owner Laura Lea Design. Additionally, Solid Soul Design brings its new sculptural products, that bridge the gap between street art and functionality, to the venue, while par avion will unveil its full 'pi' collection of furniture and homeware made of English sourced materials such as bog oak, willow skein and Norfolk flint.

Project

One of the new shows within the Garden of St James, Project will host some 20 leading manufacturers presenting furniture, lighting and contemporary product design. Among others showcasing will be Dutch brand Palau, presenting new designs including the armchair Rama by Arik Levy, and German lighting expert Luctra, which will launch its new office-lighting collections. Yorkshire's Knightsbridge Furniture will be launching new seating collections from designers David Fox and John Coleman.