The Business in September and October
News and pictures from the design sector
Updated Irys pod adds new anti-virus UV-C light
Clestra Hauserman has introduced an update to the modular workplace concept, the Irys pod, in order to aid the move back to the office following the Covid-19 pandemic.
A UV-C lighting component has been added to the design, originally created by Rainlight in 2016, to rid the enclosed space of harmful pathogens between uses. UV-C is used for sterilisation in hospitals, airplanes and factories, and works by destroying the molecular bonds that connect the DNA of viruses and bacteria.
Bluetooth technology is utilised to operate and integrate conventional LEDs with the UV-C lamps. As UV-C is harmful to humans, the control system ensures that the Irys is clear of a human presence prior to switching on the UV-C lighting. After a 15-20-minute cleansing cycle the pod is immediately ready for safe use.
Yorgo Lykouria, founder and creative director of Rainlight, said: ‘We created Irys as a transformational device in the workplace to facilitate social interaction. As the most important aspect of [the]workplace is the sharing of ideas, we are looking for ways to overcome the current challenges. Our latest iteration gives the user additional assurance they are in a safe space free from harmful bacteria and viruses.’
en.clestra.com | rainlightstudio.com
Carla Sozzani creates new colour range for Fritz Hansen
Danish furniture manufacturer Fritz Hansen has collaborated with editor, design curator and gallerist Carla Sozzani (pictured) to develop the latest colour range for Arne Jacobsen’s iconic seating. Some 16 new colours have been selected for Series 7, Ant, and Grand Prix – three Arne Jacobsen stacking plywood chairs at the heart of the Fritz Hansen business.
An Italian, Sozzani looked to Jacobsen’s possible inspirations when the Dane established his first palette in 1955. She explained: ‘Because both Italy and Denmark are bound by our relationship to the sea, the colours and influences of the objects of the sea – shells and seaweeds, small sea creatures, and the sands along the beaches – offered naturally a spectrum of colour possibilities to explore.
‘From the dark green and blue of shifting waves and sky, to the pinks and ochres of small shells and a fading seashore in twilight, the palette came naturally as I explored the essence of daylight and its partner, night, to capture the essence of our shared colour harmonies.’
‘Respected pillar’ of the industry dies, aged 59
Architect Richard Beastall has passed away following a long fight with cancer, leaving behind his husband, parents and three sisters.
Beastall was born in Matlock, Derbyshire, in 1961 and had an interest in architecture from an early age. Joining tp bennett in 1985, he worked there for 33 years, rising through the ranks to become a principal director. He started a successful interiors division, growing it over the course of two decades with an original vision to blend architecture and interiors to ‘pull spaces together’.
Beastall was a positive force in the firm, ‘a great advocate of being approachable to his younger colleagues’, and believed in ‘strong collaboration between the project team and the client, and the importance of making – and learning from – mistakes’.
He also served on the board of the British Council of Offices (BCO), starting the BCO Banking Peer Review Group and supporting BCO Next Gen.
tp bennett said: ‘His indomitable optimism and boundless positivity made him a loved and respected pillar of our industry.’
Fly Forbo competition winner announced
The Fly Forbo competition was set up to recognise the outstanding use of Forbo’s flooring products. The winning entry for 2019/2020 is Project Rejuvenate, a scheme by Blake Hopkinson Architecture for the Bioscience Filtration Division of Parker Hannifin in Birtley, County Durham.
The site comprises office space, laboratories and a manufacturing block over 3,950m2. While the building has previously seen ‘ad hoc’ adaptations as the company has grown, the new scheme offered a holistic redesign.
The layout was remodelled to increase natural light and connect the flow between different areas of the building. One challenge was the integration of Parker Hannifin’s corporate colours of yellow and orange, while another was the requirement for safety in the business’s laboratory areas and wet rooms. James Hopkinson, partner and interior designer at Blake Hopkinson Architecture, said the team was able to get past both these challenges ‘utilising Forbo’s wide portfolio of durable, sustainable and design orientated floor coverings’. He added: ‘We worked very closely with Forbo’s business area manager, who provided us with extensive advice and guidance on the most suitable floor finishes for each of the areas. The floor coverings have both supported and enhanced our vision to achieve a modern-day workplace environment and the client is extremely happy with the quality, creative design, cleaning and maintenance of the floors.’
Entries for the 2020/21 competition are now open. Visit the following URL to enter:
The Design Museum reveals Emerging Designers for 2020
Image Credit: Felix Speller
The Design Museum has announced the latest cohort of Emerging Designers for 2020, for the 13th edition of its programme supporting new and emerging design talent.
This year brings an all-female selection, comprising (pictured, from left) Abiola Onabule, Cynthia Voza Lusilu, Ioana Man and Enni-Kukka Tuomala. The theme for this year was ‘Care’, and the selected designers will be exploring empathy training (Tuomala), microbial diversity (Man), mental health in Black British Communities (Voza Lusilu), and a collection of clothing inspired by West African women in the UK (Onabule).
The designers will start their residencies virtually, due to Covid-19, but will work towards an on-site installation for March 2021.
