The Business Nov / Dec
News and pictures from the design sector
V&A Museum of Childhood renamed Young V&A
Young V&A is the new name announced for the Museum of Childhood. It comes as construction begins on the £13m redevelopment of the iconic Grade-II* listed site in Bethnal Green, marking a critical milestone in the most ambitious transformation of the museum in its history.
The museum’s new name reflects its new mission: to inspire young people with the creative ingenuity of design, empower educators and act as a leader in child-centred museum practice.
Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, commented: ‘A world-class museum that nurtures curiosity, experimentation and celebrates play, Young V&A will be a global champion for children’s creativity in all its forms. This vital investment – working to counter the ongoing effects of Covid-19 on young people’s access to creative education, collaborative play and artistic inspiration – is more urgent than ever. I am delighted we are one step closer to reopening the museum’s doors in 2023.’
Renders issued illustrate the latest designs by AOC Architecture for a new visitor experience. The plans include three new galleries – Play, Imagine and Design – as well as interactive collection displays drawing on the full scope of the V&A collections, a suite of dedicated workshops for learning, an in-gallery design studio for visitors, and a redesigned visitor experience including a new cafe and shop.
Architecture practice De Matos Ryan was appointed to develop the full base build design in early 2018, including structural changes, heritage restoration, lighting and acoustic upgrades and delivery of a new suite of new workshop spaces.
Construction is now under way: the handover of the site to Quinn London contractors took place in August, and AOC Architecture – the design team responsible for the fit-out – completed final detailed drawings for the construction tender in September.
www.vam.ac.uk/info/young
Deinstallation of landmark artwork begins
October saw the last day of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, Paris, 1961-2021.
The temporary work of art saw the landmark monument wrapped in 25,000m2 of recyclable silvery blue polypropylene fabric and 3,000m of recyclable red polypropylene rope, which will be reused, upcycled and recycled after its deinstallation.
Deinstallation of landmark artwork begins. Image Credit: BENJAMIN LOYSEAU 2021 CHRISTO AND JEANNE-CLAUDE FOUNDATION
The plastic fabric and rope will be upcycled by Parley for the Oceans, an environmental organisation fighting marine plastic pollution, while 40% of the borrowed steel from ArcelorMittal will be returned to the company for further use.
Following the completion of the L’Arc de Triomphe installation, Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s team will return focus on a permanent work: The Mastaba, which was started in 1977, for a site in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to be the largest permenant work of art in the world.
Deinstallation of L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, Paris, 1961-2021 is scheduled to be completed by 10 November.
www.christojeanneclaude.net
Interface wins a gold medal at Chelsea Flower Show for contribution to biophilic classroom design
Interface has been awarded a gold medal from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for its contribution to the Biophilic Classroom Study in partnership with Putney High School.
The company’s Human Connections flooring solution was on display in a replica of the pioneering classroom at the show in September. The ‘FLOURISH at Putney High School’ stand showcases the biophilic classroom created using design principles that promote students’ connectivity to nature. The Biophilic Classroom Study is part of the Putney High School’s ‘Breathe’ campaign, which examines its environmental impact on the local community and the planet.
www.interface.com
Dulux Colour of the Year revealed
Dulux Trade has revealed its ColourFutures 2022 trend palettes, including Dulux Trade Colour of the Year Bright Skies. Now in its 19th year, the four ColourFutures 2022 palettes have been selected using insights from a range of market-leading experts from across the globe, to support design professionals when it comes to colour and design projects for their clients across all sectors. The Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2022 specifier is available to download on its website. www.duluxtrade.co.uk/CF22
Willmott Dixon lands latest Rochdale regeneration scheme
Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Rochdale Borough Council for another large regeneration project, which will see the company deliver 242 apartments and a Hampton by Hilton hotel in the town centre.
As of mid-October, work on the £60m scheme, known as Upperbanks, was due to start ‘imminently’, though the main construction phase is expected to commence next spring. It is set to be completed in 2024.
Willmott Dixon aims to ensure that 40% of its local spend is used within a 20 mile radius of the site, and 75% is used within 40 miles of the development.
Upperbanks has already generated more than £20m of external funding, attracting over £17m from the government’s Future High Streets Fund and more than £3m from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Brownfield Development Fund.
www.willmottdixon.co.uk
Page\Park complete new gallery building for the Great Tapestry of Scotland
Architecture practice Page\Park has completed the Great Tapestry of Scotland Gallery. Located in Galashiels, at the heart of the Scottish Borders, the building was designed to house the Great Tapestry of Scotland, a unique visual history of the nation crafted by the hands of 1000 stitchers.
The architectural vision was to create a distinctive building rooted in its physical and historical context, with a special room for the tapestry at its heart. The dramatic geometric roof design is inspired by the unique roofscape of towers, dormers, gables and pitched roofs that defines the architectural character of Galashiels. The new gallery inserts into this roofscape as a contemporary and playful reimagining of the traditional Victorian pitched roof.
Page\Park complete new gallery building for the Great Tapestry of Scotland. Image Credit: KEITH HUNTER PHOTOGRAPHY
The ground floor houses a temporary gallery space, reception, shop, cafe and education space. The palette of colour and texture reflects the nuance and detail of the tapestry, as well as the rich landscape of the Borders. Warm colours such as yellow, green, grey and gold are used throughout, from fitted furniture to the exhibition display cases to the signage. Bespoke signage provides a clear and minimal graphic to avoid visual clutter. The overarching theme of ‘textile’ is integrated at every level from the herringbone pattern of the floor tiles to the bespoke fabric wall panels in the Tapestry Gallery.
www.pagepark.co.uk
Work commences on site for new QPR training ground
Construction of a new training facility for Queens Park Rangers is now under way. The design, by architects Studio Zoppini, was approved by the London Borough of Hounslow following endorsement from the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State.
Work commences on site for new QPR training ground
The training ground unifies all components of the football club: the first team, U23s and academy players are brought together under one facility.
The 23 acre site sits within a green belt. The design had to be sensitive to its location while providing an aspirational environment for club representatives as well as being a positive addition to the local community.
www.studiozoppini.it
Nicola Anthony to create Live Sculpture Commission at Expo 2020 Dubai
The Royal Society of Sculptors and the Department for International Trade has selected Nicola Anthony as the UK artist for the Live Sculpture Commission for the UK’s cultural programme at Expo 2020 Dubai, taking place from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
Under the commissioning theme ‘See Things Differently’, Anthony will create a new work inside UK Pavilion over ten days in November, offering visitors a front row seat to the creative process.
Nicola Anthony to create Live Sculpture Commission at Expo 2020 Dubai. Image Credit: THE FLOW OF TIME (SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM INSTALLATION FILIPPO POLI VIEW) BY NICOLA ANTHONY
The commission will feature alongside a host of talent from across the UK’s creative industries, as part of ‘In the Future, How Will We Create?’, a five-day innovation-themed event from 9-13 November that will explore how creativity can tackle some of the major challenges of our time.
The programme will include a summit on the future of creativity, as well as panel discussions with keynote speakers and podcasts from across the arts, design and media. They include Es Devlin, artist and designer of the UK Pavilion; Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A; and Martin Green, chief creative officer for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Festival UK 2022.
Nicola Anthony was selected by an industry panel led by Clare Burnett, president of the Royal Society of Sculptors, alongside Dr Paul Thompson, vice chancellor of the Royal College of Art, and Dan Ramsey, director of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign.
www.expo2020dubai.com
Heim Balp complete two urban infill projects in Barcelona
Berlin-based studio Heim Balp Architekten has completed the Carrer de la Diputació (left) and Carrer de Nàpols (right) residential developments in Barcelona.
Heim Balp complete two urban infill projects in Barcelona. Image Credit: FILIPPO POLI
Conceived as urban infills, the architecture and urban design team have demonstrated sensitivity and engagement with local architectural, cultural and urban contexts.
Heim Balp complete two urban infill projects in Barcelona. Image Credit: FILIPPO POLI
These developments, each with a distinct architectural language, will be followed by the Carrer de Gombau and Carrer de l’Aurora residential projects, which also aim to address Barcelona’s compact urban spaces through context-specific infills. The new developments are expected to be completed in 2022.
www.heimbalp.com
HIMACS reveals new brand identity and logo
HIMACS, the mouldable solid surface material used in architectural and interior applications, has revealed its new company name, brand identity and redesigned logo. Its company LG Hausys has also changed its name to LX Hausys.
Designed to work across digital and physical channels and to express LX Hausys’s brand identity consistently across all company products, the new HIMACS logo helps communicate the corporate image more effectively by adhering to consistent standards in expressing the corporate brand.
www.himacs.eu
Bompas & Parr launches rainbow installation in London’s docklands
Bompas & Parr has created a sensory installtion in east London. Royal Dock Rainbows features a rainbow installation above Royal Victoria Dock and a ‘flavour rainbow’ beneath Silvertown Way, Europe’s first flyover.
The effect is created using bespoke light refracted through the falling moisture, which appears multicoloured. Complimentary tickets can be found on the website.
www.royaldocksrainbows.com
Emporis Skyscraper Award announced
One Barangaroo, Sydney’s tallest tower, has won the Emporis Skyscraper Award, marking the first time an Australian building has been given the prestigious prize.
One Barangaroo is a 271m, 71-storey skyscraper designed by UK architect WilkinsonEyre. It offers spectacular views of Sydney Harbour and the city’s iconic Opera House.
According to the jury of experts, the ‘extravagant design’ of the building’s exterior facade was the deciding factor in awarding it first place.
www.emporis.com
Conran exhibit marks 90th birthday
On 4 October, London’s Design Museum unveiled a display celebrating the life and work of its founder, Sir Terence Conran, on the day that would have been his 90th birthday.
Conran, who died last year, was one of the most influential design-led entrepreneurs of his generation. He founded the Design Museum in 1989.
The exhibition, ‘The Conran Effect’, explores Conran’s many ‘parallel’ careers as a designer, retailer, entrepreneur and restauranteur.
www.designmuseum.org
