Design Debate

I love the Victorian architecture in the UK, it's so versatile. The beautiful bones can house pretty much any style. Here London-based studio Daytrip have renovated Powerscroft Road, a home in Clapton, East of the city.  Every object feels thoughtfully chosen, collated, but not stale like a museum. There is a sense of calm and relaxation as well as creativity.  Minimal spaces can sometimes feel sterile or too precious to be restful. This home I feel strikes the right balance.    Originally found at Ignant . 

The architects of this tall scale-like building are Bureau de Change. They wanted to create a façade of 'uncertain heritage' for their project 'The Interlock'. This particular area in London, Fitzrovia, is characterised by many different periods of architecture from 19th Century terraces to post war commercial buildings. What unifies them all is the use of brick. I am quite fond of the brick, being down in Cornwall stone is prevalent, giant grey granite blocks combine with blue slate. I do sometimes miss the brick cottages of my childhood in Hampshire. There is something so satisfying seeing the whole made up of small dovetailed pieces. These bricks are a marvel though, almost like black armour protecting this mix purpose building. Made from 44 misshapen clay blocks you have the impression of gears turning, morphing and twisting. The colouring is a fine Staffordshire Blue Clay that helps the building stand out from its neighbours in a quietly confident...

  Such an unusual approach in architecture, but one as a fellow creative I must say really appeals. Having total control from start to finish can be a luxury in the design world but architects Chan & Eayrs ensure just that. Like their latest project in a converted former shoe factory in Shoreditch, London. First they find the site and then live - sometimes camp - in it a while. Next they strip it back to the integrity of the building and re-imagine the space. One project at a time, Chan & Eayrs can really understand the light of the place, how the space is best used and then go far and wide to find just the right materials, objects and furniture to craft a truly unique home. Then the project is sold for a fare penny, this one named the Beldi, at £3,200,00. The Beldi is a breath of fresh air from the madness of London just below. Soft natural wood accompanies calming green plastered walls and handmade tiles. Light and airy, the space feels like ...

  Artist Michelle Heron is a raising star in the art world, selected as one of the must see artists at The Other Art Fair London 2017. In particular her shop front paintings are what I love. The British high street is changing all the time, and shops I would probably walk by and think were tatty or an eye sore, Michelle gives new life. She captures these fading memories and gives them new purpose and a new audience, a way to live on. Her use of colour, and in particular, light is what I think brings these faded fronts alive. Michelle reveals the beauty in the every day. In zoning in on one shop at a time she makes what can often be an overwhelming urban landscape into something to be considered and admired, rather than over looked. 

Nicely done, this historic community hall has been updated to house student digs and a pretty cool iridescent theatre and art space. Thats the bit I am drawn to, the shimmering tiles don't look real, so otherworldly. It could have landed from space.  Architects Jestico + Whiles converted this town hall in South London for Goldsmiths College. It was originally built in 1872 and extended in the 1930s, once again the building has had new life breathed into it. The shimmering tiles draw your eye and help this building be centre of the community.  See more at Dezeen . 

Design, for me is just fascinating - whether this be architecture, interiors, fashion, art or product design. What caught my eye this morning was this 3d printed wheelchair - about to be presented at the Clerkenwell Design Week at the end of this month in the capitol. The London studio Layer led by Benjamin Hubert use 3d printing technology to create the bespoke wheelchair. They have been able to overcome many issues and also make the chairs customisable to the user. the 'Go Chair' uses an innovative mapping system to trace a person's biometric information.  The studio designed an app to enable users to customise colours and add additional components - the finished chair can be completed in two weeks!  The seat is printed in semi-transparent resin and thermoplastic polyurethane. The foot plate is titanium. Its great to see how 3d printing is making it easier to customise something so essential, I hope they take off. Read more here, at Design Boom .

The superstar that is Adele was recently captured by brilliant photographer Annie Leibovitz for Vogue. The photos are perfect - Adele's far off, quiet, calm look and the glossy makeup, sumptuous outfits and the dark and faded styling just comes together so well.  The massive star looks quite at home in the aged glamour of her surroundings - though there is nothing faded about Adele. The shoot takes place at London's Claridge's Hotel and I love everything about the styling. You can see this is a women confident in who she is, at ease with herself, and its nice to see some curves in the glossy pages of the fashion press. See more from the shoot here, and check out Chloe 's interpretation of Spring 2015, crayon fashion and what beauty looks like through the ages.