23rd June 2023
June news: TOG goes big with Chancery House; Camille Walala designs new studio; and RDI hosts summer sessions
Hem X launches PROPS collection – giving profits to Design Can; JA Projects designs 'Genetic Automata' at Wellcome Collection; and Bisila Noh shows ceramics in Bordeaux
Chancery House by TOG. Photography by Jake Curtis.
TOG
Wellbeing-focused Chancery House retrofit is workspace brand’s biggest to date
Wellbeing-focused Chancery House retrofit is workspace brand’s biggest to date
With a record of innovation and a portfolio of remarkable workspaces stretching from London to Berlin, it means a lot when TOG announces its biggest building ever. Opened officially on 21 June, Chancery House packs a whopping 127,000 sq ft, but there’s much more to it than its size. TOG’s collaboration with dMFK Architects and Norm Architects has seen the dramatic transformation of a landmark building above the London Silver Vaults – the capital’s historic subterranean silver market – into a modern, flexible, wellbeing-focused workspace with sustainability woven into its fabric.
The ambitious project has restored the exterior to its origins, stripping back an incongruous modern extension, transformed the flow and functionality of the interiors, and even brought more publicly accessible green space to central London…
Take a look…
The ambitious project has restored the exterior to its origins, stripping back an incongruous modern extension, transformed the flow and functionality of the interiors, and even brought more publicly accessible green space to central London…
Take a look…
Launch photography of DAF at RIBA by Becky Bailey.
Deaf Architecture Front
Christopher Laing launches game-changing platform to revolutionise accessibility in spatial design
Christopher Laing launches game-changing platform to revolutionise accessibility in spatial design
If the crowd at the launch of Deaf Architecture Front is anything to go by, the spatial design industry won’t look the same again. Last week, architectural designer and activist Chris Laing officially launched DAF as a platform and collective to bridge the gap between the Deaf community and both the built environment, and architecture as a profession. As a Deaf-run business, Zetteler was beyond excited to be a part of it, and Sabine was honoured to have the opportunity to open the event and introduce Chris’ mission.
There’s so much the industry needs to do to welcome Deaf architects, and we all benefit when the built environment is designed to be inclusive, so it was hugely encouraging to see that recognised by so many people at the launch. We’re proud to be able to support such an important initiative, and will be championing DAF far into the future.
Already, Chris is busy penning articles, gearing up for panels and in conversation with studios keen to hear more. Want to work with him in some way? Let us know.
There’s so much the industry needs to do to welcome Deaf architects, and we all benefit when the built environment is designed to be inclusive, so it was hugely encouraging to see that recognised by so many people at the launch. We’re proud to be able to support such an important initiative, and will be championing DAF far into the future.
Already, Chris is busy penning articles, gearing up for panels and in conversation with studios keen to hear more. Want to work with him in some way? Let us know.
The Hem X Modern Design Review collection. Image courtesy of Hem X.
Hem X for Design Can
Exclusive new seating collection donates profits to inclusion campaign
Curated by the good people at Modern Design Review, PROPS is a new family of six stools from six emerging global talents – and we’re thrilled to share the news that profits from every sale will be going straight to Design Can to fund the campaign for an inclusive design industry.
Having helped found Design Can in 2019 – and being massive fans of Hem (see: basically our entire office) – the Zetteler team are very happy that the design giant’s collaboration platform, Hem X will be supporting the platform’s ongoing mission. So much has been achieved already, but initiatives like this can make an extraordinary difference to the Design Can’s scope.
Plus, of course, the stools themselves are pretty special. Take a seat (and buy a stool!).
Having helped found Design Can in 2019 – and being massive fans of Hem (see: basically our entire office) – the Zetteler team are very happy that the design giant’s collaboration platform, Hem X will be supporting the platform’s ongoing mission. So much has been achieved already, but initiatives like this can make an extraordinary difference to the Design Can’s scope.
Plus, of course, the stools themselves are pretty special. Take a seat (and buy a stool!).
Installation view of the Japanese Pavilion. Credit: Edward Sumner.
Japanese Pavilion at London Design Biennale
Last chance to see exhibition curated by Yuki Sumner
The newest member of Team Zetteler,Yuki Sumner, has curated the Japanese Pavilion at the London Design Biennale, and if you’ve not been yet, there’s still a chance to see it until 25 June. Go, go, go!
With the provocative title ‘The future is rural’, the pavilion brings together a series of installations, crafted objects and films that champion artists, designers, visionaries and entrepreneurs who want to re-activate rural Japan. Get ready for conversations around depopulation, ageing and isolation.
Read about the pavilion and follow Yuki.
With the provocative title ‘The future is rural’, the pavilion brings together a series of installations, crafted objects and films that champion artists, designers, visionaries and entrepreneurs who want to re-activate rural Japan. Get ready for conversations around depopulation, ageing and isolation.
Read about the pavilion and follow Yuki.
Furniture by Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng, Anne Brandhøj and Pia Högman, commissioned by AHEC. Photography by Benjamin Lund.
AHEC
Timber trio launches at 3daysofdesign
In Copenhagen, AHEC continued its mission to showcase the sustainable, artistic qualities of American hardwoods such as red oak, cherry and maple. ‘Three’ brought together a trio of talents for the 10th edition of 3daysofdesign, each one representing a different Nordic country.
From Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng’s irregular forms exploring the irregular contours of the grain, to Anne Brandhøj’s commitment to sustainable materiality and Pia Högman’s continuation of her carpenter-grandfather’s belief in everyday materials, these commissions navigate the porous border between functional design and sculptural art whilst celebrating the creative potential – and sustainable credentials – of underused timber varieties.
From Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng’s irregular forms exploring the irregular contours of the grain, to Anne Brandhøj’s commitment to sustainable materiality and Pia Högman’s continuation of her carpenter-grandfather’s belief in everyday materials, these commissions navigate the porous border between functional design and sculptural art whilst celebrating the creative potential – and sustainable credentials – of underused timber varieties.
Camille Walala’s studio. Photography by Taran Wilkhu.
Camille Walala
Transforming her studio into an artwork
Over 25 years spent working in good, bad and mediocre studios in London has inspired Camille Walala to create her own perfect space.
The artist’s newly renovated space at Regent Studios is the result of a collaboration between two creative duos. Camille Walala and Julia Jomaa have collaborated for years on their artistic projects, whereas fit-out team Our Department (aka Simon Sawyer and Gustave Andre) is experienced with helping artists turn their abstract ideas into functional reality. Many details have aligned for this unmistakably ‘Walala’ studio – from precision-engineered cabinetry to the strident pop of the colour palette and sculptural relief panels.
See inside Camille’s studio.
The artist’s newly renovated space at Regent Studios is the result of a collaboration between two creative duos. Camille Walala and Julia Jomaa have collaborated for years on their artistic projects, whereas fit-out team Our Department (aka Simon Sawyer and Gustave Andre) is experienced with helping artists turn their abstract ideas into functional reality. Many details have aligned for this unmistakably ‘Walala’ studio – from precision-engineered cabinetry to the strident pop of the colour palette and sculptural relief panels.
See inside Camille’s studio.
‘Matérialités' at Galerie Revel, Bordeaux.
Bisila Noha
Art outside the canon in Bordeaux
Artist, activist and ceramicist extraordinaire Bisila Noha returns to Bordeaux with a beautiful group show, ‘Matérialités' at Galerie Revel.
Bringing together themes of representation and politics, the works in the exhibition explore our relationship to nature and the place of dreams in our daily lives, while adopting artistic mediums outside the traditional European canon, namely textiles, wood, rope, bronze, clay, and paper.
You can see more on the gallery’s website, and if you’re in Bordeaux, be sure to pop in before 30 July.
Bringing together themes of representation and politics, the works in the exhibition explore our relationship to nature and the place of dreams in our daily lives, while adopting artistic mediums outside the traditional European canon, namely textiles, wood, rope, bronze, clay, and paper.
You can see more on the gallery’s website, and if you’re in Bordeaux, be sure to pop in before 30 July.
Image courtesy of Wellcome Collection.
JA Projects
New exhibition opens at Wellcome collection
Once again, the exhibition-design prowess of JA Projects features in another major London institution – this time at the Wellcome Collection, where Larry Achiampong and David Blandy present 'Genetic Automata'.
The artists are investigating themes of race and identity in an age of avatars, videogames and DNA ancestry, considering how science has played a role in shaping these perceptions. JA Projects’ work on the exhibition follows other hit design projects, such as Fashioning Masculinities at V&A, one of the museum’s bestselling exhibitions to date.
You can see for yourself until 11 February 2024.
The artists are investigating themes of race and identity in an age of avatars, videogames and DNA ancestry, considering how science has played a role in shaping these perceptions. JA Projects’ work on the exhibition follows other hit design projects, such as Fashioning Masculinities at V&A, one of the museum’s bestselling exhibitions to date.
You can see for yourself until 11 February 2024.
The Supporting Act Foundation demonstrates accessible web design.
The Supporting Act
Accessible website design can be creative
For many, the conversation about accessibility stops at physical spaces. But with the launch of their new website, The Supporting Act is showing how digital design can be inclusive for all.
Too often, accessible digital design has been equated with plainness, but the foundation’s new site is a masterclass in fusing accessibility with style. From considering how your users navigate with keyboard, mouse and audio, to the layout of content and stylistic choices around typography and UX, the challenge can be complex – but the results can be beautifully bold and expressive.
Scroll, accessibly.
Too often, accessible digital design has been equated with plainness, but the foundation’s new site is a masterclass in fusing accessibility with style. From considering how your users navigate with keyboard, mouse and audio, to the layout of content and stylistic choices around typography and UX, the challenge can be complex – but the results can be beautifully bold and expressive.
Scroll, accessibly.
Image by Alistair Hall, courtesy of RDI.
Royal Designers for Industry
Three-day mentorship retreat, free for early-career professionals
Calling all early-career designers, scientists and engineers! The Royal Designers for Industry are hosting a unique three-day mentorship retreat, developed to give those with 3–15 years’ experience essential tools and inspiration to develop their careers.
Under the theme ‘Optimism’, up to 30 people will join 12 Royal Designers and eight wildcards over three days and two nights, with accommodation and meals covered, for a series of sessions offering guidance and support to take their practice to the next level.
Under the theme ‘Optimism’, up to 30 people will join 12 Royal Designers and eight wildcards over three days and two nights, with accommodation and meals covered, for a series of sessions offering guidance and support to take their practice to the next level.
The Summer Session will run from Friday 29 September until Sunday 1 October 2023 at Dartington Hall, Devon. Applications close on 3 July.
Have a smart summer.
+44 (0)7791 568890
Unit 73B Regent Studios
8 Andrews Road
London
E8 4QN
8 Andrews Road
London
E8 4QN