Christmas Offerings From London’s Leading Creatives
By Something CuratedAlong with the cold, December in London brings with it bustling festivities, punctuated by a number of markets and fairs, and, of course, splendid decorations. The designers involved in creating the Christmas concepts for hotels and restaurants are telling of each organisation’s ethos. With pioneering names like Marc Newson and J.W. Anderson designing trees for London institution’s this year, there’s a lot to look forward to. Sifting through the calendar of Christmas events taking place in the city over the next few weeks, Something Curated highlights seven of this year’s must visit festive openings.
Claridge’s Christmas Interiors || Sir Jony Ive & Marc Newson
Since 2009, Claridge’s has had a tradition of inviting different designers to design the Christmas tree for the hotel lobby. This year, Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson, in collaboration with set designer Michael Howells, took the task of designing the tree above and beyond. They designed an entire interior landscape of a snowy forest that guests enter the moment they step through the doors. Four-metre high light boxes show black and white images of snow covered silver birch trees, and a set of natural silver birch and fir trees line the pathway to the door. A smaller sapling tree grows among the forest, playing with proportions, whilst representing a symbol of the future. A white floor and artificial snow below and a canopy of green branches above make stepping into Claridge’s this holiday season truly spectacular.
On view until 3 Jan 2017 (Brook St, London W1K 4HR)
Christmas Tree at Tate Britain || Shirazeh Houshiary
Forming the spectacular centerpiece beside a display of work by prominent British artists, Shirazeh Houshiary’s Christmas tree marks the start of a new series of festive commissions for Tate Britain. This is the first Christmas tree at the gallery since work began on the new space, which included the reopening of the main entrance on Millbank when a striking spiral staircase was installed in the Rotunda, and continues the tradition of marking the festive period with an artist commission, by reimagining the work Houshiary created for Tate over twenty years ago. The work, which focuses on the tree’s natural qualities such as texture, colour, smell and shape, hangs upside down from the glass ceiling in the Millbank entrance, its roots exposed and covered in gold leaf, drawing light and attention to what is usually underground.
On view until 5 Jan 2017 (Millbank, London SW1P 4RG)
The Reindeer 2016 || Pablo Flack, David Waddington & The Sarabande Foundation
In 2006, Bistrotheque founders, David Waddington and Pablo Flack launched The Reindeer. Housed in The Truman Brewery, the pop-up restaurant’ served an astonishing 23,000 guests over three weeks leading up to Christmas. A precursor to the trend of experiential eating, The Reindeer’s theatrics raised the expectations of London’s design-savvy diners. This Christmas, The Reindeer will return, taking place at the Sarabande in Haggerston. The event will also function as an open house, allowing guests unique access into the designers’ workspaces, and all proceeds from the event will be fed back into the foundation. The new iteration of The Reindeer includes an impressive ceiling installation created by one of Sarabande’s supported designers, Esna Su.
2-3 Dec 2016 (22 Hertford Road , London N1 5SH)
Redchurch Street Christmas Market || Retailers of Redchurch Street
Redchurch Street is set to host a busy Christmas Market this year, offering up a variety of activities, goods, food and drink provided by the shops along the street. Each day of the market offers something new to visitors such as live music, dancing and cocktails. Initiated by Nazifa Movsoumova’s Modern Society, there will be everything from performances by Dirty Bones on 1st December to Christmas wreath making with Grace and Thorn on 5th December. In addition to the planned special events, many of the shops along Redchurch Street will also have special discounts, so you can do your gift buying while enjoying the festivities. Also, be sure to try out All Press’s delicious Christmas Blend.
1-7 Dec 2017 (Redchurch St, London E2 7DJ)
Christmas Tree at London EDITION || Simon Costin
Having designed sets for the likes of McQueen and Margiela, Simon Costin has created the concept for this year’s London EDITION hotel Christmas tree. Based on his interest in folklore and taking inspiration from Welsh mythology, Costin has designed a whimsical tree residing in the hotel’s lobby bar. Covered with ornate moths and plum-toned baubles, elegant decorations and lights adorn the tree. Sitting atop is an impressive owl in place of the traditional angel. Inspired by one of the stories contained within the Mabinogi, the earliest prose literature of Britain, Costin’s tree is about Blodeuwedd, a woman created from flowers and later turned into an owl by magicians Math and Gwydion. The tree depicts the moment the magicians’ spell takes hold of Blodeuwedd and she raises her arms as they transform into wings.
On view until 4 Jan 2017 (10 Berners St, London W1T 3NP)
The Monocle Christmas Market 2016 || Tyler Brûlé
The Monocle team is hosting a Christmas market this weekend on the 3rd and 4th of December in the Midori House in Marylebone. The global affairs magazine will be bringing in a variety of international vendors including Another Country, Begg & Co, Bilbao-Bizkaia, Earl of East London and many more that will have stalls of fine clothing, goods and edibles. The third annual market will even be hosting a VIP Santa Claus with two reindeer all the way from Rovaniemi. There is free entry to enjoy the live music, eat warm treats and survey the fine goods, but a donation to the Committee to Protect Journalists is encouraged.
3-4 Dec 2016 (Midori House, 1 Dorset Street, London W1U 4EG)
Christmas Tree at Ace Hotel || Jonathan Anderson
To celebrate their first year’s residence in the Ace London retail space, J.W.Anderson will be decorating the Hoi Polloi Christmas tree this year. The unveiling of the project, titled The Body Parts, will be at 6pm on 1st December and will be accompanied by a reception in Hoi Polloi with mulled wine and mince pies. The designer notes: “It’s been a real pleasure to work closely with Ace in 2016. What better way to end the year with them by curating our very own take on Christmas, we are very proud to have worked on this with them!” In conjunction, Italy-based communications research centre Fabrica’s design will adorn wrapping paper, decorations, invites, stickers, stationery, as well as food and drinks during the Christmas period at Ace London.
On view until 3 Jan 2017 (100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ)