What To See At This Year’s Clerkenwell Design Week
By Something CuratedClerkenwell is home to more creative businesses and architects per square mile than anywhere else on the planet, making it one of the most important design hubs in the world. To celebrate this rich and diverse community, Clerkenwell Design Week, running from 22 to 24 May, has created a showcase of leading UK and international brands and companies presented in a series of showroom events, exhibitions and special installations that take place across the area. Something Curated highlights five events and installations not to be missed this year.
Royal Approval by Kinetech Design
London-based art and design studio Kinetech Design have created a large kiriorigami structure in St John’s Gate, which saw the first performances of some of William Shakespeare’s most famous works, including Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet and Macbeth. In a nod to the site’s storied history, the installation, titled Royal Approval, has been designed to resemble a giant Elizabethan ruff.
St John’s Gate, Clerkenwell, London EC1M 4DA
Open House: Territory Studio
With a specialism in motion design and visual effects, Territory Studio has worked on film graphics for several of the big, science fiction blockbusters of the last few years, including Blade Runner 2049, Ex-Machina and Ghost in the Shell. Rather than replicating everything digitally, their processes include making and manipulating objects by hand, photographing them then enhancing them on-screen, using a creative selection of raw materials to do so. At this year’s festival, Territory will be opening the doors of its studio to visitors.
Territory Studio, 28-29 Great Sutton Street, London EC1V 0DS (10am-5pm, 22-24 May)
Behind Closed Doors by Hakwood
Dutch wood flooring manufacturer Hakwood has teamed up with interiors company Shape London to install a three-metre-high pop-up street scene of Dutch townhouses, decorated with pink tiles. Located at the entrance to London’s Spa Fields, each of the houses feature a small door that, when opened, reveal a series of miniature interiors containing Hakwood flooring.
Spa Fields, Clerkenwell, London EC1 OHY
Tukuru: Japanese Design & Made
Three Japanese creators based in London are exhibiting at Sway Gallery. Ikuko Iwamoto works with porcelain, Naori Priestly works with paper and cloth and Kei Tominaga with metal, including silver. From wall art pieces to usable objects, their work is all designed and made with a Japanese sensibility matured in the UK. During the programme, Priestly will demonstrate using paper folding techniques to make 3D structures, and Iwamoto will decorate the cup by applying dots with a syringe-like tool with porcelain slip.
Sway Gallery, 70-72 Old St, London EC1V 9AN (11am-7pm, 22-24 May)
Next Generation Design Pavilion by Scale Rule
St James’ Churchyard plays host to a pavilion designed by GCSE students from across London. This marks the third year that the Scale Rule installation sits in the space, which adopts a different theme annually. In 2018, the pavilion takes the form of a multi-coloured, mesh object, with an oculus or hole directly in the top of it – visitors will be able to step inside the installation and gaze up towards the sky and other nature around them.
Garden of St James, St James Walk, London EC1R 0EA
Feature image via Ikuko Iwamoto