Features Archive
Features By Date
May 2013
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if only...
The old Severn Road Bridge could be transformed into a scientific research station
Top 5
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Desitecture
Research-based design studio Desitecture, with a mission to ‘make the everyday extraordinary’
Richard Weston
When a professor of architecture finds that his work is ‘so last season’, is something seriously gone awry? Jamie Mitchell talks to Richard Weston, whose scan explorations into rocks, fossils and stones have found their way on to fashion items and accessories...
Vienna: Design destination
The capital of Austria has a rich and illustrious design past, but it’s not resting on its laurels, says Helen Parton, a visitor to the latest Vienna Design Week, where she saw much to be impressed with during the 10-day event and beyond
The kids are alright
Once upon a time, children’s hospitals’ efforts to distract or amuse their patients were token – a cartoon character mural here, a decorative mobile there. The latest schemes offer everything from aerial walkways and meerkat enclosures to more quietly sophisticated spaces designed to support patient, parent, siblings and staff, says Veronica Simpson
Investing in design
A lively and energetic debate was held between our top UK designers and some of the most powerful manufacturers in the world. Much of what was discussed has left more questions to explore, but one of the serious points to emerge is just who takes the credit for a successful product? Should designers take more responsibility for sales and marketing decisions, or do manufacturers lead and control the success of the product? David Tarpey reports
Ben, Blacksheep, and Bison – All at Ege Carpets
FX editor Theresa Dowling meets all three on a trip to Denmark to help judge the final of the Ege Carpets design competition
April 2013
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Make an entrance
We look at three workplace projects shortlisted in this year’s Lighting Design Awards: two show how lighting has transformed tired reception areas, while the third uses lighting to set the tone of the space. Each shows the trend to a linear, integrated approach where the lighting is as much a graphic element as illumination
if only...
We could recreate an Urban Garden within the existing Covent Garden
Washed up
As Aidan Walker fills up the bowl with soapy water and starts washing up the breakfast, lunch and dinner things now the family’s dishwasher has died, he ponders on the meaning of behavioural design, and how we have been led to believe – erroneously, he now knows – that we can’t live without ‘labour-saving’ devices
Alejandro Figueredo
Alejandro Figueredo, from Venezuela, via Savannah, California, Puerto Rico and Milan with unique furniture pieces
Moving on
Office lighting really has to change – to avoid waste, to reduce energy use, to adapt to evolving working practices and, most of all, to put people at the top of the agenda. Three leading lighting designers concerned with the workspace environment give their views on precisely how and where office lighting must move on to meet the needs of the future
What design can do: Discuss
This annual international conference, hosted in Amsterdam and taking place on 16 and 17 May, celebrates the power of design and the ways it can solve global issues. The conference is specifically aimed at design professionals, company leaders and government officials.
ET Quelle influence
France is taking art to the regions, with a series of 23 new, purpose-designed galleries housing sizable collections organised in a national strategy, says Stephen Hitchins. But will they go the way of the UK’s flurry of out-of-London art buildings, and become just additional public galleries by another name?
My favourite …design city
In the first of a new series in which design favourites are highlighted, Jamie Mitchell is in Miami
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Death: A design response
Nothing is certain except death and taxes, said Benjamin Franklin. While global corporations have been getting creative with the latter, let’s celebrate the global design community’s achievements in finding new and interesting ways to engage with the former, says Veronica Simpson
Marcel Wanders
When another journalist likened Marcel Wanders to being the Lady Gaga of the design world, he wasn’t displeased. Like her he wants to be seen to be doing something different, showing a lot of energy, never boring, he tells Jamie Mitchell
March 2013
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Knit one, pearl one
A new ‘knitted’ vinyl flooring is launched, and a new hospital plays with colour in its choice of bacteria-resistant floor coverings
Q+A
Interior design specialists share their opinions on what makes for flooring success
if only...
there could be a perfectly tranquil and spiritual space to practice powerful, compassionate, meditation
Milan 2013: All the fun of the fair
The 52nd edition of Salone Internazionale del Mobile is looking into the future with the tag line Milan: Interiors of Tomorrow.
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Tread with confidence
Toby Maxwell takes a look at a selection of recent projects in which the choice of flooring has been a fundamental element of the overall interior design
Mark Davison
FX talks flooring with Mark Davison, head of design at Yoo
Go with the flow
Bathroom products designer Robin Levien dips his toe in the trends water and shares his thoughts on what lies ahead in the coming year for the space we spend a good part of our lives in...
Atelier Takagi
Atelier Takagi, which mixes research and inspiration in its product design
Material matters
As Aidan Walker prepared to chair an FX-sponsored panel discussion at the Surface Design Show at the Business Design Centre in Islington, he pondered on the nature of materials and the unique insights into them held by his chosen panellists...
Lee Penson
At the core of the brand strength of design practice PENSON is the ‘apprenticeship’ founder Lee Penson put himself through, mixing part-time study with real-time experience of the commercial world, he tells Jamie Mitchell
Who delivers design?
From this one burning question sprouted a whole clutch of side issues, ranging from client expectations to the national perception of design. Johnny Tucker sat in to report on the proceedings
Central Design Studio
Central Design Studio is making its name designing original and exciting interiors for restaurants
February 2013
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Shop talk
Pamela Buxton goes straight to the manufacturers to hear the latest on their new surface products and innovations
if only...
holographic, interactive technology could used in restaurants
Material evidence
Pamela Buxton looks at six projects where the choice of materials and surfaces has had a profound influence on the final outcome of the venue’s appearance
Q+A
Two leading design consultancies share the inside track of their thinking when it comes to materials, from favourites to sustainability
50 shades of white
Surfaces consultants Brad Turner and Ian Hunter have used their past experience working with architectural practice Foster + Partners and backgrounds in industrial design to offer a bespoke service in materials choice to architects and designers. Pamela Buxton talks to the founders of Materials Council about their adventure in surfaces
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On the right track
Aidan Walker talks trains, boats and planes with Paul Priestman, half of the highly successful Priestmangoode that has brought a new type of thinking to design
Terminal illness
Paris Berlin London: upgrades, rebuilds, and dreams – and ‘magic to stir the blood’. Stephen Hitchins investigates
Extraordinary stories
A new display of the Design Museum’s extensive permanent collection of contemporary design and architecture reveals intriguing insights into some of the exceptional as well as everyday items in the museum’s possession.
January 2013
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Charles Jencks
A man of many talents, Charles Jencks defies being pigeonholed: teacher, author, theorist, architect, landscaper, postmodernist, Maggie’s Centres’ co-founder... He talks to Jamie Mitchell
Don’t cut the lighting budget
Simon Fisher highlights growing concerns within the lighting industry that high-quality specifications are increasingly being compromised when the dreaded budget axe falls
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Aisles of places to meet busy people
Architect@Work, an international exhibition and meet-up series geared up exclusively for architects and interior designers, is coming to London for the first time. Taking place at the Earl’s Court exhibition centre 30 and 31 January, the show organisers recognise that while architects worldwide are keen to find out about the latest concepts and products, they are also often too busy and overbooked to do so.
if only...
creating objects with faceted surfaces evolved like a family tree
Luke Miles
Head of the design team at Virgin Atlantic, designer Luke Miles’ real focus is on the whole service experience, which has recently produced the relaunched Upper Class cabin and the JFK lounge, reports Johnny Tucker
Studio Swine
Internationally based Studio Swine, is often found on the beach...
The romance of the office chair
Niels Diffrient’s unofficial title as ‘the Grandaddy of Ergonomics’ is based on his work in ‘human engineering’, which – to him, at least – carries the same allure when it comes to chair design as airflow does to the design of aeroplanes. Aidan Walker ponders the proposition
Surface Design Show Preview
Happy birthday to the Surface Design Show, about to celebrate its 10th outing and hosting an FX Live Debate on the first of its threeday residence from 5-7 February at the Business Design Centre, London. Maarja Pehk takes a look at highlights of this year's offering
Have skills, will travel
Taking on international projects, and especially the lighting element of them, was up for debate in this latest FX Design Seminar. Johnny Tucker sits in and reports on the proceedings
FX Awards 2012
It was time to collect the tux from the cleaners or splash out on a sparkly new outfit – it’s the only way to celebrate the party of the year that is the FX Awards! Architects, designers, manufacturers and specifiers mingled, dined, laughed, cheered and danced the night away...
December 2012
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The V&A trail
It could be professional or personal and classical or contemporary – anything that inspires you is a great read for us. Taking us this month to the V&A is Barry Hughes, vice president, HOK
In your dreams...
A popular feature in FX is If Only, for which creative agencies or individual designers express their design dreams, however just-wishful-thinking they might be. We’ve been so inundated with your If Onlys that we’re presenting a few extras this month as a seasonal treat, and we look forward to receiving a new crop of your creativity in 2013
Spud Wars
Part of the London Design Festival’s programme of events, the Global Design Forum was slammed by a group called the Big Potatoes, which is preparing it own design manifesto. Aidan Walker, the GDF’s coordinator, fights back
Long live Made in Britain
British design has so much more to offer than the clichéd soundbite label Cool Britannia suggests, and it is inextricably tied to manufacturing, says Rodney McMahon, managing director of Morgan Furniture
if only...
there was a chair that moved in any direction, while sweeping up...
Call to faith
A flourishing of new churches and chapels shows architects and designers eagerly embracing that rare opportunity for craftsmanship and the creation of transformational spaces that aren’t trying to sell you anything – except, of course, salvation. Veronica Simpson seeks illumination
Martin Roth
The new head of one of the coolest museums in the world, Martin Roth is determined that the V&A will keep changing to retain its reputation. More of an evolution than anything too radical, but if he gets his way retrospectives will be a thing of the past, and the museum’s management will become more creative, he tells Jamie Mitchell
Project: Style
We look at the widely divergent designs of three of the latest upmarket fashion outlets in London
Green light
Lighting can account for up to 70 per cent of a retailer’s energy costs – but with the bottom line the top priority, is efficiency going out the window? Jill Entwistle reports
November 2012
Top
Now you see it...
Francis Pearce takes a look at the latest crop of pop-up stores, from those that have a very short lifespan of just a few days to those that have settled in their location...
Apocalypse now
Michele Iacovitti explains the thinking behind Metropolis, the latest range of carpet tile from Interface that takes its inspiration from destruction and rebirth
If only...
There could be an outdoor social space that creates its own energy
Faith, hope and clarity
Despite dwindling donations and a public turned decidedly twitchy about conspicuous consumption, charities large and small have been investing in exemplary new headquarters. Veronica Simpson finds much to celebrate in the humility and charm of the resulting schemes, as well as the client’s clear faith in good design
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London 2012 Thanks for the memory. But was it all worth it?
Now all the hoo-hah has died down Stephen Hitchins looks at the true legacy of London’s Olympic Games, in the first part of a two-part article
March & White
March & White aims to merge the disciplines of architecture and interior design to offer clients a holistic approach
Andy Black
When the going gets tough, the tough would be well advised to follow the lead of Andy Black, CEO of The Interiors Group. From humble beginnings as an apprentice site manager, he’s worked his way, and worked hard, to the top. Always relishing a challenge, he tells Jamie Mitchell he’s never worked harder than in the past four years of recession, and the greater the challenge the harder he works
Karma Chameleons
Never have all things vintage, upcycled, recycled and reclaimed been so popular. Veronica Simpson explores the pleasures and pitfalls of creative reuse
Future Hotel Design
Carlos Virgile, of multidiscipline design practice Imagination, puts his view on how and why future hotel design will change as every level of the hospitality experience is being refined and adjusted as savvy travellers turn their backs on bland and predictable ‘home from homes’
Royal College of Art celebrates its 175th year with major exhibition
To celebrate its long and rich history touching three centuries, the Royal College of Art in London is putting on a free exhibition. Opening on 15 November, The Perfect Place to Grow: 175 Years of the Royal College of Art features works by the college’s alumni as well as former and current members of staff.
The V&A trail
In this new occasional feature we ask designers what inspires them from the permanent collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It could be professional or personal and classical or contemporary - anything that inspires you is a great read for us. First to take us to the V&A is designer, critic and author Stephen Hitchins
Snickeriet
Snickeriet, founded by two carpenters and two designers, designs and produces its furniture range
A proper education?
While three of the UK’s leading art schools settle down into sparkling new premises, Stephen Hitchins takes a look at their new buildings, what prompted them and what benefits can students expect to see, at a time when art teaching and course content in the UK is being cut back and technological know-how seems to be more highly valued than basic art skills
October 2012
Top
If only...
We thought more about the spaces in between
Design in action
Aidan Walker is in praise of the London Design Festival, a slew of other festivals that have sprung up, and associated conferences, for providing the opportunities to debate the fundamental reasons for design...
Worktech to stay on top
Appealing to a broad range of professionals, including managers and business leaders, the annual international workplace event Worktech also has plenty to offer architects and designers specialising in workplace design.
Awesome Orgatec!
As the covers are about to be taken off the latest offering of the biennial office furniture show Orgatec, FX takes a look at some of the temptations likely to lure you to Cologne later this month
Tony Brown
With Tony Brown at the helm of Bisley for more than 40 years, this British office furniture company has weathered storms past and present, gone from strength to strength with storage systems LateralFile, InnerSpace and Glide, and is set to launch another new product at Orgatec later this month. He talks officeworld to Jamie Mitchell
Up the junction?
Design show designjunction gets set to present its second offering, and is showing its confidence by taking The Sorting Office mega space in London’s West End to show an eclectic mix of work from new and established brands, installations and a host of other exciting features, says Veronica Simpson and Helen Parton
Lowest cost or best value?
James Geekie, head of design at office design and fit-out company Area Sq, looks at how to obtain best value from an office relocation or refurbishment
Inspired Istanbul
With one foot in Asia and the other in Europe, Istanbul has for centuries been a cosmopolitan hub. The city is now shaping up as future facing too, with a burgeoning design sector and its first design biennial due to take place later this year. Helen Parton reports
Blank
Art canvas creator Blank, established by CSM graduate Tinja Wright
A degree of design
Tough competition for students and funding has brought a blossoming of bold new university buildings that celebrate and facilitate 21st-century learning in more ways than one. Veronica Simpson takes a tour.
September 2012
Top
If only
we could take our work outdoors and create the Flexus Orchard
So who does deliver design?
The latest in the series of FX Design Seminars saw an illustrious gathering of representatives architecture, design, engineering and suppliers to discuss the thorny topic of who, in the final analyis, delivers design. Is it the client, the architect or interior designer? Johnny Tucker sat in to report on the event, and took the photographs
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100% Design
As 100% Design enters its 18th year, bringing designers and architects from around the world under one show roof, its attendance predictions are equally exuberant – this year some 40,000 visitors are expected.
London design Festival
This month sees the 10th anniversary of the London Design Festival, the extravaganza of design in the capital running for nine days from 14 to 23 September.
Michael Sodeau
Always searching for new challenges, the name of designer Michael Sodeau’s latest collection for Japanese company Suikosha, Anything, is particularly apropros to his own career. From egg cups and lamps to branding, furniture, ceramics and interiors, the Central St Martins’ trained designer tells Jamie Mitchell he is creative director again of designjunction, and he’s still on the look out for more
August 2012
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Isomi
Isomi is a new solid-surfaces furniture design practice with more than 20 years of experience behind it
If only...
I could build myself a green house... in the Hollywood Hills
I’ll drink to that!
Case studies on two very different venues – Gillray’s Steakhouse in London and the Evolution Club in Bucharest – show how design can create a classically English look in one of London’s most iconic spots or an up-to-the-minute vibe in an awkward space.
Glass act
Hong Kong-based designer Andre Fu is bringing his magic to London, says Emma O’Kelly, with his creation Cinnabar on the 52nd floor of the city’s latest and Europe’s tallest tower, The Shard
Come dine with us
This month we’ve four design solutions to the same fictitious brief. We asked our designers to come up with a creative solution for a pop-up bar/restaurant for a particular furniture brand or manufacturer of their choice. The idea is that the pop-up would be a living brand endorsement within the showroom. Thanks to those who took part: BDG; Keen and Able; SHH; Rare Architecture
Aldgate ambitions
Aidan Walker takes a look at the very challenging task set students by the London Metropolitan University’s Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Media and Design, as part of its Aldgate Project. It invited them, through architectural and design schemes, to address the issues faced by this largely underprivileged district of London
Khuan Chew
As a dutiful daughter Khuan Chew followed her parents’ dream for her to be a professional violinist, but fortunately for the design sector as soon as she had her music degree she turned to architecture and design. As her first furniture collection is launched she talks to Jamie Mitchell about her career to date, with her own practice via stints at leading design firms, and how she was introduced to opulence
If only…
there was a handy shelter for outdoor activities
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Residencies’ rich results
The work of the 2012 crop of the Design Museum’s Designers in Residence is about to be unveiled.
Fast and very hot
Fast-food outlets are the latest converts to the church of design... From urban-look Italian eating on the go to pushing the boundaries for burgers, Helen Parton looks at what’s on the menu in terms of pacy design for the dine-and-dash brigade
July 2012
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Avocado sweets
Evros Agathou’s Avocado Sweets, set on transforming everyday interiors
Gerry McGovern
The design driver behind the new Range Rover Evoque, Gerry McGovern came to RR via Chrysler and Ford to produce the first Range Rover with the luxury market in mind. Jamie Mitchell talks to him about how important design is becoming when technology and quality become comparable, and what role Victoria Beckham played as a design consultant with the new SUV...
Village people
The Olympic Village has seen two or three architects working one each building with a quality palette of materials within a set grid, with a view to the success of the site’s legacy, when a new and permanent community will take up residence. Aidan Walker takes a look
Milan: In the now
So what did you think of Milan this year? Now the parties are over, what is it that you remember from the biggest show on earth? Do you go for inspiration? Or market competition? Or trends? Or the people and their parties..? FX asked Seymourpowell for what they as expert product designers think. Mariel Brown and Karen Rosenkranz from the Research, Trends and Strategy team at Seymourpowell, report on the event
Down to earth
It may be one of the oldest building materials, around for millennia, but clay/terracotta still has plenty of life in it yet. Annabelle Filer offers a selection of new twists on the material that promise to keep it a major player
Back to the future
There is more innovation and sophistication in evidence than ever before in the UK’s latest wave of heritage projects. Veronica Simpson finds a sector at its creative peak, thanks to a combination of Lottery cash and the presence of so much homegrown architectural, design and curatorial talent
Duvet days
The Olympic Village’s accommodation for athletes will be refigured for the post-Games legacy
If only…
cjct could design its own wish-list office...
Marble marvel
Often bland and ubiquitous in department stores, in the hands of Jamie Fobert Architects marble has become marvellous all over again
With attitude
Internationally renowned architect Jean Nouvel was approached by flooring manufacturer Bolon to create an exciting stand for its products at Stockholm and Milan 2012 (where it also unveiled products created with Missoni). The gravity-defying results of the collaboration can be seen on the following page. FX asked Nouvel about working with Bolon and the importance of flooring to interior designs
Get down to it
Leading designers give us the lowdown on their flooring choices
Get real!
While the demise of the workplace desk may be more than rumour, the way forward isn’t a totally virtual one, argues Philip Tidd
June 2012
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Mark Adams
Jamie Mitchell talks to the man who has helped keep the Dieter Rams-designed 606 shelving system at the forefront of storage solutions. But Mark Adams is not resting on his laurels, and has plans to keep his company Vitsoe at the front into the future too
Design in focus
More comfortable behind her camera than promoting herself, design journalist and photographer Barbara Chandler is persuaded by Aidan Walker that they should have a chat...
One to watch: Will Shannon
Will Shannon uses recycled and found materials in his unique furniture and installations
Biennial Bonanza
One of the many cultural events taking place in London during the exciting summer of 2012 is the London Festival of Architecture. The biennial event will this year take place over three weekends from 23 June to 8 July with the theme Playful City.
An illuminating discussion
What happens when you bring together workplace, hotel and lighting designers in the same room? Will they ever agree on what the future holds for contract specification in their different sectors? And what would they think about swapping jobs? Gareth Gardner sifts among the wreckage
iGuzzini sponsors VELONOTTE™ LONDON
On the night of 23rd June, iGuzzini UK (Twitter @iGuzziniUK) will sponsor VELONOTTE™, an unprecedented architectural event in London that has garnered critical acclaim in major cities across the globe.
Top 5 Products
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If only…
Taking the Tube could be an experience worth having
Life and Seoul
Shopping, food and fun combine in D Cube City, a vast futuristic complex in the South Korean capital offering a world of experiences under one roof
From Russia with love
Moscow’s monumental new fashion retail palace reaches deep into the country’s roots of rock and mineral for its inspiration
No more bull
Barcelona’s famous bullring has been transformed into a vibrant leisure and retail destination
What role does retail design have to play in the current recessionary market?
The price is right
Good hotel design is not limited to the high-end and luxury sector of the hospitality market, reports Pamela Buxton, who looks at the latest crop of ‘affordable’ hotels using leading designers to enhance their offer for the price-conscious
BAF Graphics helps Selfridges display Diamond Jubilee campaign
May 2012
Top
Christopher Jenner
Every brand tells a story, says rising star Christopher Jenner – and his job is to communicate it to the customer
An extraordinary talent
The first major solo exhibition of one of the most innovative and experimental British design studios will be opening at the end of the month in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Porter Gallery.
All hail Helsinki
As Finland’s first city Helsinki gets into its stride as World Design Capital 2012, Helen Parton joins a group of journalists visiting to witness firsthand why it selected for such a prestigious design accolade
Martin Creed at Sketch
It’s extraordinary, but is it art? When the owners of the London restaurant asked the playful Turner Prize winner to design them a dining room, the result was a space so chaotic it has a coherence all its own
Samuel Wilkinson
The creator of the award-winning Plumen 001 energy-saving CFL lamp believes in functional, sustainable design that also ‘gives a little joy’ – an idea whose time has come, as he explains to Jamie Mitchell
The Qatar effect
Already making a landmark statement on London’s skyline, the Shard is getting mixed reviews from critics and raises questions over who, actually, will occupy it, when there are empty offices all over London. But, argues Stephen Hitchins, it is backed by the Qataris, who have an admirable pedigree with statement buildings
IBM Software Executive Briefing Centre, Rome
Curving lines, shining surfaces and a sleek Italian sensibility combine to dazzle at IBM’s newly renovated client training facility, but homely touches ensure that spectacle is tempered with comfort
Lighting’s new dawn
Paul Nulty looks at how the rapid pace of technological development and the drive for sustainability is bringing on a new dawn
Getting radical
Tim Downey examines why our thinking on lighting and lighting design has to radically change
Team work
Mike Grubb investigates how good lighting is dependent on the profession being fully incorporated into the design team
Creative Caring
With a massive percentage of the world’s population headed for a lengthy old age, and dementia figures soaring, what kind of accommodation can the elderly and the infirm look forward to? Veronica Simpson discovers the most inspired work is outside of the UK...
3D X1, a Formula for Perfection
If only...
Virtualisation could be more like going to the greengrocers
Great ideas at work
A flash of inspiration or a thought-out, structured process – where does great design come from and how do product designers, interior designers and architects keep their ideas flowing? To mark the launch of Desso’s online application Create your own AirMaster, Ludwig Cammaert sits down with colleagues and peers to explore how creative ideas are born, how they work day to day and what makes them tick
April 2012
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Helen Berresford
Since founding ID:SR, the interior design group of architecture practice Sheppard Robson, eight years ago, Helen Berresford has pioneered an approach she calls ‘activity-driven design’ and now has premier projects including the BBC’s new Northern HQ in Salford in her portfolio. She tells Jamie Mitchell about her approach
Birmingham reborn
Once blighted by its bombed-out, brutalist urban landcape, Birmingham is being reborn: a new civic plan, statement architecture and a huge amount of entrepreneurial zeal are being deployed to raise it to a world-class business and leisure destination. But how can this growth be sustained, and at what cost to the cityscape and its citizens? Veronica Simpson reports
7-days to Sustainability campaign launched by Planet Positive
British by design
A major new exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum aims to document the transformation of design in Britain in the decades between the post-war ‘Austerity Olympics’ of 1948 and the Games in London later this year, when the world’s gaze will fall on British design again. Johnny Tucker and Jenny Brewer preview the show and ask leading figures in the design sector for their views on British design and production in 2012
UK Sales Agents required by leading interiors specialist
If only...
Furniture could be kept off the floor
Green, by the bottle
If Wayne Hemingway says that Coca-Cola and McDonald’s are genuine in their efforts towards making serious sustainability statements, it’s good enough for me, says Aidan Walker
A vibrant high street is not a thing of the past
While doom and gloom surrounds the future of the high street, with vacancy rates still on the rise, seeing them anew as centres of leisure and learning could give them with a vibrant role to play in the years ahead, says Alan Thompson
March 2012
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Choose your partner
In times of hardship it’s often not enough just to rely on what you do. But broadening your horizons, whether they be geographical, into another discipline or specialism takes time, money and someone who knows what they are doing. Stephen Hitchins looks at the traps and the triumphs experienced by some of the biggest names in architecture and design
Terry McGinnity / GA Design International
GA Design International has some of the world’s most standout hotels in its portfolio, including the classic Corinthia in London and ultra-modern Conrad in Tokyo. The practice’s MD Terry McGinnity tells Jamie Mitchell about how it has reached this happy state
Exclusive design studio for made-to-measure interiors
Design boot Camp
Crafted boots and shoes inspire Jestico + Whiles’ interior design
You’re my Favourite
Project Orange features a collage of favourite surfaces for its own studio
if only…
Travellers could change trains without stopping at a station...
Expert opinion
Pamela Buxton reports on the varied work done by Arup’s surfaces experts
Knowledge is SCIN deep
Pamela Buxton pays a visit to SCIN, the UK’s largest independent materials library, and talks to founder Annabelle Filer (who also writes a regular column in FX on materials) about the role SCIN plays for the design community
February 2012
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Designers go to work on their eggs
Leading from the front
As architect Alex deRijke of dRMM is appointed the new Dean of the school of architecture at the RCA, Aidan Walker looks at his portfolio of outstanding work
Crossrail tracker
The massive Crossrail scheme is creating new stations and delivering major improvements to existing passenger services at linking London Underground stops, making for a veritable feast of new architecture and design. Johnny Tucker tracks developments
Enzo Apicella
This restaurant designer (and cartoonist) is praised as being responsible for changing the face of Italian eateries in the UK, replacing the raffia-covered Chianti bottle and plastic-grapevine decor with tiled floors, bespoke lighting and abstract art. He talks to Jamie Mitchell
Thinking out of the box
While some designers say that following a practice’s house-style stifles creativity and lessens their standing among their peers, would-be clients are influenced by past work, eager to have ‘the look’ for their project. Stephen Hitchins looks at the potential predicament
And Europe's Culture capital 2012 is... Maribor
if only...
We could design a modern-day, eco-educational tree house for kids
Designs on saving the planet
While many designers and manufacturers are making sure their own products are as environmentally sustainable as possible, others are actively helping to raise money to assist the World Wildlife Fund protect the environments of endangered species, says Jamie Mitchell
Space to be creative in
A new creative space for Will Alsop and Scott Lawrie was the venue for one of the coolest parties during the London Design Festival, says Aidan Walker. It is matched in its coolness by the lighting scheme, devised and created by Russell Bagley, that accommodates the tricky circumstances of the space
January 2012
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Ready to surface
Anna Lewis takes a peek at some of the exciting new materials about to make an appearance at the Surface Design Show, a three-day event next month at the Business Design Centre
Alex McCuaig
Given a flying start in the sector by the late great James G Gardner, Alex McCuaig has made his own practice MET Studio a byword for innovative exhibition design. He talks about it, and much more, to Jamie Mitchell
New light on old problem
LEDs may have moved from being just an attractive feature to being a usable and functional light source, says lighting designer Paul Nulty, but there are still problems to overcome
if only...
all views were stunning
Skills at hand
Is this age of automation killing off the craftsperson? Aidan Walker, himself a former furniture maker who could make a passable dovetail joint, says craftsmanship is a state of mind
Rooms service
With more visitors due to flock to London next year than ever before, the capital’s hotel sector has added some new additions to its accommodation offer, with some quirky surprises in store, reports Pamela Buxton
December 2011
Top
Space Architecture and Interior Design
Career-defining projects – including two landmark restaurants in their home town of Copenhagen – are bursting out of the practice portfolio of Signe Bindslev Henriksen and Peter Bundegaard Rützou. They talk theory and practice to Jamie Mitchell
Youth Opportunities
The need to engage and motivate teenagers has never been more pressing, especially in post-riot UK. Against a depressing backdrop of decimated youth services, a handful of enlightened institutions, charities and individuals are doing their best to make a difference, through inventive concepts and inspirational design. Veronica Simpson reports
if only...
We could grow domestic grids
Getting shirty
Brinkworth’s store for Ben Sherman is worth the shirt off its back
Life is sweets
Johnny Tucker literally gets a taste of the future at the Sweet Shoppe, part of the London Design Festival
The (new) Conran shop
A designer by training but with retail in his veins, Terence Conran at 80 is now taking M&S by storm
Westfield’s new Broom
Bespoke furniture and lighting designer Lee Broom has added his own unique touch to Stratford City
West meets east
It’s big, it’s shiny, it’s modern, but does Westfield Stratford City justify the investment and the excitement? Veronica Simpson experiences opening-day mania in order to find out
Worktech 11 London Preview
Two days of conference, an exhibition and passionate debate will examine work and the workplace and its relationship with technology, 16-17 November at the British Library, London
Design choices
There are many considerations to be made when creating a product to be a design hit while addressing issues of sustainability and client satisfaction, says Michelle Iacovitti
Lighting design with maximum efficiency and minimum cost
Hart on your sleeve
Savile Row meets Palm Springs in a new Spencer Hart store by Shed
November 2011
Top
School Days
Furniture making now has its very own school, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Dr Lynn Jones and her colleagues who have succeeded in establishing the National School of Furniture. Aidan Walker reports
It’s party time – FX awards style
Paul Nulty
As the former director at Light Bureau, Paul Nulty has struck out on his own with the intention of getting lighting design higher on the agenda of projects and reducing the negative environmental impact of lighting. He talks to Jamie Mitchell about his accidental love affair with lighting
if only...
.. museums were more embracing of different cultures...
Design to the rescue
Neglected British towns are looking to art and architecture to revive their fortunes. Stephen Hitchins packs a road map and an A-Z of top architects to report on the crop of new-build galleries that are aiming to improve the financial and cultural health of regional Britain
Inside the new Maggie's Centre
One-Stop Quality
Design-and-build has gained acceptance – and is now positioning itself at the high-end, says Geoff Andrew, managing director of Margolis Office Environments
Bold as brass
The RCA is making the running in the much-needed move towards sustainability in design with the appointment of Clare Brass to head the fight, says Aidan Walker
Happy Returns
For some people, birthdays are nothing much to celebrate, just the passing of another year. Not so for these luminaries of the architecture and design world. All have reached a milestone this year, and FX asked them to reflect on glories past, present and future. By Helen Parton, with Pamela Buxton
October 2011
Top
Ray Anderson
Hailed by some as an environmental hero but viewed with scepticism by others, history will judge how important a sustainability champion was Ray Anderson, the founder and CEO of Interface who died recently. Jamie Mitchell looks back at Anderson’s life
if only...
buildings could be powered by the wind
Just how bright is the future?
Three leading practitioners experienced in museum and gallery lighting – KSLD, DHA Design and Sutton Vane Associates – give their views on the latest trends, technology and thinking
Art in a new light
Lighting works of art is an art in itself, and both new and old spaces are challenging the standard ideas and techniques
Under starter’s orders
Johnny Tucker reports from Silverstone, the home of British F1, where a new multimillion-pound start line complex is proof positive that the much-criticised venue is making its way back on top
District lines
Blueprint products editor Gian Luca Amadei discusses Italian-designed versus Italian-made as a backgrounder to a Blueprint talk at 100% Design
Can you afford Not to be there?
Is exhibiting at trade shows really a viable use of what is these days a very precious marketing budget? Despite the current trend for small and local, the bigger is the better says Anna King
The alchemy of drawing
For Trevor Flynn, founder of art workshops Drawing at Work, Drawing Gymnasium and Sketchmob, his passion for art borders on a religious fervour. After tallking to him, Aidan Walker, he of the nine per cent score in his school art exam, is intrigued enough to have another go...
Brave new Worlds
Futureologists tell us we’re enjoying a golden age of innovation. With the worlds of science and technology transforming the materials and objects we use, how we make and then consume them, what role will designers play in this brave new world? Veronica Simpson investigates
September 2011
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100% Design 2011
On your way to 100% Design? This six-page guide gives you a taste of things to come...
Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby
A book about their work, their first furniture piece for Vitra, a major art gallery show and that little piece of history, the Olympic torch, are making 2011 a momentous year for BarberOsgerby. Jamie Mitchell talks to the duo
Rising Again
Devastated by earthquake, Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is rising from the ashes with a city-wide design masterplan, reports Helen Parton
Degrees of inspiration
Doing the rounds of this summer’s crop of design course graduate shows, Aidan Walker picks out project work that stands out from the crowd
Recipe for success
We asked five designers: ‘What are the five key design ingredients that go into making a successful restaurant?’
Quality is in the spotlight with POWERBALL HCI
if only...
mobile offices felt more permanent
Meat and drink
From brand-specific bars to octopus-inspired restaurants, four exciting projects whet the appetite
August 2011
Top
Future gazing
Will we be sitting at desks in a big office building to do our work in 50 or even 20 years’ time? Johnny Tucker reports from the latest FX design seminar where design experts gather to debate the issues
Kenneth Grange
Credited as being responsible for making Britain modern, the creations of prolific product designer Kenneth Grange are all around. From the Festival of Britain to a current retrospective at the Design Council, he talks to Jamie Mitchell about his career
Summer Specials
Royal parks and historic houses have something to offer all year round, but summer pavilions and temporary installations provide that extra impetus to make the trip. Pamela Buxton examines two intriguing artistic interventions that give an extra layer of interpretation to the National Trust properties that are hosting them, and takes a look at the latest Serpentine Pavilion and a group of Thames beach huts...
Green Fingers
We may have been in the medals at Chelsea, but there’s no time rest on our laurels, lavender or lobelia, when the message needs broadcasting that plants in offices are good for you, says Ian Drummond
Interior Design & Furnishing Manager London - Westminster
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Says Marc Horn of AECOM
rooms could exist anywhere
A design designer
Aidan Walker meets Marta Nowicka, an ‘interior architect’ who from early days of designing offices with real grass for carpets and swings for visitors to play on, worked with property developers and now develops her own. But in her own, inimitable way...
Landmark gallery of “national importance to Wales” strikes gold
July 2011
Top
My kind of show
Last month Chicago played host to Neocon, the biggest contract furnishings show to be held in North America. Anna Lewis looks at the highlights
Julia Peyton-Jones
The director of the Serpentine Gallery says the programme of summer pavilions by guest architects – that has seen work by Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry and Jean Nouvel among others – was a stroke of good fortune, reports Jamie Mitchell
Class Act
FMX reports on a primary school’s attempt to improve its energy rating
Stay Europe
Three consultancies took up our challenge to design the foyer – with an emphasis on the flooring used – for a fictitious new self-service hotel opening up in three European cities
If only
says Giles Miller of Studio Giles Miller
Design Esperanto
Boundaries on design for the sectors of retail, workplace, hotel and hospitality and resident
Walk this way
From vinyl to the finest marble, the feel under foot of different types of flooring says a huge amount about everything from the interior environment to the brand. Six designers and architects working across a wide range of projects discuss the importance of the subliminal messages flooring sends out
Walk this way
From vinyl to the finest marble, the feel under foot of different types of flooring says a huge amount about everything from the interior environment to the brand. Six designers and architects working across a wide range of projects discuss the importance of the subliminal messages flooring sends out
Bruce Munro
The creator of amazing lighting installations, some on massive scales, some in cathedrals and some bound to bemuse aircraft pilots, tells Jamie Mitchell about how his lighting dreams have literally become reality
June 2011
Top
Festivals of Design
The end of post-war austerity was celebrated by the Festival of Britain in 1951. Sixty years on today’s designers are lauding the design that was a hallmark of the festival and the Fifties era. Pamela Buxton reports
Turner Contemporary Opens beside the seaside
Playtime
Giving over space for consumers to try out products and have a bit of a play can pay major dividends
says designer Alexander Palme
buildings could live in harmony with their surroundings
Gin palaces
Two designs present the perfect cocktail for airport retailing of gin
Raising the bar
New Duty Free design gives individual showcases for brands
Flooring on the up
Modern floorings need not be confined to the floor, nor specified last, with some of the most successful designs using them as an integral part of a scheme, says Julie Dempster
Facing East
New cosmetics offer sets out to take on global retail brands
Back in Black
Dixons’ technology offer gets a new brand look for those who love kit
May 2011
Top
Sheer Luxury
When the going gets tough, luxury brands pull out all the stops. Pamela Buxton looks at some spectacular schemes that promise to keep their brands in the style to which they’re accustomed
Olympic feat
Westfield Stratford City, the £1.45bn shopping centre at the Olympic site, is ready to open in September
Four Good Reads
Aidan Walker turns the pages of a clutch of new books from a quartet of admirable names in the design sector
St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London reopens
Salone DEL Mobile 2011: A Perspective
Two members of Seymourpowell’s research, trends and strategy team examines and considers the overall impact of this year’s Milan furniture fair – no mean feat with a show that’s both vast in scale, boasting millions of global products and physically demanding too. So it possible to identify trends from such a daunting experience? Mariel Brown and Karen Rosenkranz report back
Tord Boontje
Raised in a creative home environment it was a given that Tord Boontje would go into design. Now teaching at the RCA as well as creating products for all levels of customer, he talks to Jamie Mitchell
says Stuart Wood, executive creative director, Fitch
Supermarkets could be less boring
A leap of faith
Some of the most inspiring and dramatic new educational spaces are those of UK faith schools. Veronica Simpson explores architects’ evocations of spirituality and community within the educational experience
Workspace perfection
The Komfort competition to find the perfect workspace was a riot of goodwill from entries and judges alike, with designers asked to create the concept for their individual perfect workspaces and for it to be developed into augmented reality. The submissions were in equal measure inspiring and comical. Here are the top three entries plus those shortlisted, all of which provoked much discussion among the judges
Going global
The recent recession has made the search for new markets keener than ever, and British design is well-respected abroad. But being successful globally isn’t served up on a plate, says Anna King
10 top energy saving tips
by Will Earl of lighting consultancy Mindseye
April 2011
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Top 5
Pick of the best new products
Offices of Stone Harbour Investment Partners, Dover Street, London
Coworth Park Spa, Ascot, Berkshire
Winner of the low carbon category of the 2011 Lighting Design Awards
Lagerfield’s store pops up for a very quick hair-do
Lighting the way ahead
Johnny Tucker sat in on the latest FX design seminar on lighting design – held in association with Luxaflex – and reports that the subject created a lively debating session
KPMG, Canary Wharf, London
Winner of the workplace category of the 2011 Lighting Design Awards
Sally Storey
A pioneer of lighting design and with a focus on creating natural-looking effects by artificial means, Sally Storey has been key to making the discipline a key ingredient of architectural and interior design, says Jamie Mitchell
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Mosaic PATHWAY by WATG
buildings were more adaptable
Reach for the ska
The new environmental Ska Rating means that fit-outs and refurbishments can earn green points too, says Kevin Goldsmith
March 2011
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Sole Traders
Pamela Buxton goes shoe shopping – to see what latest innovations in shoe-store design are being rolled out to keep the insatiable desire for shoes fed
Charles Holden
A much-respected architect in his day, Holden is probably best remembered for his designs for London Underground. But he did so much more, reports Anna Lewis
Top 5
Pick of the best new Products
A Surfeit of ‘ISMS’
Aidan Walker takes a stroll through the pages of the new book Sustainism is the new Modernism – A Cultural Manifesto for the Sustainist Era, by Michiel Schwarz and Joost Elffers
The Brit Insurance Design Awards
Category winners of the Brit Insurance Design Awards are Named…
Sergio Rossi’s new concept store opens
Paris, Friday, March 4, 2011
Stephen Bayley
From his earliest days this critic, author and commentator has been involved with design. Even as a baby he was snapped with a iconic car, not a teddy, says Jamie Mitchell
Mid-weight Hotel FF&E Designer
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Mid-weight Residential Designer
EyeStop by architects and engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
bus stops could be more interactive
Swimming with the fishes
Or dolphins, or even mermaids... now an interative surface technology has been adapted to project suitable images on to the sides and floors of swimming pools...
February 2011
Top
Work Ethics
While impressed by a new book that looks at how changing demographics should be changing the way offices are designed and the way work is done, Aidan Walker, wonders how you get management to read it
Heart felt
Felt has been around for hundreds of years and has myriad decorative and industrial application. It’s also an eco material, which has of course helped bring it back into focus over the past decade. And what’s more, it seems to engender a high level of loyalty among the product designers who use it. We asked a cross-section designers who specialise in the material, “Why felt?”
Fast track to the future
Zaha Hadid’s Evelyn Grace Academy is a bold statement of ambition at the heart of south London’s most crime-afflicted residential neighbourhood. Veronica Simpson finds form, function and aspirations working in harmony
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A Life in Design
The Phantasmological collection of work by Tom Karen at Clare Hall Cambridge
Material gain
The right use of material can make or break a scheme. We went to six designers from across the design spectrum and asked them what constitute the right material and how important are they?
Hussein Chalayan’s installation at Selfridges
Installation is a guide to the world’s coolest places for trendy travellers
Nik Karalis
This director of a multinational architectural practice has some pretty unconventional views about how business should work, but its successes bear them out, reports Jamie Mitchell
Tapping into Eco
As the final touches are being put to next month’s Ecobuild show, featuring the latest thinking on eco products and services, Anna Lewis takes a sneak peek at what’s on offer
January 2011
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Jane queen of charity retail
Jayne Cartwright, the award-winning head of retail for Save the Children, has used design to help boost the effectiveness of charity shops, reports Aidan Walker
Studio Octopi
Design practice Studio Octopi: from churches to Olympics info kiosks
if only...
hotel interiors could be as streamlined as racing cars
100% healthy, 100% sustainable
GranitiFiandre materials propose a new approach to architecture and design, with a keen eye on sustainability, respect for nature and for human being.
Rise to the Surfaces
For a one-stop shop to find out the latest thinking and products in the surfaces sector, you could do a lot worse than making a trip to this year’s Surface Design Show, being held next month in London. Anna Lewis highlights what will be in store and some of the new products being shown
Robin day: A Legend 1915-2010
Considered to be one of the most influential British designers of the 20th century, Robin Day OBE RDI ARCA FCSD will probably be best remembered for the Polyprop chair. Its design in 1962 made him famous and it is still a best-seller. Theresa Dowling and Jamie Mitchell look back at the life and work of this design legend
John Pawson
In the midst of what may be his highest-profile project to date – London’s new Design Museum – the architect talks to Jamie Mitchell about what brought him to this point
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Next month the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon will host its first production since a £100m revamp by architecture practice Bennetts Associates.
December 2010
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Party on!
What better excuse to get together, and get down, than the FX Awards presentation night... This year’s event lived up to the awards’ reputation of lauding outstanding work and hard partying. Jamie Mitchell reports
Car crash seminar
With some design big guns on stage to talk about luxury and the new BMW, what could do wrong? Everything. Aidan Walker survives to tell the tale
Fictional character
Over the past year a variety of design practices have been asked to create interiors for make-believe briefs to illustrate the wide variety of solutions that can be applied. Johnny Tucker presents a selection of favourites
if only...
Lights could fly
ALL+
The new brand ALL+ from surfaces company Allumminio Sammarinese
Top5
Best new products
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Angela Brady
Jamie Mitchell went to the RIBA to meet its president elect, and discovered that Angela Brady is eager to take up the reins – and is positive about much else too
Curtain Up
Get your programme, grab the opera glasses and settle down into your now comfortable seat as several major theatre projects around the country are transforming the theatre-going experience
Reporter
A lifetime of achievement is rewarded
November 2010
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Flooring Q&A
Four designers talk about their most-specified flooring and a project in which the flooring was exceptional
Outside chance
While the development of exterior lighting products has come on in leaps and bounds, outside lighting designs don’t seem to be taking advantage of them, says Mervyn Carter
if only...
Farming could take up less space
Flooring projects
Eight flooring schemes in a variety of locations and for a wide range of uses illustrate the versatility of contemporary flooring products
Howdy, partners
Experts from architecture, commercial interior design and multidisciplined practices gather to discuss and debate the hows and whys of partnering
Four Floors
We gave four very different designers and architects the same flooring brief. Here are the results.
Deep in prayer
It’s a new religion, the church of eco mentalism, and as Aidan Walker reveals, it’s the way forward for designers to save the world
Mag milestone
FX Celebrates in 200th Issue
Domestic bliss
Several designers have used their skills in residential interiors to add that touch of homely luxury to commercial projects.
Cherrill Scheer
With roots in the furniture sector dating back to 1907 when her grandfather founded the Hille furniture company, and 50 years in the business herself, Cherrill Scheer continues to champion designers and encourage students
October 2010
Top
Shopping around
Take a look at these four retail projects, from a classy gun shop to an outlet for nightclubbing girls, that show retail design at its best
The fine art of retailing
Museums are beginning to grasp that their retail outlets can be real money spinners, and they are bringing in the finest exponents of retail design to ensure that their shops do themselves justice
Material worlds
How materials can be used, who has an input into their development, and who is up for taking the risk of trying out new ones were some issues debated by an expert panel of specifiers and manufacturers
If Only...
Facebook could have a physical presence
YVES Béhar
When Swiss-born, award-winning designer Yves Béhar agreed to design the latest work chair for Herman Miller, the Golden Gate Bridge in his adopted city of San Francisco was an inspiration. But while he has embraced California, he says it is only one part of his design personality
Post Office privatization
Privatising the Post Office has been something of a political hot-potato; Tories have long wanted to hive it off, while Labour is less than keen. The Tories are back and Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced his intention to press ahead with the sell-off. We thought we’d get in early and ask some retail designers to have a look at what they’d do if they get the call on this one
Retail design rebranding — the added value of ‘service’
While retail designers have as core skills all that is required for successful rebrand projects, they may need to look at rebranding themselves to keep in the game, says Clive Woodger
Peckham Space
A community arts organization founded by Camberwell College of Art and Southwark Council, Peckham Space has a new building on Peckham Square, that cost just £330,000
September 2010
Top
The impact on flora, fauna – and us
The effect that light, or the absence of it, can have on plants, animals and humans is both wide ranging and complex, with myriad and often unwelcome consequences. So just as major strides are being made in the country’s public lighting provision, we are at risk of compounding the damage being done to ourselves and the nation’s flora and fauna, says Tom Webster
In a league of their own
From the communal gardens on a football pitch to a Toyko theatre and shadow play in a restaurant, three projects show drama can be created out of the darkness
Lure of the dark side
Mark Major revisits three classic projects by Speirs and Major Associates in examining the key role played by darkness
Capital gains
The capital is gearing up for this year’s London Design Festival. And there’s so much more to it than high-profile installations
Why dark matters
Let there be light, but also consider the huge role in a lighting design that can be played by the use of darkness. Here, Mark Major of Speirs and Major Associates gives his views on going over to the dark side
Playing to the gallery
Museums are getting the latest design inspiration put to work in the creation of their exciting new galleries
Specifying worldwide
Our experts, all with experience of doing global business, had plenty to say on the subject, and weren’t going to let a bit of volcano ash get in the way...
Driving position
This year’s display of work by students at New Designers and the RCA SHOW an encouraging clutch of new ideas that are heading in the right direction
Building for education – what lies ahead
While other countries recognize the benefits top-class educational facilities, the UK is looking for quick saves at the expense of the future
Checkland Kindleysides
Thirty-one years on from starting his own retail design consultancy at the tender age of 23, Jeff Kindleysides is still relishing taking on new challenges, especially the wider issues surrounding retail and sustainability, he tells Jamie Mitchell
August 2010
Top
If Only…
We could create loft gardens
Super-fit for purpose
When Rednock School became a Pathfinder it was in for a treat: its new building has ticked all the boxes while also becoming a social hub of its own
Going professional
The interior design industry is stepping up its case for professionalism, claiming that regulation can create a respected career path for graduates and so distinguish them from all the ‘cushion scatterers’
Out of nowhere
The growing trend for pop-up space is taking retail interiors to another level. After the novelty factor wears off, will they stay?
Twisted normality
The new décor exhibition at London’s Haywood gallery showcases artists’ ingenuity in taking everyday interior design objects and creating surprising installations from them
Mike Nightingale
He may have stumbled across healthcare design by chance but he never looked back. Now Mike Nightingale is a leading thinker on the subject, has a book to his name and a practice of his own
Apeing nature
Biomimicry is the design principle by which nature’s solutions are applied to products, materials and processes. It reaps exciting, sustainable rewards
Being patient
The Design Council sent groups into hospitals to experience first-hand what it’s like for patients, with a view to creating a more aesthetically pleasing and dignified hospital environment for them
Decor demons
When the ‘D’ word leaves a nasty taste in the mouth of many interior designers, a debate on decoration and its role – if any – in design promises to be lively...
Kate Wilkins
From being on tour to light rock bands’ shows to illuminating the British Pavilion for Expo 2010 in Shanghai, lighting designer Kate Wilkins has an eclectic back-catalogue of experience, discovers Jamie Mitchell
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July 2010
TopJune 2010
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Taking the plunge
From spas based on the traditional hammam to highly contemporary interpretations, our case studies show how the genre is evolving
Douglas Wallace
Rebounding after being hit by the recession, the Irish practice is on board for a 10-year spa project in Algeria plus projects in Liverpool and London
Turkish Delights
The concept of the spa, with communal facilities for bathing and health promotion, has come from the Romans, via the Victorians and into the modern-day manifestation as a luxury destination
My kinda show
Designer Ken Baker gives a eye-witness report from NeoCon, held last month in Chicago, and while noticing the effects of recession is invigorated by the event
If only
Design studios could be fit for James Bond
Art and crafty
Historic homes and other visitor venues have invited artists to add their own perspective and appeal to the destinations by creating temporary installations
Milan malarky
With a few notable exceptions, Southern Europe is not the place to go looking for the answers that ‘design thinking’ can serve up – we don’t need new chairs just because the old ones are so last year...
Michelle Mcdowell
Made an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours, and becoming chair of ACE, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering, ealier this year, the BDP engineer is happy to be a role model for women in the sector
Back to school
Dr. Priscilla Nelson, Professor of civil and environmental engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, was interviewed by staff writer Nicole Robinson.
How public art can enhance our communities
Architectural glass artist Derek Hunt of Limelight Studios (www.limelightstudios.co.uk) explains how art can be used to enhance our public spaces and buildings
Have designs, will travel
Leaders in the retail design sector reveal how their businesses have been faring... and that while UK high- street work is still largely in a state of hiatus, many of their new projects and schemes are being found abroad
Today's special
Historically confined to premises unfit for the purpose of teaching, never mind moving physically challenged children from a to b, special needs schools have emerged as among the most creative and inspiring of new school buildings
Beginning to click
In March retail designers predicted in FX that far from replacing traditional stores, virtual and real retail will develop side by side, happily augmenting each other. Doug Barber, who founded retail design agency Barber Design in 1999, takes that a stage further, describing a virtual reality that could be a seamless extension of the 3D environment – and one that retail designers can make their own
Softly does it
FX invited Mariel Brown and Zoe Stavrou of Seymourpowell to review trends at this year’s Milan Salone del Mobile, where nature and nostalgia were defining influences
Devices & desires
Apple does not design products so much as create seductive platforms on which we build our own consumer experiences
Priestmangoode
From phones to airline cabins and high-speed trains, Paul Priestman and Nigel Goode of award-winning Priestmangoode tell Jamie Mitchell how their product design backgrounds add a uniqueness to their large-scale design approach
If only
A building’s facade could reflect its interior
May 2010
Top
If only…
You could blend into your new surroundings and delve deep under the surface of your new environment
Perfect partners
Whether it’s a five-star eco-hotel in London or a development in Mombasa, LATIS serves up responsible design for clients who understand sustainability
Walk this way
From a degree in printed textiles and decorative arts and an artist-in-residency, to working as a freelance and a stint as visual merchandiser, has uniquely equipped Nicola Osborn of MoreySmith to apply her perspective on exciting flooring solutions in a variety of commerical projects
Top draw
Cad software has changed the way designers work, but according to many architects and interior designers, it has also led to a decline in traditional pencil-and-paper drawing skills. does it matter?
A professional approach
Simon Cavelle looks at the stature of interior design and puts the case for making qualifications mandatory, to protect both the public and the future of the industry
Rainbow analysis
When it comes to colour, there is no shortage of opinion. But is it all merely subjective or are there theories at play?
Mario Nanni
From the moment he walked into the magical light of a cinema as a child, Mario Nanni knew he wanted to work with light. Now, some decades on and in a spectacular display of lighting prowess, he has illuminated the Milan Opera House in the city’s Festival of Light, he tells Jamie Mitchell
Ready for a close-up
A dozen projects from around the world illustrate the dramatic and unique aspects innovative choices of flooring can add to projects, ranging from public, office, hotel, exhibition and retail
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April 2010
Top
Future trends
Middle East Cranes 2010 provided much food for thought for those intrigued to know how business will develop in the future across the Middle East. David Pittman reports
March 2010
Top
If only…
Half the food produced worldwide didn’t end up as waste
Lasting legacies
Do award-winning projects actually work? Or is it all about aesthetics?We examine five past award winners that score extremely highly on client satisfaction to see how they won both gongs and ongoing approval from their inhabitants and users
Water world
Jyväskylä in Finland was placed first in recent lighting awards. With its waterside location as a backdrop, it chose to have stimulating and sustainable light in all its public spaces
White water
Designers have used light to make a new pedestrian bridge in West Yorkshire a focus for the community as well as making the turbulent post-weir water below it a sensational feature
Floored by choice
Developments in the flooring sector have blurred traditional boundaries between comfort and resilience. Julie Dempster looks at the huge choices now available
A living science
Dr Rachel Armstrong lit up the Ecobuild exhibition with her radical and scientific seminars. Her thinking is altruistic and uplifting, with a real purpose of changing the way we live. This is a monumental and practical drive for intelligent change
2010 lighting design
Extremes of treatment, budget and timescale make for two very different results from the same team
Tim Hunkin
As a designer Tim Hunkin is best known for his collaboration on the design and curation of The Human Factor, a show on ergonomics for the Science Museum and other exhibition projects, including exhibits for the Eden Project. But don’t forget about the clocks, the cartoons and the inventions
Old for new?
Is there a place in new contract projects for classic pieces of furniture, or even antiques? there is much to consider
Harvest festival
The recent designer-in residence exhibition at the design museum prompted fx to have a chat with one of the emerging talents who fuses architecture, design and art
Spa bright
A stunning setting was created with design, light and water for the spa at the lakeside Europe Hotel in Country Kerry, where the design team worked on the interplay of light and shadow
John Moores University unveils Tom Reilly building
UK-based architectural and design studio Austin-Smith:Lord has completed GBP20 million ($29.9 million approx) sustainable Tom Reilly building for Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) in England.
Lighting’s magic man
A new exhibition of work by James Turrell, who conjures up a perfect marriage of Light, Space and Architecture, opens
Design awards demand attention
Brit Insurance Design Awards reveals its strongest shortlist yet at the Design Museum in London
Centre of attention
Johnny Tucker looks at two exciting new retail projects, one a multimillion-pound city-centre redevelopment
Pull up a chair
Jorgen Josefsson, of RH Chairs, looks at the rise of the office chair as the star of the workplace, and why its design is now more important than ever
Priority patients
The latest healthcare facilities are addressing the psychological as well as the clinical needs of patients
Full on experience
Where once an airport was a place to get your plane, and maybe do a bit of shopping before, now retail designers are making them destinations in their own right, airside and landside
Hats off
We asked three different designers and architects to take up the challenge of a fictitious brief for an area in a department store…
Daniel Taylor
Plans to establish his own, small design practice with a couple of clients didn’t last long – by its second year Daniel Taylor’s Metro Design Consultants was handling million-pound schemes
February 2010
Top
Artistic judgement
Four case studies show the exceptional sculptural effects the choice of surface materials can bring to a project
Eco friends
The upcoming ecobuild show is a one-stop shop for sustainable design and building, with stands, high-powered seminars and more
Living it up
BioTecture has created a living wall partition of indoor and outdoor plants to create an organic surface in a West End retail store
Don’t forget the contractor
Bob Cole, managing director of Mayfair-based building contractor Holloway White Allom, believes that the builder deserves more acclaim
Tom Karen
His may not be a name or a face that is instantly recognizable, but read the list of household name products that Tom Karen has designed and you realize that he was one of the leading designers of his generation
January 2010
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Plasma Lights The Way Head
After a bit of a bumpy history, lighting via plasma technology is setting out its stall to be a realistic contender to led
FX Awards – A Stoat’s Eye View
Now all the hullabaloo has died down again for another year, it’s time to look at the entries and see what really made its mark design-wise as assessed by our regular but independent contributor, Aidan Walker
Changing The Face of Bricks
Long the staple of construction, the brick no longer needs to be mundane, with new and novel twists from glazed to knitted
Material World
The surface design show next month offers an exclusive focus on the latest surface materials and products available
Bums on seats?
‘Workplace Hoteling’ is the new hotdesking, But is there more to be done to embrace new, efficent and flexible ways of working?
Richard Kauntze
Since his tenure began in 1999, CEO of the British Council for Offices Richard Kauntze has been tirelessly working to raise awareness of the organisation’s services. He tells Jamie Mitchell what the BCO can do to help businesses of all sizes to get the office their employees deserve
Hadid makes a big impression with Maxxi
A decade in the making, Zaha Hadid’s National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome is worth the wait
December 2009
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Water world
In the capital of a drought-prone Australian state, a water-conserving, environmentally friendly HQ has been created by architecture practice Hassell and graphic design firm Front Design for the South Australia water company
Ken Giannini
Recently appointed as joint interior design director at Scott Brownrigg, American Ken Giannini is getting stuck right in, working hard to fulfil the company’s ambition of being one of the UK’s top commerical interior design practices. He talks to Jamie Mitchell about the challenges ahead
1,000 thrills
This year’s fx awards Gala night attracted a packed house to see the presentations for some outstanding work and achievements
Food for thought
Overhead lifting equipment can provide a cleaner, more efficient alternative to forklifts. Bob Ebisch reports on a market seemingly immune to economic pressures elsewhere in the USA.
November 2009
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New London Showroom for Moroso and Flos
Italian furnishing designing firm, Morosa joined hands with specialty lighting designer Flos, in last week of October 2009 to open its new furnishings/ lighting showroom at Rosebery Avenue, London
InterfaceFLOR unveils Versaflex System: new flooring concept for offices
US-based modular commercial flooring expert InterfaceFLOR, a subsidiary of modular carpet maker Interface, has launched Versaflex System – an innovative flooring concept for offices that combines ceramic and carpet tiles in a single installation
EOOS
From a chance encounter at university, the three members of Austrian product design team EOOS recognised they shared a common wavelength, leading to successful projects for, among others, Walter Knoll, Bene and Adidas. Jamie Mitchell talks to the trio about their collective inspirations
Reaching for the sky
Design practices which worked in the UAE through the building boom are seeing a more thoughtful and cultural ethos emerge
November Forum
Now’s the Best Time to be an Exhibitionist
Philip Watts
He’s created everything - from door knobs for Sir Elton John to luxurious clubs for A-listers and places for ladies who lunch in Harvey Nichols…to kebab shops and park benches in the Midlands. Now interior designer Philip Watts is staging a retrospective, back at the university where it all began
Philip Watts design 15 year retrospective
A range of inspired work by Philip Watts Design is to go on display at Bonington Gallery, Nottingham Trent University to celebrate 15 years of the creative interior design practice
October 2009
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Claus Sendlinger
A former palace now a hotel based on an ‘intimate journal’. A hotel/hospital that presents you with a ‘how-to-manual’ for your next 45 years. You might think Claus Sendlinger, head of Design Hotels has seen it all but, as the ‘lifestyle prophet’ explains to Jamie Mitchell, and his eyes are still ‘wide open’
Loos change
Innovation is the watchword in public toilets. We discover all the latest trends
Soul Towns
In the search for a meaningful word that encompasses everything we mean when we say ‘sustainable’, the principles of modern urban design and development bear a few timely lessons
Troubled arts centre wins over the public
West Bromwich’s controversial gallery The Public is now fully open and seems to be laying its demons to rest
Candy & Candy to launch Design School in UK
London-based interior design specialist Candy & Candy will be revealing its design secrets to aspiring designers in February 2010 with the launch of its Design School
FX launches major design survey
To understand what our readers view as the most important issues for 2010, FX is launching a major industry survey covering all its readers worldwide
October Forum
Branding must change
October Forum
Branding must change
Light touch
Architects, designers and lighting suppliers met for the latest FX Design Seminar to illuminate the issues surrounding lighting design
Interior Design Association sees light of day in the UK
The Interior Design Association (IDA) was launched on September 25, 2009 to represent practices and individuals, principally, but not exclusively, designing commercial interiors in the UK
September 2009
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Best of British
Talk to almost anyone in the UK design industry and they’ll tell you that British design is where it’s at – but is it a myth or reality, and is ‘best’ just subjective?
Best of British
Talk to almost anyone in the UK design industry and they’ll tell you that British design is where it’s at – but is it a myth or reality, and is ‘best’ just subjective?
Burdifilek
Diego Burdi and Paul Filek have a flair for luxury design that, thanks to their enthusiasm and ambition, is now in demand from clients across the world
Jaime Hayón to Antony Gormely: Checkmate
Spanish designer Hayón brings life-size chess set of London landmarks to play with in Trafalgar Square
August 2009
Top
LEDs at the Leading Edge
Innovations in led technology are enabling manufacturers to offer lighting solutions that are practical, decorative and efficient
Geordie Toon
Exciting design and regeneration projects are transforming the old industrial face of Newcastle
Redesigning Beauty
Adapting existing products to give them a new lease of life scores eco points but the aesthetics still need a little refinement
Power surge
Global demand for new power plants will call for specialist tower cranes. Will North reports
Surreal Thing
We challenged three very different types of designers to fulfil our brief to create a day-to-night cafe/bistro and bar with a surreal twist
Serpentine gallery opens summer pavilion
SANAA architects create a dreamlike canopy of shiny aluminium that seems to float between the trees
The X factor and Y we abhor it
Much of British management needs to drop its risk-averse short termism and realise good workplace design is not an optional extra but a crucial investment
Nigel Coates
An architect, designer and Royal College of Art professor, Nigel Coates does buildings, restaurants, furniture but not, he’ll say thankfully, offices
Register today to Xin: Icograda World Design Congress Beijing 2009
Register today to Xin: Icograda World Design Congress Beijing 2009
Register today to Xin: Icograda World Design Congress Beijing 2009
Super contemporary for the capital
The Design Museum celebrates London’s most dynamic designers contributions to city life
July 2009
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The Occidental Tourists
They may be still a huge cultural divide between the East and West, but design is ridging it, with British designers in much demand for top-end retail projects in the Far East and Middle East. But will places lose their cultural identity as a result?
Guiding principles
New York Design Practices WXY Architecture and local projects have set a new benchmark in tourist information offices. Technology not only has the gen but also adds color to this sophisticated interior in New York City
Sonnemann Toon
From a background working with healthcare specialist Nightingale, the three partners went off to work in different sectors before forming Sonnemann Toon, now a specialist practice itself in healthcare projects. FX talks to Gary Toon
Taking The Weight Off Your Feet
Seat design, both in the air and on the ground, has stepped up a gear, not just in terms of comfort and cost-efficiency, but also in its overall aesthetic value
Space 2009
To boldly go where no one has gone before is a great opportunity for two firms involved in the design of Virgin’s Galactic project
Budget Airline Lounge
We asked three consultancies – Portland Design, BDGworkfutures and Blacksheep – to create an airport lounge for a budget airline to be a space that could be charged at a premium and included revenue generation within it. This is what they came up with
Digital craftsmanship
Art, design, craft, digital technology and a few other things besides meet, mix and match in the work of Mentmore studios founder Dominic McCausland
Purple days
The latest FX design seminar, held at Scott Brownrigg’s new Covent Garden offices, sparked a lively debate on the impact of colour and its importance in the design mix
Firefly lighting design
Firefly’s Peter Veale and John Lau have an impressively eclectic portfolio and, as they tell Jamie Mitchell, they pride themselves on never repeating work
June 2009
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We don’t need no education...
Some of the worst-performing secondary schools in the UK have created the boldest new designs, to try to motivate and engage their pupils. But can design really make the difference?
The shape of politics
Politicians would tell us that rules need to be made and conformed to in all sectors, while architects and designers may resent the unqualified laying down the law. FX talks to interested parties in the debate
Big city cachét
Designers Dalziel + Pow and JHP are bringing sophistication and verve to projects for in New York and Bucharest, reports Johnny Tucker
Talking heads
Leading figures from five top retail design consultancies give their views of the impact of the recession on the sector and what, in their opinion, lies ahead
Girsberger have moved into a brand new showroom
Making it count
On the one hand it looks as if design is going off the deep end. On the other, the time is ripe for designers to wield greater power than ever. Use responsibly, but with delight
Guiding principles
New York design practice WXY Architecture and local projects have set a new benchmark in tourist information offices. Technology not only has the gen but also adds colour to this sophisticated interior in New York City
Guiding principles
New York design practice WXY Architecture and local projects have set a new benchmark in tourist information offices. Technology not only has the gen but also adds colour to this sophisticated interior in New York City
SONNEMANN TOON
From a background working with healthcare specialist Nightingale, the three partners went off to work in different sectors before forming Sonnemann Toon, now a specialist practice itself in healthcare projects. FX talks to Gary Toon
May 2009
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Public Service
In advance of the Design Prima Show on 2-4 June, we ask designers who have worked extensively in the public sector for their views on the experience. Is it really that different?
Public Service
In advance of the Design Prima Show on 2-4 June, we ask designers who have worked extensively in the public sector for their views on the experience. Is it really that different?
If only...we could change our view of the river
We ask designers and architects what they would create if they had carte blanche
Designer's Judgement
In the first of a new feature in which products are scrutinised by expert, a wall covering is assessed for healthcare projects
Designer's Judgement: Your Product is Our New Focus
FX is planning a new editorial feature which will put your products in front of designers. Each of these features will focus on a particular market sector which will be reviewed and assessed by a specialist design practice and published in FX.
Material Girl
With more than 20 years’ experience of working with new surfaces – for everything from commercial interiors, kiosks for London Underground, set design for the BBC, and for products such as furniture, china and jewellery, Annabelle Filer is indeed a surfaces expert. She tells Nicole Robinson about some of her favourites and some of her latest discoveries
Rob Edkins
Rob Edkins, founder of 2D3D and the man designer Ron Arad describes as ‘fearless’ for his willingness to take on any project ‘however bizarre or surreal’, talks to Jamie Mitchell about rock ’n’roll trains, shape-shifting dresses, and Zaha Hadid
April 2009
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Tiny roots of great genius
Nanotechnology is coming to the fore to create pioneering materials that may revolutionise industry, architecture and product design
Rabih Hage’s Rough Luxe, King's Cross, London
The past collides with modern art and anti-luxury philosophy
Where the art is
Luxury property developer Londonewcastle wanted the refurbishment of its own offices to reflect its specific influences of art, music, design and fashion, so the natural next step was to design the make-over in house
Register now for Design Prima!
FOOTASYLUM ‘GO CRAZY’ FOR VICTORIAN WOODWORKS
3Sphere
3Sphere has launched a competition to win a Charta Lounge Chair worth £1,430
VICTORIAN WOODWORKS ‘CHECK-IN’ IN FINE STYLE AT CAMERON HOUSE
VICTORIAN WOODWORKS TIMBERS ‘MIX AND MATCH’ AT THE REFINERY
hotel focus
When luxury just isn’t enough, there are hotels that put character and design top of their agenda. Pack your bag for an FX tour of some of these unique destinations
Doing the right thing
David Brunt, Head of Sustainability at industry-leading decorative paints manufacturer Dulux Trade, unravels the confusion of measuring sustainability
If only...
Offices could be more flexible
Khoshhal Azeemi
After studying in Russia and London, Ramboll Whitbybird engineer Khoshhal Azeemi jumped at the chance to return to his home town, the war-torn Kabul, to supervise the building of a hospital. It was to be an award-winning experience for him
Mary Rose rises another level
£35m museum project given go-ahead by Portsmouth City Council
Public service
In the first of two articles in advance of The Design Prima Show, designer Clive Hall examine the pleasures and perils of public-sector design amid media scrutiny
March 2009
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Shop Talk
We look at retail projects in the UK, USA, Dubai, Athens, Dublin, Korea, India, Denmark and the Netherlands
Nobu but the best
As part of the opulent Atlantis resort in Dubai, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s new restaurant celebrated its opening with the world’s largest private party. Designer Rockwell Group used natural materials and exquisite craftsmanship to bring a Japanese flavour to the United Emirates’ state.
Mightier than the sword
In our occasional look at iconic design classics, the Bic Biro comes in for praise from designers – and schoolboys
If only...
I could personalise my visual environment wherever I am
Your product is our new focus
Tell us what you would like reviewed
Royal College of Art development to be named the Dyson Building
A whiter shade of pale
Pure, clean and modern looking, white is not always what it seems. Here is the pick of true whites in a selection of materials and for a variety of applications
A fleeting flash of brilliance
This ‘pop-up’ restaurant juxtaposes Western and Congolese food, music, art and design
David Rockwell
From a childhood steeped in theatre, it’s no surprise that a dash of the theatrical is now a signature for leading architect David Rockwell. From bases in New York, Milan and Dubai, he adds colour and spectacle to a wide variety of projects, including the Oscars’ stage
HEALTHCARE - Norbury Ward
Gone are the days when public sector meant dull and utilitarian. As these case studies show, the public realm is the new arena for appealing and problem-solving design
March Forum
Sustainability does not mean compromise, now or ever
Different Strokes
No two teams work in the same way – it’s this dynamic, creative energy that makes the industry so exciting. FX talks to Andrew Wills, head designer at Colebrook Bosson Saunders, and to Lauren Welsh, a new talent at wallcovering specialist Muraspec
Festive in February
Celebrating 10 successful years in London, interior design firm M Moser held a party at Paramount at the top of Centre Point in February.
Bankable Design
The banks that haven’t been hit too hard must be seeing this as an opportunity to steal a march on their competitors. That’s the essence of the fictitious brief we gave to three design consultancies.
Jailhouse blues?
The design of prison interiors can be profoundly important, and the choice of colour has a major role to play in the effect a term inside can have on a person
Top 4 Products
March
Brand New
It was vital that the new offices of branding specialist Vizuem evoked the vivacity and creativity of its business. Architect MoreySmith and fit-out specialist Parkeray created a bold, clean design that looks effortlessly stylish
January 2009
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Spink and span
There’s little on the outside to hint at the stunning interior the in-house design team at property firm Spink created at its headquarters, with its vibrant colour scheme, clean lines and glass partitioning
Cardiff charms
Major projects have recently been completed or are underway in the public sector throughout the Cardiff area, particularly in the health and education fields.
Concrete concerns
Building design has become a key issue, especially for government, as efforts to control energy waste and damage to the environment move up its agenda
January 2007
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Just the ticket
Electric hoists have become a staple behind-the-scenes component of the entertainment industry. Phil Bishop reports
October 2006
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Civic pride
For visitors to Aylesbury's new civic theatre, the drama will begin before they even enter the building. Keren Fallwell reports
November 2000
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Cutting edge
The first large scale version of the DPLEX eccentric head TBM is being proved on a major project in Japan, reports Susumu Uchiyama, of the tunnelling equipment engineering department of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
Straight to the point
A building materials supplier has learned the advantages of long reach truck loaders
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