Soft Domesticity Workshop - Bogotá

The School of Design and Architecture of Universidad de Los Andes (Bogotá) hosted the Soft Domesticity Workshop from February 15 to 19, 2010, as part of the academic agenda of Semana Internacional de la Moda de Bogotá 2010.

I was delighted to share and direct this experience with Carole Collet who is the director of MA Textile Futures at Central Saint Martins College in London.

A total of 26 students from diverse design schools were part of this workshop that produced 6 scenarios for textiles to improve homes in 2050´s Bogotá.

The Paper Tower by Shigeru Ban (LDF09)

Installation at Royal Festival Hall by Shigeru Ban.

HINT: structural strength of weak materials.

"Japanese architect and designer Shigeru Ban has been working with cardboard manufacturer Sonoco to create a 22m-high cone-shaped structure out of compressed cardboard tubing. As many of Ban´s previous projects have proven, cardboard has a structural strength and this installation shows what can be achieved. It is possible to stand inside and look out up through the structure."*

* from The Guide of The London Design Festival 2009.

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2009 by Kazuyo Sejima & Ryue Nishizawa (LDF09)

Kazuyo Sejima & Ryue Nishizawa Pavilion for Serpentine Gallery.

HINT: weather changes the appearance of the installation and space becomes expanded thanks to the reflective material.

" The architects has described the temporary structure as `floating aluminium, drifting freely between the trees like smoke. The reflective canopy undulates across the site , expanding the park and sky. Its appearance changes according to the weather , allowing it to melt into the surroundings. It works as a field of activity with no walls, allowing uninterrupted view across the park and encouraging access from all sides. It is a sheltered extension of the park where people can read, relax and enjoy lovely summer days´."*

* from The Guide of The London Design Festival 2009.

Wasted at V&A (LDF09)

South Kensington London Underground tunnel.

HINT: re-use materials for a coating architecture.

"Wasted is a project conceived and curated by Arts Co, presented in the tunnel connecting the London Underground to V&A, which sees architect Ian Douglas-Jones and designer Ben Rousseau create a vast architectural seating strata using materials reclaimed by Elvis & Kresse. Wasted will interrogate a UK environmental problem - the tones of traditionally unrecycled waste that end up in landfill - and demonstrate how reclaimed materials can be used to create aspirational products."*

*from Wasted by Arts Co.

Sunny Memories at RCA (LDF09)

Up to Bottom: Hang - Georges Moanack | Insect Killer - Ming Kyu Choi | Solar Panels

HINT: Solar energy objects for a green and sustainable living.

"There is a revolution going on in solar energy, about to become part of our daily lives in unexpected ways - in many shapes, richly coloured and with multiple functions. A new generation of solar cells has been born: thin, coloured, translucent and even flexible. The source of this revolution it the EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédërale de Lausanne), where Profesor Michaël Grätzel, inspired by plant photosynthesis, began to use dye molecules to transform sunlight into electricity. His work drew heavy praise from the scientific community, resulting is a World Technology Award. While further technological developments are ongoing in the labs, it is now up the designers to explore the potential meanings of this form of solar energy so as to make us aware of the signiicance of this major change."*

* from Sunny Memories introduction by Nicolas Henchoz.

Bokja for The Quirico Company at London Tent (LDF09)

Bokja Furniture.

HINT: Extreme crafted furniture.

Clouds - Ligne Roset (LDF09)

Clouds by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Ligne Roset.

HINT: an amazing and fun covering of home walls.

"Clouds is an innovative and colourful new tile concept for the home. The tiles can be used as an installation and be hung from a wall or ceiling.

Clouds evolve as you add elements to it, producing a unique three-dimensional effect, coating architecture in a fluid yet chaotic way. Inspired by the inviting irregularity of the surface, you construct your own piece and turn your vision into reality."*

* from Clouds brochure.

Knit Wit with Iittala (LDF09)

Barley Massey knits at Skandium.

HINT: unexpected knit uses.

"Barley has covered items such as Alvar Alto vases, Oiva Toika glass birds, and Antonio Citterio serving spoons with knit, giving the items both a new appearance and new possibilities for use."*

* from The Guide of The London Design Festival 2009.

Architectural Association - Designing Fabrications (LDF09)

Designing Fabrication Prototypes 2008-2009.

HINT: future definition of architecture by the use of digital tools to expand design possibilities.

"Designing Fabrication is an exhibition that presents the work of the AA|FAB Research Cluster - a two-year research programme at the Architectural Association School. The programme acted as an agency to foster interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration between members of the AA school community and outside participants who share a common interest in the emerging application of digital design and fabrication technologies within architecture."*

* from AA|FAB Designin Fabrication brochure by Alan Dempsey.

100 % Materials (LDF09)

Up to Bottom: Hand knited colombian fique fibre | Metal Finishes | Felted Wool | Knitted Wool Carpet | Wool + Metal

HINT: new uses for traditional materials and new materials.

100% Design | Part 3 (LDF09)

Up to Bottom: Trellick Tower - Margo Shelby | Ceramic Tattoo | Jessica Preston | Andrew Tanner Design | Paper Chairs + Table

100% Design | Part 2 (LDF09)

Up to Bottom: Sharon Marston Sculptural Light | re-Love Lighting - Maezm Design Studio | Cloud Walk - Yu Jordy Fu

100% Design | Part 1 (LDF09)

Up to Bottom: Indoor Roof at Earls Court | Dupenny Wallpapers | Thelermont Hupton | Flexible Wooden.

HINT: convergence of new products, trends, emerging design expressions, in a word: FUTURE.

"100% Design London has been developed with one commitment in mind: to inspire. Our Daily lives don´t allow time to explore and seek out the new. Yet now is exactly the time that the design industry must sharpen its pencils and seek out fresh thinking, emerging trends and new products.

As ever, we have our eye in the future of our industry. 15 years ago, during our first show, email was optional, phones were tied to the wall, and fax was king! The next 15 years will see further technological convergence and the emergence of new global cultural and economic centres."*

* from 100% Design Directory presentation written by Peter Massey.