London Design Festival 2011: here are some photos of an installation by Japanese designers Nendo at the headquarters of design brand Established & Sons during the London Design Festival this week.
Nendo attached square crumpled fragments of London maps to the showroom walls, arranged in dense clusters that diffuse towards the edges like a city fog hanging around the collection.
The project with Nendo is the first in a series of collaborations under the title My London and coincides with the launch of the brand's seventh catalogue, which features photographs of the collection in London locations by Peer Lindgreen.
The London Design Festival continues until 25 September - see all our coverage of the event in our special category.
See all our stories about Nendo here and all our stories about Established & Sons here.
Here are some more details from Established & Sons:
The first presentation of ‘My London’ during the London Design Festival sees Japanese architects and design studio, Nendo interpreting their vision of creative London in an installation at the Established & Sons Wenlock Road headquarters and showroom.
Inspired by iconic images of the ‘city of fog’, Nendo has created an ethereal floor-to-ceiling wall installation. Incorporating hundreds of pieces of 16 randomly selected small maps of London, the ‘fog’ engulfs the cavernous space of the Established & Sons showroom. The textured pieces of the maps represent small memories of London captured in one space and are illuminated to create a soft and magical image of the city. The fog also surrounds selected pieces from the current collection and new 2011 products which are placed on plinths at low heights to enhance the flowing quality of the space.
Established & Sons will celebrate the creative influence of its home city with the launch of a new initiative ‘My London’, a series of global activities which will look to the heart of London and the creative minds who live, meet and work there. A selection of London-based talents and international names from the worlds of design, art and architecture have been invited to work on collaborations, installations and objects that define their idea of the city.
“London is the world’s epicentre: an international hub for high-finance and the leading authority in the creative fields. Established & Sons could only have been born, raised and nurtured in this great city. To focus on London for the design festival and to champion the city at such a poignant time in its history makes perfect sense. We want to re-own what London stands for, to celebrate its internationalism, creativity, eclecticism and humour and remind everyone that being a part of London remains something to be proud of.” Angad Paul - Chairman, Established & Sons.
The first presentation of ‘My London’ will be during the London Design Festival with Japanese architects and design studio, Nendo interpreting the vision of creative London in an installation at the Established & Sons Wenlock Road headquarters and showroom.
“Since its inception, Established & Sons has been at the forefront of international design, giving both renowned and up-and-coming designers an equal platform to create beautiful and innovative products. London is a melting pot of cultures and ideas; coherently with this view Established & Sons have invited Nendo to interpret their vision of this creative city during London Design Festival.’’ Maurizio Mussati - Chief Executive Officer, Established & Sons.
Within the ‘My London’ installation, Nendo will incorporate designs from the Established & Sons current collection as well as new 2011 products including Cape, Dame, Quilt, Surface Table, Revolver and Pour.
‘‘It is a great honour to collaborate with Established & Sons. We have admired the brand’s creative style for many years now and respect their attitude towards encouraging and challenging designers to push for the technically new and exciting. A strong cultural diversity exists in London and we love the great balance of the architectural old and new in the city. We hope to recreate this feeling in our design for the ‘My London’ exhibition.’’ Oki Sato – Nendo.
The ‘My London’ installation will coincide with the launch of the new Established & Sons No.7 catalogue, which will depict lighting, furniture and accessories photographed within London-based locations, reflecting Established & Sons enduring commitment to present design that is delightful, liveable and yet beyond the ordinary.
Visual arts and design publisher Phaidon will also have a reading space at Established & Sons Wenlock Road for the duration of London Design Festival, which will mark the start of an ongoing collaboration.
Opening Times
Monday 19 September – Tuesday 20 September 10.00 – 18:00
Wednesday 21 – Thursday 22 September 9.30 – 16.30
Friday 23 September – Sunday 25 September 9.30 – 17.30