Following Tramshed’s successful debut last year, it was touch and go whether it could run again in the same venue (from where the event got its name) as the building’s lease had been acquired by a restaurant. Happily at the eleventh hour, the organisers were able to switch from an alternative venue in Victoria back to the Tramshed (due to a delay with the restaurant’s late licence) so for this year at least, it remained one of the anchor shows for the London Design Festival’s ‘Shoreditch Triangle’ design hub (the other being TENT).
Last year’s Tramshed exhibition seems to have morphed into this year’s Designjunction – where many furniture designers and manufacturers who participated at Tramshed have decamped. Consequently this year’s Tramshed was more of a promotional showcase for the De La Espada group of brands – namely Autoban, Matthew Hilton, Soren Rose Studio, Studio Ilse, Benjamin Hubert, Charlotte Mullen and Leif.designpark – alongside a smattering of independent designers and like-minded companies – including Miranda Watkins, noteworthy for her striking mobiles, and lighting firms Bocci and Delightful – whose designs have an elegant bygone aesthetic and craftsmanship.
Tramshed’s stable of designers complimented each other well in the warehouse space, with Autoban, Leif.designpark and Soren Rose’s neutral furnishings exhibited in mini living room vignettes. The coffee and cream colour palette was broken up by the other designers’ work, shown along one side of the main space and on the upper and lower levels. One couldn’t help noticing that Autoban’s aesthetic is becoming more tastefully European – possibly influenced by De La Espada’s production capabilities with wood – save for some fabulous turquoise base lamps that had a touch of Jonathan Adler/David Hicks…
Over to Bloomsbury – where, after a confident debut in Milan last April, Designjunction rocked up at the basement of Victoria House – which has to be one of the best exhibition spaces in central London.
Initially starting out as a British design show, the now international line-up comprised an impressive roll call of brands – including Another Country, Benchmark, deadgood, Cassina, Cappellini, innermost, Channels, Flooring Concepts, Jake Dyson, Christopher Farr, Fritz Hansen, Pinch, Hitch Mylius, Poltrona Frau and Viaduct. Art directed by British designer Michael Sodeau, it was all very grown up and slick, and while you couldn’t fault the work on display, there was little to really set the pulses racing.
Matilda brought a touch of Australian humour and ingenuity to the proceedings with a group display and pop-up cafe. Highlights included Charles Trevelyan’s witty ‘Titanic’ lamp, which appears to be sinking into the surface it rests on… and Toby Horrocks’ surprisingly strong cardboard ‘Popup’ shelf – which is being pitched as a nifty solution for events and temporary retail spaces.
From neighbouring New Zealand, and making its UK debut at Designjunction was Resident – whose Task Light by Jake Dyson tackled the issue of unsightly flexes, resulting in a strikingly graphic silhouette. Too few designers consider this issue, which can detract from a product’s overall design. Inspired by tower cranes and drawing boards, the 3-way adjustable light features clever ‘heat pipe’ technology which cools its LEDs to ensure sustainable quality performance – that will last (undimmed) for an impressive 37 years!
Hitch Mylius deserves a medal for not only manufacturing its entire range in the UK – but in North London to boot! Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the company commissioned architect Nigel Coates to update his existing ‘Oxo’ collection, originally designed in 1998 for his award-winning Oyster House. The organic, pebble like units can be used individually or scattered throughout a space in clustered patterns, providing inviting seating configurations.
Viaduct, the long established London-based distributor of rigorous European furniture showed us how its done with a very simple and minimal display of just a few choice pieces – including a rational sofa design by Canadian firm Bensen which was also supremely comfortable!
It looks like the Czechs weren’t the only ones considering new forms for the bygone dressing table (see 100% Design report) – Pinch Design showed its Shaker inspired Iona Cheval Mirror (with a drawer underneath) – transforming the bedroom to boudoir with a stylish flourish.
All in all, these shows showed that despite the challenging economic climate, good design ideas and production values are still very much in evidence. Dominant materials and trends? Wood, wood and more wood, leaning furniture, stackable chairs, elliptical shapes and er, red flexes.
Word on the street is that Tramshed and Designjunction might join forces next year. Consolidating these two great shows into one even greater show is surely the way to go.
