Move over fashion week, London Design Festival is here. Nothing makes our hearts flutter more, and particularly with Brompton Design District getting better and better each year.
Bioplastic Future – Andrej Andrej
Taking place in our west London hood, the Brompton Design District is a much-revered design district throughout the London Design Festival, come September. Established in 2006, the ‘Brompton’ area stands proud as the first design district created specifically for the London Design Festival. The festival continues to flaunt South Kensington and Chelsea design in its 12-year supremacy as a haven for innovative and experimental design in one of London’s most-highly regarded vicinities for iconic, international design brands.
The Conran Shop, Chelsea
Each year, Brompton Design District focuses on a new topical issue through the eye of design and via a cluster of great design retailers and global brands in the area, along with local cultural institutions including the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Royal College of Art to not only inspire but also utlise their spaces so to foster and flourish new design
Franklin Till
This year’s theme across the district, as set by curator Jane Withers, is ‘Material Consequences’. Withers has requested a series of projects by research studios and designers to reconsider their approach to materials to in how we use and reuse them. The concurring though is the exploration of waste and its capability as a resource, rather than something so associated with disposability.
Ma-tt-er – Why Materials Matter – Wang Söderström Treasures
“Materials are a defining issue of our age as we belatedly realise that we cannot continue to abuse natural resources and discard rubbish. For the London Design Festival, Brompton Design District will showcase design projects that question and rethink attitudes to materials and waste, and the shift to a circular economy”, comments Jane Withers.
Ma-tt-er – Why Materials Matter LDF – Envisions Simone Post Wood in Progress.
The true joy of Brompton Design District is that all events take place within minutes of the Victoria & Albert Museum, which also plays host to many of this year’s major projects. All the while, leading design brands and retailers across the district will utilise the time to showcase new products and launches. Notably, Scandi powerhouse Skandium will transform their townhouses into an ‘Eco Home’ to also incorporate sustainable brands including Skagerak and Montana. Intriguing design spot Mint will display contemporary thinkers and designs to reconsider the design process to focus on the evolution of materials. Further leading international brands taking part include Boffi, Cassina, Kartell, Molteni, The Conran Shop, Smallbone of Devizes, Sub-Zero & Wolf.
A Fountain for London – Michael Anastassiades
Furthermore, and perhaps where the real intrigue rests, is via a block of vacated offices and shops at 197 – 205 Brompton Road, as well as other explorable spaces offered by South Kensington Estates to become centre stage a range of pop-up exhibitions focusing on the theme of ‘Material Consequences’. Those taking part include Ma-tt-er, Michelle Lowe-Holder, Fernando Laposse and Sigmar. One particular happening that’s truly caught our eye is ‘A Fountain for London’. Presented by The London Fountain Company, a prototype for a new drinking water fountain designed by Michael Anastassiades will launch at this year’s district and at the Victoria & Albert Museum. The design has been developed as means to revive the drinking fountain culture once ever-present within the city’s public spaces.
Brompton Design District is a part of the London Design Festival that runs from 15 – 23 September 2018. All exhibitions and events are open to the public during this period. The Brompton Late Night Opening is on Thursday 20 September
Brompton Design District
bromptondesigndistrict.com
