Clerkenwell Design Week: 2017 Highlights from a Natural Perspective

Clerkenwell Design Week: 2017 Highlights from a Natural Perspective
26/05/2017 Anna Sjostrom Walton

This week has seen delights from Clerkenwell Design Week in London, so I wanted to share some of the highlights from my two days in the area. If you’ve been following Chalk & Moss you’ll know that my focus is on activities and products that connect us to nature, either in principle, through process, or by sight, sound, colour, texture or form. The products shown here would therefore fit well if you’re keen on taking a biophilic approach to your life and interiors. Biophilic design recognises our innate need to connect to nature in order to find wellbeing, health, focused calm, creativity and productivity. You can find out more on this page about biophilic design.

Select highlights include Bert FrankCuriousa & Curiousa, Bang & OlufsenFrances BradleyNorr11Jonathan FieldWUD LightingPabloGracy SoukyHAGRBM x Feathr at Scandinavian Business Centre, Mosswall UKOliver HeathInterface and Mark Stevenson.

Furniture, lighting and accessories for natural, biophilic interiors
Clerkenwell Design Week 2017: The warm glow of Curiousa & Curiousa's Teardrop pendant is the right tone for evenings, when the warmer tones help melatonin production, which tells the brain it's time to sleep.

Curiousa & Curiousa’s Teardrop pendant. This light, alone or in a cluster, is perfect for cosy evenings due to the warm glow. It has an almost open fire like illumination that will help melatonin production, settling you into restful sleep.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2017: Curiousa & Curiousa's hand blown Pear Drop pendant in smokey charcoal.

The beautiful Pear Drop pendant by Curiousa & Curiousa. This beautiful hand blown light casts a warm, quite mysterious glow.

Bang&Olufsen's showed their new BeoSound Shape at Clerkenwell Design Week. These wireless, customisable system is due to launch autumn 2017.

Bang & Olufsen’s awe inspiring installations are always well worth a visit. This time, visitors were treated to the BeoSound Shape. This is a customisable and wireless speaker system that gives outstanding surround sound. I love how the form mimics natural geometric patterns. The soft colours are easy on the eye, effortlessly adding natural style to interiors.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2017: Sustainable wood furniture by Frances Bradley

Frances Bradley works largely with offcuts from her local forest to make her wooden furniture and accessories.

Norr11 exhibited at Clerkenwell Design Week, showing some of their beautiful natural wood furniture.

The leather on this Elephant Chair by Danish brand Norr11 is so tactile, it’s hard to resist. Most of the pieces on show featured smooth wood, such as this seating and a lovely dining table. They also had a stunning set of two coffee tables, with a practical removable tray.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2017: I love the simplicity of this table by Norr11, and the smooth curves.

Stylish and functional coffee table by Norr11. The top of the tables in both sizes are removable trays.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2017: Sustainable wood tables by Jonathan Field.

The visible grain in the wood of Jonathan Field’s tables make them all the more special. On this table, he’s made a lighting feature from the knots and grain.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2017: Blue light inhibits melatonin, so sends so keeps you awake if used at night. The soft glow in the WUD Lighting range, on the other hand, helps melatonin production so would suit a bedroom or cosy snug well.

These rustic lights by WUD Lighting give a wonderful glow. The base is made from sustainably sourced wood. The glow omitted is well suited to evenings, when blue light would keep you awake by inhibiting melatonin production.

Light and speaker by Pablo

This wonderful light and speaker by Pablo would be a wonderful addition to a bedroom or evening room, with its warm light and excellent sound quality. The battery lasts up to seven hours, even if playing music. The velvety touch sensor easily adjusts volume and brightness.

Clerkenwell Design Week: accessories and homeware by Grace Souky

Inviting set of jars and other homewares in mixed materials by Grace Souky.

Brass bowl great for vibrant salads.

It’s a warm spring day, and the sunshine bounces beautifully off Gracy Souky’s versatile bowl.

Fresh Scandinavian aesthetics at Clerkenwell Design Week, with this collaboration from RBM and Feathr, seen at Scandinavian Business Centre

This collection of Noor chairs combines RBM’s Scandinavian look with artist made designs by Feathr. Seen at the Scandinavian Business Centre.


Interior Greenery
Browns and beige moss is non intrusive, but adds so much warmth. I love how it reacts to the light entering its space.

A multitude of different coloured products on show by Mosswall UK. My favourite was this earthy version, adding character and comfort.

To make the exhibition space at Clerkenwell Design Week more comfortable and inviting, Bert Frank lighting company opted for a biophilic approach with lots of plants and plant motifs.

A biophilic approach was taken by Bert Frank. The greenery gives an inviting impact to their otherwise somewhat dark and damp space at Clerkenwell Design Week.


Biophilic Design and the Future of Sustainability
Clerkenwell Design Week 2017: Those who have access to natural views, plants, light and natural forms show increased wellbeing, productivity, creativity and recovery from illness. This is the principle of biophilic design.

Biophilic design expert Oliver Heath presented research that shows the health and psychological benefits of connecting with nature in the workplace. Several interesting talks on the topic were hosted by Interface at their Clerkenwell showroom.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2017: Innovation is a new way of feeling and thinking about the future.

A fascinating and eye opening talk was hosted by Interface, discussing what to do about the future. An expert panel, led by biophilic design expert Oliver Heath, discussed climate change. The discussion looked positively at the future to make real change, with innovation such as carbon positive innovation, solar powered phones and more. The panelists were Mark Stevenson (futurist, author), Nigel Stansfield (President EMEA, Interface), Carl Wolf (VP Europe, Lanzatech), Julie Hirigoyen (Chief Executive UK, Green Building Council).

If you’re new to natural, biophilic design, you may wish to read this page on the topic.

 

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