Design Encounter
Decorex 2019
6-9 October Olympia London
“Design Encounter is an example of Spatial Storytelling – combining architecture, interior design and experience design. It is a journey through the work of six interior designers, underpinned by a narrative sequence and tied together with an augmented reality experience. The goal though is for the three disciplines to work seamlessly together so that the overall experience feels as natural as possible without any single element of it overpowering the other.” - John Allsopp, architect
Decorex International, Europe’s leading event for interior design professionals, will make its debut this year at London Olympia, marking an exciting new chapter in the show’s 41-year history. One of the foremost platforms for new ideas, industry insight and design innovation, the annual gathering attracts the leading names in luxury interiors from across the world. Visitors can discover the new collections and commission bespoke pieces from over 400 established brands and up-and-coming makers. Displayed will be a variety of designs from hand-painted wallpapers and bespoke furniture, to conceptual lighting and printed fabrics. Exhibitors include Atelier Pinton, Fiona McDonald, Beardmore, Rose Uniacke and Ferreira de Sá. Decorex 2019 sees the seminars and events programme developed even further, with new ways for both exhibitors and visitors to interact with the show and each other. The carefully curated four day show presents next-level design from across the world, presenting interior products, projects and perspectives – and the people who create them. For 2019, Decorex’s best-loved features, such as the bar and VIP lounge (designed by Fran Hickman and Harding & Read respectively) will be taken to the next level with fresh new interpretations.
Other highlights will include an array of experiential feature areas that will see makers transform areas of the show floor into live workshops, as well as an inspiring seminar programme with talks from some of the industry’s key influencers. Decorex will also celebrate luxury British craft and applied arts through Future Heritage, an exhibition of some of the best emerging talents in the UK with new work created especially for the show. New for 2019, Decorex presents Design Encounter, a boundary-pushing collaboration between architect John Allsopp and acclaimed interior designers Natalia Miyar, Run for the Hills, Samantha Todhunter Design, These White Walls, Zachary Pulman and Sella Concept. Design Encounter offers visitors a unique, immersive journey through design, and an opportunity to see how six different designers interpret the same space. With a dedicated App, as visitors travel through a series of interconnecting spaces, they can “like” products, finding out more about the suppliers and makers. Allsopp, who has an MA in narrative environments from Central Saint Martins, designed the floor space for Design Encounter with two students who are currently on the course; he was keen to use augmented reality so as to offers visitors to Decorex an experience unlike anything seen before. We spoke to John Allsopp, Samantha Todhunter and Tatjana von Stein about their collaboration on Design Encounter, the industry and their inspirations.
Swiss House, by Sella Concept
John Allsopp: Design Encounter is an example of Spatial Storytelling — combining architecture, interior design and experience design. It’s a journey through the work of six interior designers, underpinned by a narrative sequence and tied together with an augmented reality experience. The goal though is for the three disciplines to work seamlessly together so that the overall experience feels as natural as possible without any single element of it overpowering the other. It’s a collaborative effort with the interior designers, digital developers and Central Saint Martins. I’m not sure if anything quite like it has been done before — so come along and experience it!
What was it that drew you to a career in interior design/architecture?
Skateboarding! My father, though a linguist, was also a hobbyist carpenter and joiner and he taught me all of the basics. I put that knowledge towards building skateboard ramps — as skateboarding was my greatest passion at the time. I developed a love for building things, which continues to this day. The only difference is that it manifests in architecture.
Who or what most inspires you?
I love libraries. In architecture school they experimented with me, compressing a four-year course into three — so I had a lot of catching up to do. To solve that problem, I went through literally every architecture book in the library, Forrest Gump style, and by the time I was done I had not just caught up but I was ahead. There were so many inspirations to be found — but the greatest of those were architects with big ideas expressed in the smallest details of craft: Louis Kahn, Mies van der Rohe, Carlo Scarpa, Renzo Piano and more. I’m also deeply influenced when creatives in any field manage to embody and project an entire value system in what they make, to the extent that we can buy into that value system, almost in the form of a “movement”. This is something “lifestyle” brands try to achieve these days but in the past it usually began with a strong personality. Many of these people of have been very influential to me — in music, Miles Davis. In technology, Steve Jobs. In fashion, Hedi Slimane.
What is your first memory of Decorex?
I’ve been a registered architect for almost twenty years, but I’ve worked in the interior industry for the most recent one-third of that time. Decorex was a revelation to me in the early stages of those interior years which I experienced through working in-house with interior designers. After an education and work experience in architecture, working with interior designers gave me a more rounded experience, and experiencing Decorex through their eyes was an education in itself.
What is the one characteristic you think every designer should possess?
Belief — as in faith in a value system. Values are integral to every large and small decision that designers make, and the weight that is placed on those decisions when interacting with others. For me, values sit at the core.
Tell us about a recent “find”
The big recent “find” for me was not physical but musical. I spend many hours a day listening to music, particularly when doing work that is graphical or three-dimensional. It inspires me and keeps me going through long hours of work. So discovering Soulection (an online radio show hosted by Joe Kay) seemed like a godsend. Great music to work to, great stories, nothing bland.
Burger & Beyond, by Run for the Hills
Where’s the most unforgettable place you’ve travelled?
Without a doubt it was Brazil. I went to São Paulo on a work exchange just after my first degree in architecture. The combination of the culture the language, the technology and the landscape left an indelible mark. Oh, and there was great architecture!
If you had to limit your shopping to one neighbourhood, in one city, which would you choose?
In London, I was enchanted by a small corner of Belsize Park around the area of Belsize Village and Daleham Mews – charming, non-flashy with a few independent shops, cafés, restaurants and a gallery – elements of a village feel carved out (or retained) in a big city. I was so charmed by it that I moved in to the area!
What would you do if you weren’t working in interiors/architecture?
That would be writing. Before I was designing buildings or even skateboarding, I was “world-building” and creating stories. It’s a passion that I want to re-engage with. Or if not, back to skateboarding!
What’s next?
New projects, collaborations, or things you’re working on/planning to do in the future. I’m working on a number of high end residential projects for private clients around London and further afield - most of them in collaboration with interior designers. I’m really excited to see them come together. I’m am also beginning to catch the writing bug again so I’m working on a personal project to combine that with architecture.
Samantha Todhunter: It’s a really exciting year for Decorex; a new location, a move in to the October design scene and a new concept. I’m so happy to be part of that. The Design Encounter is a great concept and the connect with John Allsopp is very exciting. To have the opportunity to design a space without creative limits and to present a haute couture version of what STD is about is a rare opportunity, and the addition of digital content elevates it to a really fun, modern and interactive concept.
What was it that drew you to a career in interior design?
Moving in to interior design was a natural segue from my early years as a design editor on Australian Vogue Living and then UK titles. Working in Australia where colour takes on a whole new meaning has probably fed my love of colour to this day. All our shoots were shot outside — either on a beach or up a palm tree. And I would say my eye typically looks at a room as if it were a magazine spread, what would make it a cover shot? I think rooms should always exude comfort and be liveable but for me I always like an element of glam and luxe.
What is the one characteristic you think every designer should possess?
Vision first and foremost. But equally key is an ability to listen and interpret a client’s brief in to something that exceeds all their expectations and lastly patience and flexibility! Very often your starting point with a project might seem overwhelming and the basic canvas of a house might not have much to say for itself, so this is where vision is key. As a practice, I think we excel at not only addressing the practical needs of day to day living but also embedding a sense of something a little bit fabulous.
Private interior, by Natalia Miyar
Omar’s Place, by Sella Concept
What is your first memory of Decorex?
Years ago, as a lowly editorial assistant, I would walk the halls of Decorex when it was on the top floor of the old Barkers building in Kensington — a totally different experience to the super sophisticated show it is today.
Tell us about a recent “find”
My husband and I regularly foray around an amazing antique warehouse near our house in Oxfordshire and every visit, I manage to find something amazing — from a beautiful 18th century gilt vitrine, Edwardian mirror and more recently an adorable Victorian conversation piece that is now reupholstered in a delicious velvet and sits in our entrance hall.
Where’s the most unforgettable place you’ve travelled?
It’s a challenge to pin down a specific location - childhoods spent in the Mediterranean have played an enormous part in my life and the smell of the Mediterranean pines and the sea bring an instant sense of home-coming. But equally I love the US and for staggering utterly unforgettable natural beauty I would have to say Yellowstone National Park.
If you had to limit your shopping to one neighbourhood, in one city, which would you choose?
What an impossible question! But, in truth, I think I would have to say Notting Hill, London — it’s been my stomping ground for years and whilst I love so many other cities and areas as well, Notting Hill always ticks every box. I especially love the Lacy Gallery for their wonderful vintage picture frames, whilst Portobello Road is the perfect place to pick up rare gems. A favorite of mine is also Taqueria restaurant on Westbourne Grove, a great little understated Margarita spot. Lacy Gallery, 203 Westbourne Grove (020 7229 6340; www.lacygallery.co.uk); Taqueria restaurant, 141-145 Westbourne Grove (020 7229 4734; www.taqueria.co.uk)
What’s next?
We have a jam-packed year in the studio. Alongside our interiors projects, which will always be the backbone of our work, we also have some really beautiful upcoming collaborations with Collier Webb and The Rug Company (the product of which you will see in our Design Encounter room) and we are slowly and quietly cementing our range of bespoke product. The bespoke collection is the natural evolution of pieces designed to complement the studio’s interiors projects, echoing our ethos of the relaxed and informal paired with dashes of glamour and luxe. I focused on proportion, comfort and elegance in a capsule collection of easy, go-anywhere essentials including glossy consoles, daybeds, upholstered trestles and sleek footstools.
Tatjana Von Stein: My first draw as a young girl was theatre and how one could create scenes to transport guests into a different world within minutes. Over time a deep passion for design, materials and finer details developed and I organically progressed to becoming a designer and never looked back.
What is the one characteristic you think every designer should possess?
Creativity and curiosity. As a creative we embark on a journey to stretch our imagination while listening to people's needs and approaching the future with curiosity.
Tell us about Design Encounter
Most fairs can become a monotonous walk from aisle to aisle. The Design Encounter arrests guests at a point in time — bringing the design and brands to life through an interpretation of a living space.
Who or what most inspires you?
Old Italian villas in Milan, such as Villa Necchi. The design is inspirational, a classical approach with a timeless sleek touch throughout that oozes elegance and attractiveness. All elements sing together and history is seeped within its walls and works of Art. Materials, design details and craftsmanship are at their best and you can sense the respect for Design within its walls.
Tell us about a recent “find”
There is a little dive restaurant in Hackney, a touch of Japanese cuisine, an Elvis Presley shrine, the heat of Vietnam. The mix is extraordinary, it’s of course completely undesigned but so rich in atmosphere that it inspires us and reminds us not to over-design! Neighbourhood haunts are really what we are all after in the end.
What is your first memory of Decorex?
The truth of it is that we have never attended Decorex, although we are very familiar with its reputation and huge outreach. Somehow I believe that it might be a good things as we could approach the brief from our point of view rather than subjectively down to what we believe to be a Decorex style.
Where’s the most unforgettable place you’ve travelled?
The Desert. The expansive horizon allows for a freedom of thought and imagination. Within city scapes we are influenced by everything around us when a moment of pause stretches our creativity from within.
If you had to limit your shopping to one neighbourhood, in one city, which would you choose?
Downtown LA. A few years ago we explored the area to open a new concept store and were very much taken back by its offering - the burgeoning of a new city within a city! Old brands, new concepts, craft focused areas. It feels like a new land of opportunities. This aside — the class and taste of Italians will always be at the top of my list in Milan and Rome.
What would you do if you weren’t working in interiors?
I think we would still be entrepreneurial and wouldn't be able to stay away from the hospitality/retail industry! Our passion would swiftly turn back into creating spaces. Perhaps becoming an ever growing brand of spaces throughout the world adapting new concepts and needs, and most likely making the poor designers life a nightmare!
What’s next?
We are in the process of designing a new retail/restaurant concept store in Notting Hill and are always looking for the new visionary clients to design an ever evolving brand offering. Following our Conran Shop installation for London Design Festival we look forward to expanding our installation work for other brands in the future.
We are currently also exploring our own furniture/product range and excited to launch some bar stools on our Decorex set to take this opportunity to receive industry feedback. Following a set design project we did for Facebook in San Francisco, I also think we are moments away from trying to knock down the Californian doors! Who doesn’t want a little Lautner and sunshine in their life.
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