Celebrating the very best of London’s creative communities, London Design Festival 2024 is back for its 22nd instalment from the 14th to the 22nd of September.
Covering 11 design districts from across the capital, the programme is packed full of exhibitions, installations, workshops and panels to showcase innovative and sustainable design from not only industry leaders and experts, but also independent craftsmen and newcomers.
Read on as we delve into some of the must-see happenings at this year’s London Design Festival…
The Isokon collection and open workshop
Isokon are opening the doors to its Walthamstow workshop this LDF. Stop by to see first hand how the British furniture manufacturer combines traditional craft with modern technology to create its design icons. Inside the timber tavern, expect to find modernist pieces from Marcel Breuer and Egon Riss sitting harmoniously alongside the more contemporary works of Barber & Osgerby and Jasper Morrison.
Beyond capturing a few shots of your favourite pieces, inside the workshop you can also learn all about the sustainably-sourced materials Isokon employ for its collections that have been standing strong for the last 90 years.
20th & 21st September, 11:00-16:00
Isokon Workshop, Unit 2B (rear section), Uplands B Business Park, Blackhorse Lane, London, E17 5QJ
Bio-Spaces: Regenerative, resilient futures
Get ready to be plunged into the world of biophilic design at Roca London Gallery’s sensory Bio-Spaces exhibition, curated to encourage a more nature-based approach to design.
Put together by Planted, in collaboration with Oliver Heath Design, visitors journey through a series of modular gridded ‘islands’, each exploring themes and case studies of nature-informed design.
14th & 21st September, 11:00-17:00. 16th-20th September, 09:00-17:30
Roca London Gallery, Station Court, Townmead road, London, SW6 2PY
Tai Ping’s biophilic collection
And while on the subject of intertwining nature with design, Tai Ping presents its biophilic collection and biophilic series for Studio Tai Ping, in an installation designed by Sebastian Cox launching at London Design Festival 2024…
“Biophilic, for us, means taking the harmony, the well-being, found in nature and bringing it indoors, so there is no break between the inside and the outside of a living space,” says Tai Ping Global Design & Brand Director Juliana Polastri.
The collection comprises 16 carpets made with undyed (skipping a water-hungry step in the making process), natural and sustainable materials, inspired by the natural world’s organic forms, landscapes and raw colour palettes.
16th-21st September, open 24hr
Tai Ping Carpets Showroom,117-119 Fulham Road, London, SW3 6RL
Earthcrafted designs by Porcelanosa
Step inside a world of extraordinary Spanish craftsmanship at Porcelanosa’s Hanover Square showroom over the course of London Design Festival 2024. The in-store exhibition features the works of seven Spanish artists, presenting a diverse range of artistic styles that celebrate Spain’s contemporary creativity.
Whether you’re a professional or a design enthusiast, Porcelanosa has curated a programme of creative events to participate in whilst building your network. From designing your own Porcelanosa tile using natural elements with a floral composition, to entering a moodboard competition and discovering new collections.
14th-21st September, 12:00-18:00
PORCELANOSA HANOVER SQ, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1HQ
Tickets are free and can be booked here.
From tree to table with Grain
Experience Grain’s making process first hand in one of its From tree to table tours at the maker’s East London workshop.
Getting an exclusive look at the American Walnut Kielder range, each half an hour tour will take you through every step of production. This includes everything from the selection and preparation of timber, the machining of timber into components and the solid lipping of tabletops, to the selection and preparation of pressing veneers and the hand-finishing of components.
21st & 22nd September, tours begin at 11:00 & 14:00
Grain, 11a Argall Avenue, London, E10 7QE
Book a free tour here.
Somer showcase: The new furniture system standardising circular principles
Officially launching at London Design Festival 2024, Somer is the brand new furniture system that standardises circular principles for a wider market. Join the furniture maker this September at its pop-up to get an exclusive first peek at the modular creations.
Founded by master craftsman Will Floyd-Maclean, Somer’s 100% solid timber system is manufactured in Frome, Somerset, and champions truly sustainable manufacturing. We took a trip down to Frome last month to chat to Will himself about the launch and his workshop, grab your copy of Volume 62 to read Somer’s full story now.
21st & 22nd September, 10:00-18:00
Tuscany Wharf 4B 4B, Orsman Road, London, N1 5QJ
Shoreditch Design Triangle
One of enki’s favourite design districts featuring as part of London Design Festival 2024 is Shoreditch Design Triangle, which celebrates the buzzing creativity in the heart of the East End. Once you’re in the area, most events are reachable by foot (see map here). Here are some highlights we’re looking forward to…
Artek reimagined by Paul Smith at the Vitra and Artek Tramshed showroom on Rivington Street, a collaboration merging fashion design and interiors. Featuring three Artek products designed by Alvar Aalto: Stool 60, Screen 100 and Coat Rack 109, each infused with Sir Paul Smith’s distinctive style.
Also on the ground floor of Tramshed, Vitra presents “a landscape of Anagram”, where visitors can take a seat and experience the new modular sofa system launching at London Design Festival 2024.
Next up, Mosaic Factory unveils TERRA®: A modern twist on terracotta at its Columbia Road showroom. Featuring a brand new range of terracotta tiles handmade from natural clay in Tetouan, Morocco, each tile is hand-moulded, sun-dried and kiln-fired. “The new TERRA® Collection is a modern take on the ancient, earthenware tiles that have been used for thousands of years and are proof that terracotta is a mainstay in interior design.”
A newcomer to the Shoreditch Design Triangle, The WAX Building is a hub for independent British design brands. Features of its debut include Field-Day Studio, COZMO, Tamart and Minimalux and more. Spanning four floors of interior inspiration, The WAX Building will certainly be one to keep your eye on.
TOAST has collaborated with artist Isobel Harvey on a series of womenswear pieces inspired by the animals and vibrant shades found in her paintings. Joining Shoreditch Design Triangle, TOAST’s Redchurch Street store transforms into an exhibition space where you can observe the original paintings up close, embarking on a journey of pattern and colour.
Click here for more information and Shoreditch Design Triangle’s full programme.
Material Matters Trade Fair & Exhibition
Last but not least, we draw your attention to London’s Southbank as Material Matters returns to Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf for London Design Week 2024. The show brings together world-leading brands, designers, makers and innovators to exhibit and celebrate the importance of material intelligence, and how it can shape our lives.
Stretching across five floors, expect to discover products and installations covering themes of working with waste, biodesign, textiles and lighting, as well as curated exhibits and a programme of talks. Material Matters is a place for collaboration, inspiration and insight for the design and architecture industry.
18th-21st September, 10:00-18:00
Bargehouse, Oxo Tower wharf, Barge House Street, London, SE1 9PH
Trade visitors can register for a free ticket, public tickets are £15 and both can be booked here.
Discover London Design Festival’s full 2024 programme.
Can’t make it to LDF this year? Keep an eye on enki’s Instagram stories @enkimaguk for your design fix as we take to the festival.
For more design news on enki, click here.
