Category: Design

  • The Silver Building, creative workspaces in London’s Royal Docks

    The Silver Building, creative workspaces in London’s Royal Docks

    Located in London’s Royal Docks, an area currently undergoing a transformation to become a hub for creative industries, The Silver Building is a dramatic multi-purpose shared workspace centre in a striking brutalist building by the River Thames.

    www.thesilverbuilding.com

    On our last trip to London, we visited The Silver Building at Silvertown and were showed around the different areas and studios by its founder Nick Hartwright, who’s also behind Green Rooms Hotel – an arts hotel and social enterprise we’ve already talked about.

    The 50,000 sq ft building, originally constructed in 1964 for Carlsberg-Tetley Brewing company, opened in late 2017 and is already a bustling creative and entrepreneurial hub where new talent is nurtured and grown. The concept behind this project is to provide affordable workspace for everyone, with different studio spaces that cater for everyone: from fashion designers and artists to photographers and set designers.

    Working in partnership with the Mayor of London’s office and re-purposed by award-winning studio of architects and designers SODA, The Silver Building also features communal areas and events spaces across its four floors, with a ground floor café which is the beating heart of the development.

    Nick Hartwright has said about the project “The Silver Building is an incredibly exciting project and a perfect example of how modern regeneration should be carried out.  Over the coming years we’re going to put Silvertown on the map.  We’re going to engage with existing Newham-based businesses and we’re going to bring new enterprises to the area.  Everyone will benefit, and together, I’m sure we’ll produce some brilliant outputs.”

    And the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, supports the initiative and the offering of affordable workspaces for creative businesses: “London’s creative industries are unrivalled, but the capital is growing and we need to make sure we build great creative infrastructure into major development projects. As property prices rise, artists are finding it more difficult to put down roots here and that’s why they need access to genuinely affordable workspace.“

    Fashion designers like Craig Green and Liam Hodges have their workspaces here and also set designers Block9, who have worked with Gorillaz, Lana del Rey and Banksy. With prices of around £15 per sq ft, The Silver Building is attracting some of the most exciting creative talent due to its affordable spaces, the dramatic setting and the on-going regeneration of the neighbourhood.

     

  • A visit to IED Innovation Lab in Carabanchel, Madrid

    A visit to IED Innovation Lab in Carabanchel, Madrid

    We recently visited the new space of Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Carabanchel, Madrid. IED Innovation Lab is conceived as a design playground for transformation projects – whether it is exploring new food possibilities with a Michelin-starred chef or engaging with local businesses and neighbours.

    IED Innovation Lab provides new design experiences and tools for companies, public institutions, neighbours, students and creatives to come together and work on their projects revolving around transformation. This space, located in a former furniture factory, has been renovated to host meeting areas, a fabrication workshop that students from IED can use to complete their assignments, a canteen which will soon be open to creatives working nearby too, a rooftop with amazing views of Madrid’s skyline and 6 labs dedicated to exploring ideas around different topics: Fab Lab, Media Lab, VR Lab, Green Lab, City Lab, Business Lab and Food Lab.

    IED Innovation Lab operates on the basis of 6 principles, all conceived under a holistic approach in order to tackle design problems from a new perspective.

    Matchmaking: IED Innovation Lab provides access to the largest creative community in Madrid, facilitating collaborative projects between people and organisations with similar goals.

    Empowering: Design should be accessible to everyone, that’s why IED Innovation Lab works to put it into the hands of the people and businesses that need it the most.

    Playful: Creative, fun and messy exploration are some of the key elements when approaching a design project.

    Unbound: As an unresolved and self-organising place, the roles shift and transform based on the personalities, relationships and ideas that inhabit the space.

    Humanistic: The sense of community and the relationship between the individual and society are strong at IED Innovation Lab, bringing a new dimension to design and the way problems are solved.

    Formative: Everyone is a student at IED Innovation Lab, helping each individual to grow their multidisciplinary knowledge and develop new areas in which they can apply their skills.

    Still at its early stages, IED Innovation Lab will open its doors officially in early autumn 2018. You can find more information about the current projects and plans for the upcoming months on its website:
    www.iedinnovationlab.com

  • Safomasi

    Safomasi

    Sarah Fotheringham and Maninder Singh are the founders of Safomasi, a textile design studio in New Delhi handcrafting home textiles and accessories inspired by their travels all around the world. We spoke with Sarah and Maninder to find out more about what made them start Safomasi, the artisans they work with and their plans for the upcoming months.

    www.safomasi.com

    Can you tell us about your backgrounds and how you met?
    I, Sarah, studied illustration at the University of Brighton and lived in London before moving to Delhi to work as an art director with advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy. Maninder had been living in Australia and moved back to India around the same time, in the summer of 2010, for a job with the Fashion Design Council of India. We met at a photoshoot at Maninder’s friend’s studio.

    What made you start Safomasi?
    It didn’t really start as a business, it evolved organically from us looking to spend more time together. Before I started my job in Delhi I spent 4 months travelling around India and had a sketchbook full of print ideas. I was working on developing them in the evenings and weekends. Maninder would be with me and we began to talk about how we could take them further. We came up with the idea that we could work and travel together, creating collections that told the story of the different places that we travelled to. Maninder had contacts in the fashion industry, who helped us to create initial samples.

    What are some of the inspirations behind your designs?
    Each of our collections are inspired by travels to a different part of the world. Our latest collection, Kapadokya is inspired by Cappadocia in Turkey. Other collections have been inspired by travels in Japan, South India, adventures on safari and holidays in the South West coast of England.

    Can you tell us about some of your favourite projects you’ve worked on?
    Aside from our own collections one of the most fun projects was to design the interior of a Mumbai taxi. We were given ‘architecture’ as a broad theme and created a rainbow hued print referencing the city’s Art Deco heritage.

    Your products are handmade, can you tell us more about this process and the artisans and other local creatives you work with?
    We have a small team of tailors who work with us in our studio in New Delhi. For printing we work with a family run screen printing workshop who have been in business for over 50 years. They’re great and very patient with our intricate designs. Quilts are quilted by hand in Delhi by a small group of women who work from home. Rugs are handwoven in Bhadoi, Uttar Pradesh.

    Is there any particular product or other areas you’d like to experiment with and work on in the future?
    We’d love to work more on interiors projects. We’d also like to to work with materials other than textiles. Ceramics is an area we’ve wanted to explore for a while.

    Can you tell us about your plans for the upcoming months?
    We’re getting married in 2 weeks, so that’s on our minds right now! After that we’ll focus on developing our new collection to launch in January 2019.

  • Colorado Living: Finding the Best Communities for Your Lifestyle

    The US is the only country where the residents relocate so often. Migration is expected, so it is not surprising that the population of some states is growing. Constant relocation to Colorado is one of the reasons why the state is one of the fastest-growing places in the country. The population of the state is expected to rise further in the future. More Americans are choosing to relocate and settle in the best neighborhoods. The highly-developed infrastructure and affordable living are making people invest in the best communities to live in Colorado.

    Affordable Cost of Living

    One of the reasons for more Americans relocating to Colorado is its cost-effective lifestyle. The cost of living index is almost 35% higher than in most other states. The reasonable prices make people invest their savings in real estate properties and spend the rest of their lives in Colorado. Studies claim that transportation is on the higher side, but groceries, utilities, and healthcare are more affordable than in other US states. Furthermore, the rental prices are affordable, making relocation easy and convenient.

    Low Tax Rates

    Colorado boasts as one of the lowest tax-paying states in the country. Reduced or low tax rates boost personal investments and savings. It results in further production and low unemployment. Because the state has low tax rates, disposable income rises, allowing people to spend more. It increases the state’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), which backs a strong and stable economy. A strong economy suggests diverse employment opportunities, and people can save more to invest in the best communities to live in Colorado.

    Stable Economic Development and Growth

    Colorado is one of the US states with a reputation for stable economic growth for several years. It boasts one of the country’s highest GDPs, reflecting the high standard or quality of lives people lead. Several industries and companies continue to grow and expand in Colorado, resulting in new jobs and diverse job opportunities. Some leading sectors include Trade, Construction, Logistics, Manufacturing, and IT (Information and Technology). The sectors promise to create more jobs for skilled and unskilled employees.

    Low Unemployment Rate

    The consistent and stable economic growth allows Colorado to enjoy one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Studies reveal that the unemployment rate in Colorado is less than 4%. In addition, the state ranks high in job opportunities and is one of the most attractive locations for employment. Colorado is home to more than 25 Fortune 500 companies in the US, and concerning job growth and opportunities, Colorado has a reputation for being the most consistent and the strongest. Investing in the best communities to live in Colorado is a wise decision.

    Top Quality Educational Institutions

    The presence of good schools and colleges make a community worth living. Colorado has more than 4500 public schools and around 65 colleges and universities. Almost 200,000 students are studying in educational institutions and nurturing the future generation. Schools and colleges make a community safer and more convenient for settling. It is equally practical for large families, couples, and single individuals. Some of the safest neighborhoods in Colorado have the most schools and universities.

    Diverse Weather and Climatic Conditions

    The geography of Colorado influences its climate significantly. Most of the state features mountains, high plains, and foothills. The good part is that most of Colorado receives enough sunshine and a clear sky during the day. Depending on the altitude, individuals enjoy microclimates from subarctic to subtropical conditions. For instance, Denver is one locality that enjoys almost 300 days of pleasant sunshine and warm winters. There are favorable climatic conditions for everyone in Colorado, and one of the reasons for relocation.

    Conclusion

    Living in Colorado is ideal for individuals who favor excellent ecology, freedom, pleasant weather, ecology, lack of rush, and diverse backgrounds. The analysis clarifies that investing in the best communities to live in Colorado is a wise decision. As a tax-friendly state, most retirees prefer buying properties and settling down. More youngsters are shifting to Colorado because of job growth and excellent employment opportunities. There is a stable economy that directly relates to a low unemployment rate.

  • The New Mediterranean

    The New Mediterranean

    A shared love for plants, handmade products, natural materials, Henri Matisse and the organic shapes found in the Mediterranean architecture and landscapes are just some of the elements that connect a new wave of Barcelona-based creatives and collaborators who are influencing current fashion and art trends. We’ve selected some clothing and accessories brands, shoemakers, illustrators and jewellery labels that represent the aesthetics and values of what we have called ‘The New Mediterranean’.

    Paloma Wool


    Image via Paloma Wool Instagram

    Founded by artist and designer Paloma Lanna, Paloma Wool is described as a “a project on photography, clothing and other experiments”. Paloma Wool’s products are locally made in Barcelona, often collaborating with artists to create items ranging from clothing and jewellery to bags and art books. Paloma also explores “the space or ideas that are created around the act of getting dressed” through art installations and performances in which she also collaborates with other local creatives like art director and photographer Carlota Guerrero, known for her work with Solange.

    www.palomawool.com

    LEVENS

    Image via LEVENS Instagram

    Actress Mar del Hoyo is behind LEVENS, a jewellery label founded in 2016. Mar creates ceramic earrings inspired by her fascination for nature and femininity. All LEVENS’ products are handmade, with differences in shape and colour which make them unique. In fact, these ‘imperfections’ are part of the ethos behind this project: “Imperfect pieces that arise from a manual movement, almost intuitive, in which the simplicity of forms and materials are a sign of identity”.

    www.levensjewels.com

    About Arianne

    Image via About Arianne Instagram

    About Arianne was one of the first Stories we published on our website. The founders of About Arianne, Ariadna Guirado and Ernest Vidal, have been creating women’s shoes 100% made in Spain since 2010 and have also recently started to design bags. From their shop/studio in Barcelona’s Poble Nou, Ariadna and Ernest produce slow-fashion centred around three values: quality, comfort and design. About Arianne’s shoes and bags are inspired by classic lines and silhouettes which are reinterpreted with a contemporary vision, creating unique and timeless pieces.

    www.aboutarianne.com

    Tana Latorre

    Image via Tana Latorre Instagram

    Tana Latorre is an artist and one of the close friends and collaborators of Paloma Wool – she has illustrated clothing and worked together on other art projects with the label’s founder Paloma Lanna. Born in Nairobi, Tana lives in Barcelona and her minimalist drawings of female silhouettes and faces have been reinterpreted by other artists like sculptor Diego Cabezas and the Berber women behind Anou, a project connecting artists with artisans in Morocco.

    www.instagram.com/tanalatorre

    Matagalan Plantae

    Image via Matagalan Plantae Instagram

    Born in Costa Rica, Carolina Spencer moved to Barcelona in 2004 and worked as a florist before starting Matagalan Plantae in 2013 as a project exploring the relationship between plants and pots, and their connection to the city. Caroline saw the plant and its container as just one object, and wanted to replace the traditional plastic pot with ceramic vases made by hand in Cataluña in order to create a plant/pot combination more aesthetically pleasing.

    www.matagalan.club

    Ölend

    Image via Ölend Instagram

    Fran Rios, Adriana Dumon and Antonio Longás started Ölend with the idea of creating backpacks for themselves, and their friends liked them so much that they decided to start making them on demand. Ölend’s backpacks and bags are inspired by travelling, challenges and mountaineers from the 40’s and 50’s. They are handmade 100% in Barcelona, using only the highest quality materials and sometimes even customised based on the clients’ preferences.

    www.olend.net