Hasta La Ideas

Dezeen Wire: architect and structural engineer Charles Walker has been appointed head of architecture at the Royal College of Art in London, while designer Ab Rogers will become head of interior design.

Walker, who also consults for Zaha Hadid Architects, replaces architect Nigel Coates, who retired in the summer – read about that here.

See more stories about Ab Rogers here.

Here’s the full press release from the Royal College of Art:

AB ROGERS AND CHARLES WALKER TO JOIN THE RCA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

The Royal College of Art has announced that two new Heads of Programme are to be appointed to its newly formed School of Architecture. Charles Walker and Ab Rogers will take up their posts in the summer term 2012 in Architecture and Interior Design respectively.

Ab Rogers is a London-based designer known for a wide-ranging international practice. A former cabinet-maker, Rogers earned his MA in design from the Royal College of Art. He has lectured widely and held various teaching roles, including in the RCA Design Products department, where he ran Platform 9 with Tord Boontje. In 1997 he cofounded Kitchen Rogers Design (KRD) with Shona Kitchen. Kitchen and Rogers’ projects included the Comme des Garçons store in Paris, the Al-Ostoura luxury department store in Kuwait City, and the Michel Guillon flagship store in London. In 2004, he founded Ab Rogers Design (ARD), now an established studio that plays with colour, materials and function to inject a sense of poetry, magic and wonder into the everyday world.

ARD’s multifaceted work includes designing for hotels, restaurants, retail environments, domestic interiors, museum exhibitions, websites and brands; past clients include the Pompidou Centre, Tate Modern, Science Museum, the Australian Centre for Moving Image, Conde Nast, Pizza Express, Price Waterhouse Cooper and Parc1, a mixed-use development in Seoul.

Charles Walker is an architect, structural engineer and industry leader on the effects of digital technology on modern architectural design and construction. Having first studied architecture at the University of Waterloo in Canada he then received an MSc in structural engineering from Imperial College London. Charles has been teaching at the Architectural Association’s School of Architecture since 2003 where his students design and build the annual AA summer pavilion.

Walker has worked at the forefront of the current international architectural discourse with many of the worlds leading architects including: Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Oscar Niemeyer and Renzo Piano. Early in his career Walker worked in a number of architectural offices including Richard Horden Associates, Michael Hopkins and Partners and Ron Arad Associates. He has also worked in design based engineering offices Whitby and Bird where he designed the Merchants Bridge in Manchester winning an Institution of Structural Engineers Special Award and Ove Arup + Partners where he co-founded in 2000 the Advanced Geometry Unit. In early 2007 Charles left Arup to found from-work projects and to join Zaha Hadid Architects where he currently consults.

The two new Heads of Programme join the Royal College of Art during a period of expansion as the College completes its new campus development. The College’s strategic plan aims to widen the Masters’ programme to advance new developments in design and art, ensuring 21st century relevance; consolidate research excellence; and strengthen the culture of design innovation and entrepreneurialism with closer links to industry. The new MA in Interior Design will receive its first intake of students in September 2012.

Professor Alex de Rijke, Dean of the School of Architecture said: “I am excited about these two appointments to the School of Architecture. Both are internationally recognised practitioners as well as skilled teachers. Charles combines wide ranging experience in architecture with an equally strong background in structural engineering and Ab’s impressive track record in embracing new materials and technologies will be especially valuable in framing and launching our new Interior Design programme.”

Ab Rogers said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to head up the new Interior Design programme. I plan to create an inspiring and purposeful course that deals with space and the object – abstract and concrete – on a human scale, and this is why I particularly look forward to contributing to a multidisciplinary School of Architecture along with Alex and Charles.”

Charles Walker said: “It’s a privilege and an honour to be taking this post at the RCA, which is unique among architectural programmes in being positioned within such a rich and diverse art and design context and tradition. I am very much looking forward to working with Alex and Ab.”

Professor Susannah Hagan completes the team, having been appointed as School Research Leader. Prior to joining the College, Susannah was Director of R/E/D (Research into Environment + Design), and Professor of Urban Studies and Director of the Office for Spatial Research at the University of Brighton. She has written and lectured extensively on the theory and practice of environmental design in relation to contemporary architecture and urban design. Susannah is a Fellow of the Institute for Urban Design, New York, and a member of the Royal Society of Arts, the International Development Network, Royal Town Planning Institute, the Newham Borough Design Review Panel, and the Urban Buzz Programme Committee. She was a finalist in the James Stirling Memorial Lecture Competition 2008/09.

Dezeen Wire: Tom Campbell of BOP Consulting has published an article on the company’s culture and creative industries blog slamming the UK government’s new student immigration rules as “a potential disaster for the UK’s creative and design sector.”

The new regulations are due to come into effect in April and mean non-EU students will no longer have the right to apply to stay in the UK upon completing their studies, instead returning home and “taking their talents, intellectual property and entrepreneurial energies with them.” Read the full article here.

Dezeen Wire: Dutch designer Tord Boontje is to open a shop in London on 1 March.

The store at 23 Charlotte Road in Shoreditch will stock products Boontje has designed for brands including Moroso, Kvadrat, Swarovski and Artecnica, plus one-offs and new pieces that will be exclusive to the shop. Boontje’s studio and workshop will be housed in the same building.

There will also be an online store, launching later in March.

Boontje is currently professor and head of design products at the Royal College of Art, having taken over the role from Ron Arad in 2009. See all our stories about Tord Boontje here and watch our interview with him on Dezeen Screen.

Here are some more details from Boontje:

Opening: Tord Boontje Shop In London

I am pleased to announce the opening of my shop in London on 1st March 2012. The shop is located at 23 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch, London. It will be a unique place where many of my designs are presented together.

In the shop, we will have all the products I have designed for clients such as Swarovski, Moroso, Kvadrat, Artecnica, Authentics. These range from crystal chandeliers to mass-produced tableware, textiles and lighting; from the extravagant and experimental to everyday affordable products.

The design studio will be located in the same space and it is also where we will be making one-off pieces of furniture and lighting. We will be creating special items that will be exclusive to the Tord Boontje shop. I hope the presence of myself and my team will create a friendly atmosphere, where people are welcome, can browse, ask questions, share thoughts and get an insight of the workings behind the scenes and into the making of products.

I see the shop as a new way of working for myself, a place where independent experimentation can take place; where we can create special products, either as one- off or production pieces. To me, forming this method of working reflects the time we live in, a time in which it is good to think about making by hand and by machines, the local and the global, creativity and freedom, presentation and independence.

The shopʼs unique interior will be an installation of furniture, lights, textiles, objects, jewellery, and projection, creating a rich environment and a complete experience; a fulfilling place to come and visit.

In the Tord Boontje shop, you will be able to find:

Furniture from Moroso, including the Shadowy Chair, which is made by artisans in Dakar, Senegal; the Bon Bon tables with delicate printed floral patterns on Corian; the Witch Chair in black leather; the perforated metal Rain chairs and table for the garden.

Crystal chandeliers from Swarovski, including the Blossom and Ice Branch.

Artecnicaʼs Midsummer Lights, made in paper, which hang like a floral bouquet from the ceiling.

Patterned porcelain tableware with illustrations of horses, birds, butterflies, bears, deer, and flowers, produced by Authentics.

Habitatʼs Garland Light entwining the light bulbs.

The Rough-and-Ready chair in three different formats: a free diagram with make-it- yourself instructions, a basic priced kit of parts for self-assembly and ready-made chairs.

The complete Transglass range of recycled tableware made from used wine, beer and champagne bottles.

Scented candles in Transglass containers, available in the fragrances Fresh Cut Grass and Ripe Currant.

Curtain textiles from Kvadrat, such as the delicate laser cut Eternal Summer and 100 Years. Upholstery fabrics with patterns of twisting roses, screen-printed on wool felt.

Hand made rugs from India, such as Little Field of Flowers.

One-off pieces from past exhibitions, such as the Princess Chair, the Petit Jardin Chair and lights made of grass.

Jewellery such as Charming, Cut Here and studio pieces made in crystal and cherry pips.

Tord Boontje was born in Enschede, Netherlands in 1968. He first studied industrial design at the Design Academy in Eindhoven (1986 – 1991), and followed this with a Masters from the Royal College of Art (1992 – 1994).
 Studio Tord Boontje was founded in 1996 in London. 


In 2002, Tord Boontje became known in the UK with his Garland Light for Habitat, followed in 2003 by the Blossom Chandelier which he designed for Swarovski. In 2004 he established his international reputation with the solo exhibition in Milan, titled ʻHappy Ever Afterʼ in the Moroso furniture showroom.

Since 2005, Tord Boontje has worked with a range of international companies such as Shiseido, Yamaha, Hewlett Packard, Bisazza, Target, Philips, Kvadrat, Alexander McQueen, Nanimarquina, Artecnica, Authentics, Meta and has continued his work with Swarovski, Moroso and Habitat.

He has exhibited in galleries and museums, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, MoMA and Copper-Hewitt museum in New York, the Design Museum and Tate Modern in London.

In 2009 he took up his appointment as Professor and Head of Design Products at the Royal College of Art.

The challenge and opportunity the Studio has long sought is a delicate marriage of design with emotion that is as broadly accessible as it is enticing. The Studioʼs work draws from a belief that modernism does not mean minimalism, that contemporary does not forsake tradition, and that technology does not abandon people and senses. The Studioʼs designs often temper edges with softness, take inspiration from nature, and employ a décor of forms and layers to engage and entice an observerʼs imagination and emotions. But these references to nature and emotion reflect only an outcome, not the process of design itself. Although the use of technologies and material properties is never celebrated (and is always subsumed within the final product), there is nonetheless a conscious insistence that the Studioʼs work employ the latest production and material technologies in pursuit of its vision.

Dezeen Wire: William Knight has been appointed as event director of trade show 100% Design by its new owners Media 10, who bought the show from Reed Exhibitions last week as reported in Dezeen Wire.

Here are some more details from Media 10:

Media 10, the new owners of 100% Design, the leading interior design exhibition, have appointed William Knight as the exhibition’s Event Director. Knight joins from the London Design Festival where, since 2004, he has been responsible for growing the overall programme, whilst developing the marketing and strategic planning for the Festival. During his tenure the London Design Festival grew year-on-year; and is now one of the leadin annual design events in the world.

As Event Director for 100% Design Knight’s role will focus on reviving the show as the leading showcase for commercial design talent and excellence whilst delivering a great atmosphere for exhibitors and visitors to do business, network and be inspired. Content will be a critical part of the new role and Media 10’s ethos for all their media sectors has always been to push the boundaries and produce ground-breaking events. Knight’s remit will be to create the very best content and seminar programmes, as well as driving 100% Design’s wider role of delivering international trade for London and the UK’s design sector. The overriding notion is to ensure that 100% Design will once again be London’s un-missable design event and by engaging with the leading companies and brands in the industry – and bringing them back to 100% Design – the event will flourish for many years to come.

Speaking on his appointment, William Knight commented, “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be taking on the role of Event Director, 100% Design at a critical moment in its history. Media 10 and I share an ambition to develop and grow the show, building on what it’s achieved and taking it to the next stage.”

Regarding Knight’s appointment, Daren Newton, Design Portfolio Head at Media 10 commented, “William’s experience of mounting campaigns and complex events programmes, as well as engaging the design sector, press, opinion formers and wider audiences, will be a huge asset to Media 10 and specifically to the newly acquired 100% Design”.

In a symbolic year for London, the exhibition will be a great opportunity for the city to firmly stake a claim as the design business capital of the world. With regards to this, Knight added, “London’s place in design has never been stronger, thanks to the Festival and the collective effort of the partners that make it the world’s most vibrant annual design event. 100% Design has a huge role to play in reinforcing the city’s reputation and relevance. I very much look forward to being part of the next stage in cementing London’s position as the world’s most important design city’.

During his time at the London Design Festival, Knight was an inspirational figure in its growth and success. Plaudits were led by Sir John Sorrell, who stated, “I have huge respect and regard for Will; I am grateful for everything he has done for the London Design Festival and I wish him every success in his new role”. Director of the Festival, Ben Evans added further praise, “Will Knight has worked on 8 of the past 9 Festivals and he deserves as much credit as anyone for building the London Design Festival into what it is today. We will miss his contribution but he hasn’t gone far. 100% Design has always been a key part of the mix and present since the first year. We look forward to working with him and his new colleagues at 100% Design”.

With 100% Design a firm feature of the London Design Festival, its importance for the future will be very much part of Knight’s plans, “I look forward to supporting the development of the London Design Festival, in this important role within the design community”, he added.

Dezeen Wire: influential New York design store Moss is to close its Soho space on 17 Feb after 18 years of business, due to lagging sales – New York Times

Store owners Murray Moss and Franklin Getchell, whose shop launched the careers of designers such as Maarten Baas and Hella Jongerius, intend to move from the Soho shop to a smaller space where they hope to continue exhibiting and selling new design.

Read our 2007 interview with Murray Moss here.