Travel

THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED PLACES AT LDF2015

Mise-en-abyme, by Matteo Fogale and Laetitia De Allegri. Supported by Johnson Tiles. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival.

Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Mise-en-abyme, by Matteo Fogale & Laetitia De Allegri. Supported by Johnson Tiles. Victoria & Albert Museum. London.

London was the place to be last week during the London Design Festival 2015. It seemed like the entire city became a design extravaganza. We gathered a sampling of some of the most beautiful spots we found there. Check them out below.

1. MISE-EN-ABYME

Designers Laetitia De Allegri and Matteo Fogale have collaborated with Johnson Tiles to create Mise-en-abyme, an immersive installation at the LDF. The colorful work spans the bridge over the Medieval and Renaissance galleries in the Victoria & Albert Museum.

It creates an ethereal landscape of overlapping semi-transparent colorful shapes that plays with your sense of perspective. It feels as though you are “placed into abyss,” which is what the title means, in French.

2. SERPENTINE PAVILION 2015 - SELGASCANO

In 2015 Serpentine Galleries celebrates the 15th anniversary of the world-renowned Pavilion commission. This year, award-winning Spanish studio selgascano created a beautiful wonder.

The new pavilion is a cocoon-like double-skinned, polygonal structure, consisting of panels of a translucent, multi-coloured fabric membrane. Enter & exit the Pavilion via a number of different portals, passing through a ‘secret corridor’ between the outer and inner layer of the structure.

According to the designers, “Each entrance allows for a specific journey through the space, characterised by colour, light and irregular shapes with surprising volumes.” Each leads you into the Pavilion’s brilliant, stained glass-effect interior.

3. 100% DESIGN

100% Design is a main highlight at the LDF. It is the largest design trade show for professionals in the UK.

This years’ edition is staged at the Olympia London. The hallways are like a post and beam fantasy, we just keep wanting to walk through and explore what’s next.

4. DESIGN IN COLOUR WAVE -- 100% DESIGN

To celebrate LDF’s 100% Design's theme, “Design in Colour,” Studio Design suspended a spectacular sculpture above the central bar at the show.

Bits of color floated above the hub, where designers, journalists, and buyers come together to unwind in between their LDF bustle. We looked up from our drinks and saw happy colors dancing above our heads.

5. DESIGNJUNCTION

The spectacular designjunction is one of the main venues hosting the London Design Festival. This year’s flagship show was held at The College and Victoria House, with more than 180 cutting-edge design brands, 35 design-led pop-up shops, and a cluster of interactive flash factories.

At the heart of London’s vibrant design scene, designjunction alumni include Sir Terence Conran, James Dyson, Stella McCartney, and designjunction’s creative director, Michael Sodeau.

6. BRIXTON DESIGN TRAIL

Local artists, designers, and creative businesses aligned in the Brixton Design Trail for LDF 2015.

The Design Trail showcased local talent, aiming to develop social, cultural, and economic capital within the immediate community and beyond. It included a series of free events and installations in key locations including Brixton Village Market, Reliance Arcade, Pop Brixton and Black Cultural Archives.

We especially loved The Street Gallery, featuring Eley Kishimoto. This outdoor public exhibition, created by Squire & Partners architects, presented a curated series of ten large-scale canvases on the facades of the former Bon Marche department store. A carpeted pavement, featuring Eley Kishimoto’s bespoke Brixton print, stretched out beneath our feet.

7. THE FLOWER SHOP -- LEE BROOM

To celebrate the launch of Lee Broom’s debut collection of vases, the designer transformed his flagship store into “The Flower Shop,” during LDF. The ‘Podium’ vases, featured in this week’s Arts Design post, star in an immersive floral display throughout the store.

In the basement, we found The Flower Shop Kitchen, where acclaimed food writer Pip McCormac created beautiful edible floral treats from his book, The Herb and Flower Cookbook.

8. COLOURFUL CROSSINGS -- BETTER BANKSIDE

Better Bankside commissioned three artists to transform Southwark Street into an Avenue of Art for the London Design Festival. The mission: take art out of its traditional gallery contexts and transform public spaces.

The project, Colourful Crossings, aims to change the way the street is used and perceived by pedestrians and motorists.

The artists commissioned include EXYZT, Morgan Silk, and Adam Frank. The installation will be on view through November, 2015.

9. STRAIGHT JACKET STAR JUMPS -- ALEX CHINNECK

While A Bullet From a Shooting Star, by Alex Chinneck, grabs views from near and far, based on its 35-meter height, the artist’s Straight Jacket Star Jumps is spectacular in its own right! On display at the NOW Gallery for LDF, Straight Jacket Star Jumps is a curled up 21-meter long pylon, wound up tight, like it’s ready to spring.

10. THE VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

As the hub of the London Design Festival each year, the V&A touts London as a top creative capital of the world. It was a beautiful meeting and starting place, and was filled with must-see exhibitions, inspiring installations, and hosted fascinating events.

The sheer beauty of the museum building itself draws as many wows as the artwork and design pieces it holds.

Want more stories like this? Sign up for our weekly BN Newsletter, Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr. Join our BeautifulNow Community and connect with the most beautiful things happening in the world right now!

Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Competition. We run new creative competitions every week! Now, it’s even easier to enter with the new BeautifulNow App!

Plus check out the rest of our App’s beautiful features. It’s free to download here.