The London Design Festival involves a number of Design Districts, representing as many areas of London. For 2019, there are 11 Design Districts
Third part of the London Design Festival 2019.
The events of the London Design Festival are located in different Design Districts, scattered throughout the various areas of London.
A few suggestions: London is quite a big city, so travelling by public transport is good, but moving from one place to another can take a long time.
Many events are by invitation, but a good number are open to the public. Almost all districts feature a ‘late night’. It’s better to pay attention to the opening time, because late night doesn’t mean really late, often the events end at 8:00 pm.
Anyway, the London Design Festival prints a guide, which can be very useful. It can be found at all events, free of charge.
Events and highlights of the London Design Festival 2019
Bankside
Thanks to its creative background, Bankside is an exciting destination during the London Design Festival. The OXO Tower Wharf hosts 25 shops and design studios, and the Tate Modern hosts a series of interactive workshops. Music takes up a major role, thanks to Musicity x Low Line, a soundtrack by different sound artists that connect music to buildings and the Low Line.
The late night is Wednesday, September 18.
Brompton Design District
The Brompton Design District, in South Kensington, is the first among the Design Districts of the London Design Festival, and is probably the one with which Italians are most familiar, mainly because here are located almost all the showrooms of Italian brands – B&B Italia, Boffi, Cassina, De Padova, Kartell, Meridiani, Poltrona Frau, Society Limonta. Here you can find also The Conran Shop, the store-gallery Mint, and others.
Besides these showrooms, Brompton is also home to the V&A Museum, and many galleries are setting up projects for LDF, such as the Seeds Gallery, with an installation curated by M-L-XL, Masters of Disguise, involving Martino Gamper, Sabine Marcelis and Nathalie du Pasquier. South Kensington Estates unveils for the occasion London Fountain Co., the fountain designed by Michael Anastassiades in 2018, now on Thurloe Street.
The late night is on Thursday 19 September.
Chelsea
Since ever, Chelsea has been an area populated, of creative people and activities, and for LDF 2019 it hosts a series of dedicated events. An exhibition of great interest is I-Made, at the Saatchi Gallery, a collective of design made in Italy curated by Giulio Cappellini (click here to learn more)
Among the many events, we can also mention Lema, who organizes a performance with the artist Clym Evernden in the King’s Road showroom, and a talk with the designer David Lopez Quincoces (Thursday, September 19 after 6:30 pm).
The late night is on Thursday 19 September.
Clerkenwell Design Quarter
The renovated Clerkenwell area has become such an important design hub that it has had its own Clerkenwell Design Week for 10 years now (click here to find out more). Among LDF key events, a conference by Werner Aisslinger at the Cappellini showroom (by invitation only); an exhibition-event by Cosentino, and the 30 years of Viaduct, with an exhibition involving E15, Maruni, Mattiazzi, Nikari and others.
King’s Cross
The King’s Cross area makes its debut among the Design Districts, with a series of high profile events. At Coal Drops Yard, the two installations by Martino Gamper, Disco Carbonara and Idiosincratico. Tom Dixon investigates the five senses with the exhibition TouchySmellyFeelyNoisyTasty, in his London hub, the Coal Office. Finally, Designjunction is also back at King’s Cross, confirming the new design destination.
Late night is Thursday, September 19.
Marylebone
The official hub of the Marylebone Design District 2019 is The Conran Shop. The Hauser & Wirth gallery hosts a special exhibition for LDF 2019, with special pieces edited by Conran, including the Latis Chair, by Samuel Wilkinson, upholstered in Kvadrat/Raf Simons fabric; Jo Malone presents an exhibition curated by artist/photographer Martyn Thompson.
The late night is Wednesday, September 18.
Mayfair
Mayfair, the area with the highest density of design galleries, opens its doors on the evening of Monday 16. The Fumi Gallery hosts an exhibition with Max Lamb creations, David Gill Gallery with Sebastian Brajkovic, Achille Salvagni Atelier with Murano glass. It will be flanked by Camille Walala’s Walala Lounge, a special project of the London Design Festival, which turns South Molton Street into an open-air living room.
The late night is Monday 16 September.
Pimlico Road
Home to all the best interior design showrooms and antique shops, Pimlico Road has been joined recently by several contemporary design brands, of the same high and very high-end featuring the area since then. During the London Design Festival, different showrooms host small lectures, such as The ODD Chair Company, where you can learn how to select the perfect chairs, or Cox London, which explains the difference between art and design. The Poggenpohl showroom also features a showcooking session.
The late night is on Monday 16 September.
Shoreditch Design Triangle
Established in 2008 as a Design District, maybe as a consequence of the gentrification of the area, Shoreditch mainly hosts contemporary designers and brands, many of which are British. Shoreditch is home to one of Paul Cocksedge‘s 2019 Landmark Projects, ‘Please be seated‘, at Finsbury Avenue Square. Shoreditch’s highlights are also the new SCP collection at the Curtain Road showroom, and Lee Broom‘s showroom with Kaleidoscopia, an exhibition of its lights. In Shoreditch, the Istituto Marangoni also hosts the exhibition ‘Guiltless Plastic‘, curated by Rossana Orlandi with the Istituto Marangoni, a project for the smart reuse of plastic, with a competition that debuts in the United Kingdom for the first time.
The late night is on Wednesday 18 September.
Victoria Connections Design District
At its second edition as a design destination, the Victoria and Westminster area explores the importance of design in connecting people and places, as witnessed by the key theme ‘Connections: People and Places‘. The focal point of LDF 2019 is the Life Labyrinth, in front of Westminster Cathedral, a project by Patternity. Apollo Victoria Theatre takes advantage of the opportunity to set up an exhibition on the costumes of Susan Hilferty for The Wizard of Oz.
The late night is Thursday, September 19.
West Kensington Design District
At its second edition, West Kensington Design District is one of the most popular destinations, thanks to 100% Design, at the Olympia Theatre, which this year celebrates its 25th birthday (click here to learn more). Alongside 100% Design, with an independent entrance from Olympia Way, there will also be the debut of Detail London, dedicated to the luxury segment.
West Kensington’s main destination is also the Design Museum, which for the occasion is setting up the Beazley Design of the Year. [Roberta Mutti]
Events and highlights of the London Design Festival 2019
