Clerkenwell Design Week returns to the streets of EC1 for another year of exciting product launches, talks, presentations, and exploration of a wide range of international designers, makers, and manufacturers.
As part of this year’s event, KI will be taking space in the grade II listed building and CDW 2023’s festival hub, Old Sessions House, on Clerkenwell Green. The main feature this year is KI’s latest innovation, Clubhouse, a flexible system of acoustic frames and panels that can create a variety of private and collaborative spaces. From individual phone-booths to larger meeting areas with advanced tech integration, Clubhouse has been designed to revolutionise the way we work and interact in shared spaces.
Clubhouse’s clean and contemporary design provides a modern and innovative solution that is both visually striking yet supremely functional. Situated in this traditional backdrop will showcase its versatility, demonstrating how it can be seamlessly integrated into any setting. The crisp lines of Clubhouse’s chamfered edges throughout the structured framework paired with 10mm glass panels will juxtapose uniquely against the rustic, raw plaster walls and original chandelier of the room, creating a spectacular contrast between old and new. Clubhouse’s innovative design will offer a glimpse into the future of workplace, displaying how traditional spaces can be transformed into practical and productive environments.
Speaking about the installation of Clubhouse in Old Sessions House, KI’s President for E.M.E.A, Jonathan Hindle, said, “We are excited to showcase Clubhouse in such a beautiful and historic space. The juxtaposition of the old and new will create a visually stunning statement that highlights its adaptability. We believe this installation will offer visitors a unique and engaging way of experiencing Clubhouse’s unique features.”
KI has collaborated with Designers Guild to use their fabrics throughout the installation; chosen for their beauty, durability, and sustainability. A wide range of tonal neutrals, putty pinks, and accent crimsons in fresh linens and sheers have been selected to complement the modern design while adding warmth, colour, and texture to the space. Designer Guild’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices make them an ideal partner for the show.
KI will also be launching a Bruce Kenneth reclining chair and ottoman. Inspired by Brutalist furniture and architecture, the products have been designed with intentionally opposing smooth, organic curves and unnatural edges. Its realistic design doesn’t try to be too ‘statement’, but instead creates a timeless and practical product with seamless one-piece frame and legs.
Alongside this exclusive showcase there will also be a selection of KI’s most popular products to complete the scheme including Take5 Ottomans, 800 series storage, Grafton collection chairs, and Athens tables.
KI’s one-piece polypropylene Postura+ chair will also have focus on it as visitors are invited to explore its new colour palette and ongoing sustainability efforts towards a circular economy. The small gallery will also feature KI’s process for a new bi-product wood chip mix for Postura+ stools that reflects their commitment to eco-friendly design.
Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the future of open plan architecture and sustainable design with KI at Clerkenwell Design Week 2023.
About KI
KI’s furniture helps the world’s leading organisations create happy, healthy, high performing working and learning environments. Bringing together good design, advanced engineering and sustainable resources, KI’s products are durable, flexible and offer excellent value.
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KI has confirmed that Postura+ will begin a transition to a circular economy, with all one-piece chairs manufactured from December 2022 set to contain at least 30% recycled polypropylene.
Following over 3 years of trials and testing, this achievement sets an important milestone on KI’s journey towards taking a leading position in the circular economy. Over the coming years, KI will work towards increasing this percentage to future milestones 50, 80 and ultimately 100%, bringing all standard colours into line with the increasingly popular Jet Black chairs which are already made with 100% recycled content.
The unique, UK-based supply chain development will see 600 tonnes per year of waste plastic being fed into the standard production process, the equivalent of over 2,000,000 food containers per annum. These new mixed virgin/recycled polypropylene chairs have been rigorously tested and have achieved the same certifications and standards as the fully virgin plastic chairs, so the unparalleled, proven Postura+ 20-year warranty remains in place.
Jonathan Hindle, President, KI EMEA comments: “We manufacture approximately 400,000 one-piece Postura+ chairs alone each year, making it one of our most successful and high-volume product lines. Eliminating 600 tonnes of virgin polypropylene from this supply chain demonstrates our commitment to realistic, impactful steps towards sustainable practices, without compromising colour options, quality, durability and warranties.”
Jeremy McWhinney, KI’s Finance & Operations Director adds: “Whilst other products in our lives have been able to utilise recycled polypropylene for years, they are routinely single or limited use items – Postura+ chairs must withstand the toughest learning environments for decades. The testing and production processes involved have been years in the making, and we look forward to continuing our journey towards our ambition of 100% recycled content in the future.”
This innovation in Postura+ chair production further enhances the product’s environmental performance, outlined in its independently verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Manufactured in the UK, these chairs are transported in 100% recyclable packaging, and are themselves 100% recyclable at their end of life.
Alison Mallett, KI Europe’s Director of Education Furniture comments: “Our customers both in the UK and across Continental Europe are looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of their procurement practices, without adding unrealistic cost or compromising quality. What we’ve managed to achieve with Postura+ chairs is a fantastic step in the right direction and we are confident that this exciting news will be met with great enthusiasm from our customers.”
This week’s instalment of SBID’s Product of the Week series features a morphable furniture design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Thomas Abraham For IDeA Design House.
SBID Awards Category: Furniture – Residential
Practice: Thomas Abraham For IDeA Design House
Project: The Optimus
The Optimus by Thomas Abraham is a morphable furniture piece that transforms in size, shape and purpose. Because it can be multi-used and multi-purposed, it limits the number of furniture in the room thereby providing free space.
It is made of sheesham wood from renewable plantations that are environmentally friendly with low carbon footprints. It is in every way an ‘Environment first’ Architectural Design, prioritizing sustainability, durability, recycling and reusing material, waste management, reduction of carbon footprint and economically affordable design. It also focuses on the efficient use of resources and follows a zero-waste policy. Everything used was handmade, thus providing much needed employment to local population as well as preserving the skillsets of craftsmen in the neighbourhood.
This is design as cosmopolitan as it gets, a glocal (global + local) sensibility with diversity and universal value – furniture that would fit in every home, in any culture
The SBID International Design Awards programme serves to recognise, reward and celebrate design excellence across a broad range of categories spanning Interior Design, Product Design and Fit-Out. Click here to find out more.
Lorenzo Tondelli Collection is pleased to announce the release of the new Hyperborea series. A family of furniture, containers, seating, objects and lighting with a common philosophy: elegant and refined sobriety, high technology combined with the excellence of the finest Italian craftsmanship, clean lines and a contemporary touch.
The name Hyperborea draws its inspiration from legendary territories where the terrestrial and celestial met, sparking the beginning of civilization. As was the first home of Apollo, so those territories were blessed with days of endless light and an eternal spring. The series recalls the spirit of such mythic places, featuring both eastern and nordic undertones. The elements seem to come from a midway land where indoor and outdoor landscapes overlap, creating dynamism and intimacy through a silent yet engaging dialogue with the inhabitants. They couple magnificent minimalism with the in-depth technical know-how of how things work. Each piece comes with an unerring sense of measure and proportion. Each piece knows how to live and breathe in urban extensions. In its dedicated space, it finds meaning and prominence — a perfect joy.
The series is composed of completely unseen pieces such as the Dune armchair, the Drop and Levare low tables, and the Aura lamp, as well as reinterpreted and innovative Lorenzo Tondelli bestselling classics. The limited edition Atlante cabinet, a finalist in the Product Design category at the SBID Awards 2021, is also part of the selection.
Dune’s strangely beautiful silhouette looks straight to a sci-fi visual narrative. Its sleek, untouched curves interplay like sandy waves to recall fantasies of moonlit trips to a dream planet we might call “home”. Dune Armchair has ultra ergonomic lines and a cleanest design ensured by almost non-existent seams. The armchair belongs to a series that acknowledges material matching: customize it with leathers in different colours or combine leather with wood or metal.
Aura is all about soft magnetism finding freedom through a cage. The wall becomes the sky as light leaks, spreading symmetrically across it, catching the eye through a sought-after movement of shades. Aura Lamp celebrates the utmost pleasure of skywatching: it conveys the aesthetic of northern lights through a stern yet appealing reproduction of an ancient Chinese cricket cage. Filtering the light through a unique screen surrounded by tiny bars, it reverberates an alluring game of shadows in the room.
Drop captures stillness and change at the same time. There’s a quiet, flat pond, and then some tiny raindrops falling: the exact moment when they become water happens and freezes right before us. Drop has a fluid identity lying in its shapes and attitude. It has a unifying presence, with its flat and large plateau creating harmonious combinations with different pieces from the collection.
Levare was born to be as necessary and daily as the flavor of salt. And yet, it’s shaped and named after Michelangelo’s sculptural manner of taking away, instead of adding, to reach the peak of essential artfulness. Levare is a leather and metal low table with a soothing feel deriving from its blatant efficiency and plain essentiality. Geometries and volumes are subtracted, reduced to a minimum — just enough to serve intelligently, clearing the space for anything else.
About Lorenzo Tondelli
Since the early fifties, Lorenzo Tondelli have been makers at work. They adorn places where meeting, talking, learning, playing, working, and relaxing feels just sublime. At Lorenzo Tondelli they love to gather their fabrics, fantasy, and experience, and then let the inspiration lead them somewhere new. Every element they design has a unique storyline, combining culture, art, and tradition to create comfortable yet inspiring spaces.
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Designed as a subtle gesture, at home or anywhere. SBID member and provider of furnishing solutions for community spaces, work and home, Arper explores its expanded collection of Aston Club Low Back chairs, designed by Jean-Marie Massaud.
Continuing the original shape of Aston launched in 2006, the Aston Club Low Back expands the earliest collection to offer generous, ergonomic comfort in a minimal form. With open arms, the Aston Club Low Back invites repose, rest, and shelter in any environment—a quiet space all your own. When paired together or placed in group settings, its clean form supports ease in conversation and exchange. A cocoon of comfort in a contemporary, pure silhouette.
The Aston Club Low Back is as thoughtful on the inside as it appears on the outside. The modern lounge chair continues the collection’s commitment to sustainability with internal components made from post-industrial recycled plastic. In a design that’s truly timeless, each component piece can be disassembled and reupholstered as needed to ensure the longevity of the piece and reduce its environmental impact. All materials can be recycled or upcycled and incorporated into the life cycle of other products, reducing overall waste.
Aston Club is produced without any glue in order to reduce the emissions and allowing for the responsible disposal of all component parts. Aston Club uses powder-based coat that is free of VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions.
All elements have been designed for superlative ergonomic comfort – a considered approach to near scientific craftsmanship contained in a clean and minimal silhouette. The Aston Club Low Back lounge chair fits well into both residential and corporate lounge contexts and is available in a four-star polished aluminium or painted base and can be customised in a wide range of finishes making it a versatile piece that will last a lifetime.
Whether you’re looking to specify sustainably-made chairs for an upcoming office project, source a unique coffee table solution for helping your clients relax and entertain at home, or find design-led brassware for bathroom spaces with additional water-saving innovations; browse this month’s curated selection of interior product news to discover more ways you can enhance your designs this February.
Alexander Joseph introduce a series of new designs for its luxury cordless lamps
Throughout February, Alexander Joseph will be introducing a series of new contemporary designs to their permanent range of luxury cordless lamps – and it all starts with the Arc. A classic desk lamp magnificently proportioned to bring grandeur to an office or study. Bringing the traditional 100-year-old shape up to date with a contemporary oversized body. Arc’s sweeping oval lines give way to an angled summit. Finished in Bronze, Brass & polished Silver, there are hundreds of shade colours and materials available to suit your interior design schemes.
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FCI presents the unique Caprice Coffee Table by Smania
Made by the Italian manufacturer Smania, the Caprice wooden coffee table finished in a veneer of wood with a leather upholstered structure is no ordinary coffee table. This low, design-led and multi-functional round table also serves as a bar with its unique openable top, exposing internal compartments to store bottles and glasses. This design feature elevates the sleek, contemporary coffee table to become a true centre piece of your client’s living room – to dine, relax and entertain in style. Caprice makes for a bold, yet elegant addition to any aesthetic.
Roca flourishes with new Flat brassware range
Flat epitomises minimalist design with its square silhouette and soft edges. Offering a functional yet sophisticated brassware style for any bathroom space, it is available in standard, deck-mounted and wall-mounted options. The square shape of the Flat mixer is also complementary to a range of basin shapes, making it a versatile and functional brassware choice for homeowners, installers, specifiers and retailers.
All mixers in the Flat collection are coated in the hard-wearing Roca EverShine® finish. The electrolytic coating ensures the tap retains its shine, repels stains and discourages the build-up of limescale. The range is also equipped with water-saving innovations. Soft Turn technology provides precision and puts the homeowner in control, with the ability to set the desired water flow and temperature. Enhanced with the integration of flow limiters you can restrict the water flow to a set number of litres per minute, providing a more sustainable, cost-effective solution.
Introducing the matt lacquer and copper bespoke kitchen by Roundhouse
Crafting beautiful, bespoke kitchens and furniture, Roundhouse showcase their signature, understated aesthetic with one of their latest kitchen projects. The Stephens family kitchen is the perfect place for entertaining with it’s refined and uncluttered scheme – the result of a behind-the-scenes pantry that leads to a scullery and wine store. The design features a combination of Roundhouse Urbo and Metro matt lacquer and matt sanded copper. Finished in Paint & Paper Library Squid Ink with polished Neolith Calacatta worktops. Roundhouse designs are made to measure in a huge range of stunning finishes, expertly crafted by their skilled cabinet makers in their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Malvern, Worcestershire.
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Arper presented two of its recycled products to the Scandinavian market
Exhibiting at the 70th edition of the Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair, for the first time Arper displayed its newest additions made from recycled materials to the Scandinavian market; June Eco and Duna 02 Eco, alongside other iconic Arper products. Duna 02 Eco, designed by Lievore Altherr Molina is sustainably-made from 80% recycled post-industrial plastic shell with a 4-leg wood base, and is Greenguard Gold certified. Its shape is evocative and contemporary with a delicate curvature and sumptuous surface, making this chair ideally suited for both home and hospitality spaces.
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