Ten Must-Sees at the London Design Festival 2008

by Leonora Oppenheim

100% Futures at 100% Design
The young cutting edge talent section of the largest and most commercial show in town. Look out for "Lighten Up," [re]design's showcase of 64 sustainable lighting designs. 18-21 September, Earls Court

Urbantine Project at Tent London
This competition for young, up and coming architects is one of the star features of the East End show. Check out the winning installation for 2008 by Working Architecture Group. 18-21, Truman Brewery, Brick Lane

Designersblock
Usually this show (curated by the infamous Piers and Rory) takes place in a darkened, dilapidated industrial building somewhere in the East End, but this year the renegades of the London Design Festival are moving uptown to Covent Garden no less. You can also find a Designersblock pop-up shop on Selfridges' 4th Floor. No 1, The Piazza, Covent Garden, WC2E

Size Matter - Pavilion by David Adjaye
Last year it was the women, Amanda Levete and Zaha Hadid, showing off their curves at the South Bank, this year it's a man's turn. British Architect David Adjaye has been invited to install a conceptual pavilion for the duration of the festival. (Pictured below right.) 13–30 September, South Bank Centre

Libby Sellers Gallery: Beau Sauvage
The influential design curator Libby Sellers is presenting unique work from designers who work with "the raw and the beautiful." Exhibitors include Daniel Brown, Tomas Kral and Julia Lohmann 19 September-19 October 2008, Liberty, 4th Floor, Great Marlborough Street, London. W1

Double Dutch: A Floral Fantasy
This guerilla installation in the Brompton Design District is a collaboration between Flower Council of Holland and the curator Jane Withers. Together they have invited two design partnerships to create a floral feast. Lisa White with Graham Hollick offer "Appetites" and Niels van Eijk and Miriam van der Lubbe present five "Bouquets of Emotions." 15–19 September, 29 Thurloe Place, South Kensington

Alternative Sitting at Eco
Eco, the green lifestyle store in West London, is exhibiting sustainable seating design by U.K .design talent, including Pli Design, Reestore and Ryan Frank. 13-23 September, 213 Chiswick High Road, W4 2DW

Established & Sons
Known for producing design-art of the highest caliber, design manufacturer of the moment Established & Sons is opening a new showroom in North London. Their new 6000 square-foot space will show work by great contemporary names such as BarberOsgerby, Paul Cocksedge, Jaime Hayon, Jasper Morrison and Sebastian Wrong 15-23 September, Wenlock Road, N1

FT Talks - Business of Design
The Financial Times hosts breakfast talks at the Southbank Centre with themes such as Creative Cities, Creative Brands and Sustainability. 15 - 19 September, Royal Festival Hall, South Bank

Greengaged at The Design Council
This series of events, talks and workshops, curated by Sophie Thomas of Thomas Matthews, Sarah Johnson of [re]design and Anne Chick from the Sustainable Design Research Centre at Kingston University, promises to be a fascinating insight into the world of sustainable design. 15 - 23 September, Design Council, 34 Bow Street, WC2E

Jeff Koons Versailles

by Ami Kealoha

"Profound" was the word Jeff Koons used most frequently to express his feelings about his Versailles show at the opening day press conference. After viewing the 17 sculptures installed in the castle's rooms and courtyards, we have to agree.

While it's not a word often associated with Pop Art and may read as a self-aggrandizing statement (especially coming from an artist known for his lack of elitism and an impressively consistent message of lighthearted optimism), the exhibit feels "right," as Koons also put it — both for the sheer aesthetic beauty of his works in the lavish context, as wells as for the overall meaning lent by the historical significance of the site.

As an example of the French government's support of culture, the event carries some weight too. In fact, the French Minister of Culture, Jean-Jacques Aillagon, defended Koons against right-wing protesters who were there calling for purity in art.

Some pieces, such as "Large Vase of Flowers" (above left) in the queen's bedroom, blended almost seamlessly with the decor of the rooms, an effect no doubt having something to do with the influence of Koons' father who was a decorator and who Koons cited as a reason for his appreciation of Versaille's decorative arts, fabrics and textures. The oversize scale of the flowers however, makes it a bit off and, like the other works in the show, sets up a paradox. On one hand the contrast between materials, shapes, scale and surfaces with all the gilt and flourishes is striking, while on the other, Koons' own sense of opulence and the pairing of specific rooms with specific works is resonant.

For some great images and a few insights into the placement of the sculptures, check out the NYT slideshow (where we found the lead image above that features a couple members you may recognize from team CH).

Jeff Koons Versailles
Through 14 December 2008
Château de Versailles
tel. +33 0 1 30 83 78 00

Trove Wallcoverings

by Brian Fichtner

Recent tendencies toward decorative embellishments make it more acceptable to punctuate the room with a patterned wall and fortunately, a host of designers are readily filling the need. One such studio is Trove, a New York-based design duo comprised of Jee Levin and Randall Buck. Two accomplished artists, they set out to merge art, design, and craft in the wall coverings business. Founded in 2006, the earliest Trove collection was inspired by New York's century-old flower market, a now diminutive block in Midtown Manhattan. Recent designs include iO, a broad swath of cherry blossoms; Azha, a scattered group of moths; and Indi, a slightly chaotic assemblage of blackbirds created in tribute to Alfred Hitchcock (click each image above for an expanded view).

Trove produces these naturally inspired patterns using commercial grade paper, non-toxic wax-based coatings and UV resistant inks. Pushing the boundaries of traditional wallpaper design, their patterns stretch to an astonishing 12 feet in length, with widths either 33 1/2" or 67." A recent award recipient at this year's ICFF, Trove looks well positioned as the new boutique studio for discerning clients.