Blind Tiger, UK
Blind Tiger in Liverpool transforms into a new bar and restaurant through collaborative effort between Industville and Snook Architects.
In the basement site of former martial arts Dojo, JSM Bar and Leisure's Blind Tiger is a contemporary dim sum restaurant and bar, which fuses Asian design with Liverpool industrial heritage. The exposed brick walls, steel work detailing and reductionist finishes allow the quality of the materiality to express itself. The furnishings and decor, used to soften the raw materiality, are suggestive of the Asian theme without being overly oriental to attempt to avoid the clichéd interpretation of an Asian eatery.
Featuring dominantly throughout are Industville’s Brooklyn Vintage Giant Bell Pendants with an antique brass shade and brass holder. Providing direct illumination along the exposed brick walls, Industville’s Orlando Cage Wall lights create a warm ambience that complements the colours used in the interior scheme.
In construction and planning terms, the interior was remodelled and heavy steel support portals were added to carry the partition wall. On the above floors this necessary undertaking provided a carved out bar area, linking the dining area to the service area and kitchen. A rear entrance was also formed with under-canopy access stairs to a Zen style urban garden.
Describing it as an Asian speakeasy and cocktail destination, Creative Director of the venue Peter Kane commented on its diversity: "It's a basement space with individual areas including a reception, an outdoor courtyard, exclusively private alcoves, a performance stage for live music, and house dim sum."
Also Creative Director at Brooklyn Mixer and Grove Beer Tap & Grill, Kane was inspired by the previous incarnation of the basement space as a martial arts dojo to create an authentic Asian concept, part premium Seel Street cocktail destination and part contemporary dim sum late night diner with entertainment.
Kane commented: "After looking at the space for some time and assessing it's potential the idea of an Asian speakeasy just fell into place as the obvious concept.” Adopting the spirit of the venue’s former occupation, Blind Dragon naturally and easily suits its space and cuisine, with a deeply authentic and industrial lighting scheme to match.
All photography by Andy Haslam - www.andyhaslam.com
John Cullen at LDF
(UK) - John Cullen present a dynamic architectural lighting, light art and library installation in collaboration with Haberdashery, designers of landmark lighting products and Ultimate Library, creators of bespoke book collection as part of London Design Festival.
LDF will host the free event in Chelsea design quarter, as well as a Light Discussion talk from John Cullen in conjunction with interior designer, Emily Todhunter, reviewing the importance and considerations of decorative lighting and Sally Storey will show how creative lighting techniques can transform the house and garden.
lightjunction presents...
(UK) - lightjunction, part of the international designjunction exhibition taking place during LDF, will present a curated selection of international lighting brands alongside pioneering, design-led lighting installations. Here is just a handful of what the show has to offer…
Wrong for HAY
Wrong for HAY will present an installation featuring the WH lighting collection in the atrium of The College. The space will be transformed into a shop and café, serving delicious coffee from La Marzocco.
Atelier Areti
Set to present their latest collections at #designjunction2015 is Atelier Areti, a UK based-brand which is headed up by sister team Gwendolyn and Guillane Kerschbaumer.
Brokis
Artisan glass-blowers Brokis return to designjunction to launch a host of new products including the colourful suspension lights, Flutes.
Haberdashery
London-based Haberdashery will present interactive light installation DiscoDisco, which responds to sounds and music.
Lindholdt
Also joining the line-up is Lindholdt, who will exhibit the Petit Machine lamp, which was launched at designjunction edit New York in May.
Northern Lighting
Northern Lighting will be exhibiting their latest designs made from their base in Oslo, including the new Birdy lamp in a matte grey finish.
www.thedesignjunction.co.uk/london/lightjunction
Tyson Lighting teams up with B.lux
(Europe) - Tyson Lighting launches collaboration with Spanish designer lighting brand, B.lux. The partnership will see Tyson acting as sole UK distributor for B.lux's lighting product range.
B.lux has its manufacturing base in the Basque Country but its products are specified in more than 60 countries. The firm, which produces sought-after lighting fixtures for the business, retail, landscaping and hospitality industries. has been well-established in the UK for 25 years.
The family-run firm has a strong management structure and a talented pool of designers, which have helped to make B.lux products popular with an impressive list of award-winning architects including Philippe Starck, Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry and Dominique Perrault.
Tyson Lighting's Managing Director, Andrew Gibson, said: "We've had our eye on B.lux for a number of years and we're extremely proud they've chosen us as their exclusive UK partners. We are excited to embrace B.lux within our existing range and anticipate a huge splash in the UK specification market with this brand over the next twelve to eighteen months."
In recent months international design figures, such as Werner Aisslinger, Marco Bisenzi, David Abad, Josep Lluís Xuclà and Jaime Beriestain joined B.lux's team of collaborating designers, resulting in a product catalogue featuring finishes and light sources up to date with the latest design trends.
B.lux strongly committed to staying at the forefront of traditional manufacturing, investing in innovation at home rather than looking to Asia to increase profit margins.
B.Lux General Manager, Harriet Ibarretxe, said: "We are very much looking forward to working with Tyson Lighting to increase our UK presence. We are confident the Tyson team will increase our brand awareness and believe the company is the perfect partner to help showcase our expanding range of products to the UK market."
The B.Lux range of lighting solutions will be available to view in Tyson Lighting's brand new contract showroom in Manchester's Old Granada Studios on Atherton Street from August.
darc awards voting has begun!
(Worldwide) - An international panel of independent lighting designers have chosen their shortlists for each of the project categories. Public voting by independent lighting design community has now begun.
The project shortlists have now been chosen by the international lighting design judging panel for the darc awards and voting by the international lighting design and light art community has begun.
The shortlists can be viewed here... www.darcawards.com/view-entries
The panel consists of Kaoru Mende (Japan), principal of Light Planners Associates; Karolina Zielinska-Dabkowska (Poland), a lighting architect and researcher; Chiara Carucci (Italy), Lead Coordinator of Light-Related Organizations for the International Year of Light 2015; Emma Cogswell (UK), Projects Manager for the IALD; Liz Peck (UK), President of the Society of Light and Lighting; Lara Elbez (Spain), lighting designer; Christopher 'Kit' Cuttle (New Zealand), lighting designer, author and academic; Naama Steigman (Israel), a partner at Studio Twilight; and musson+retallick (UK), artists who regularly use the medium of light in their work.
Out of the 450 entries for the darc awards, twelve from each project category have been chosen by the judging panel for lighting designers and light artists to vote on.
Product categories go straight to the public vote so that lighting designers can genuinely vote for their favourite products from the last three years.
Votes are now being cast on the darc awards website, www.darcawards.com, from until August 17th with the awards event, darc night, taking place in London on September 24th during London Design Festival.
All independent lighting designers that vote will be able to attend darc night free of charge on a first come first served basis (suppliers will be subject to a charge) turning the traditional awards ceremony protocol on its head. The awards evening iteslf will be completely different with free streetfood and drinks all night, lighting installations by lighting designers who have teamed up with the manufacturer partners, and a completely different format for presenting the evening.
Manufacturer partners are Concord (who are teaming up with Speirs + Major); Cooledge (Light Bureau); Griven (Paul Nulty Lighting Design); Innermost (Elektra); KKDC (dpa); L&L Luce&Light (LDI); LSE Lighting (Troup Bywaters + Anders); Lucent (Michael Grubb Studio); Lumino (Electrolight); Megaman (Design In progress); Reggiani (BDP); and Zumtobel (Arup). Technical partner is XL Video and the event is part of the the International Year of Light 2015 programme.
Targetti restructures US operation
(Italy) - Targetti USA to trade as independent business offering full line of US approved products from both Targetti and Duralamp.
Targetti Group will be transforming the Targetti brand in the US under new management and representation as a result of the December 2014 sale of Louis Poulsen to the Polaris Private Equity group - the group of shareholders who originally sold Louis Poulsen to Targetti in the ultimately doomed acquisition in 2007.
Targetti Group has announced its new operations in the US that will operate under the name Targetti USA and will be led by US Business Development Manager, Marie Paris.
Targetti USA headquarters will be located in Costa Mesa, California and will offer a full line of US approved products from both Targetti and Duralamp brands, available via Targetti USA sales representatives.
Luigi Ferrando, CEO of Targetti Group said: “Targetti is very excited about this transaction to enable Targetti USA to operate as an independent business under new management to help us establish our long-term, growth in the US market.”
“We have significantly improved the performance and versatility of our international offering in the architectural lighting business over the last five years, and are excited to have established a strong management team and innovation pipeline in the US. We are convinced that with an independently run US headquarters, Targetti can grow further, attract more customers and increase scale as a leading international company,” commented Ferrando.
Targetti USA will officially celebrate their USA operation opening at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 16th from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. PDT at the Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine, California.
Mono Suspension Lamp
As a result of collaboration between Karman and Prof. M. Arch. Sotirios Papadoupoulos, the Mono suspension lamp was created from Giovanna Colapristi's idea to pay homage to the iron bustier worn by women under crinoline.
Mono is a contamination between two materials that together express a strong feminine sensuality; a structure in charcoal wire netting covered by a white fiberglass hat with a see-through part.
Heal's opens concept showroom
(UK) - Contemporary design store Heal’s has opened a new concept showroom in The Queens Building on London’s Westbourne Grove in continuation of its ongoing retail strategy to optimize in-store and online experiences.
Will Hobhouse, Chair of Heal’s, commented: “We are two years into a programme of change to ensure Heal’s remains at the forefront of British design, and more importantly, to put the customer at the centre of all we do.
“Shopping habits have changed beyond recognition in the past ten years and we needed to respond to the new consumer digital age and how customers research and shop. Service, whether online or in-store, is paramount.”
Close to Kensington Gardens and prime avenues for high-end fashion and designer boutiques, the new Heal’s concept showroom is situated beneath sixteen individually designed residential apartments, on the ground floor of The Queens Building - formerly an art deco cinema. The new showroom houses the most comprehensive lighting collection in London, catering for all specialist lighting needs and bringing Heal’s innovative style and service to the heart of West London.
In addition to being the prime destination for specialist lighting, the Queens showroom offers Heal’s Styling Service with an interior expert team on hand to discuss interior projects, using Heal’s extensive collection of exclusive and designer furniture, stand-out fabrics and made-to-measure services. As the one-stop shop for interior designers and specifiers, the new showroom also includes a library of designer fabrics for customers to browse through in-store.
Heal’s has embraced the latest technology to offer a unique retail experience. Integrating the retailer’s new website, set to launch in August 2015 in conjunction with the showroom opening, the fully-digital store features a range of multi-media displays that pay homage to the cinematic heritage of The Queens Building.
Heal’s at Queens has been designed and project managed by British designer and former finalist of Heal’s Discovers, Matthew Elton, who was instrumental in launching Heal’s Ambrose collection in 2014. All the fixtures, fittings, along with the bespoke kitchen showcased in-store have been designed and produced at the Heal's workshop by Elton and his team.
To coincide with the new showroom opening, Heal’s is now offers this expert, bespoke design services directly to its customers. Elton commented: “It’s been a fantastic journey working with Heal’s, from the Ambrose A-Frame collection through to the design and build of the new Heal’s store. The Queens Building is a local landmark; the team and I are proud of what we've created, and feel privileged to be part of the Heal’s programme of change.
“Growing up in London, I always knew of Heal’s and what it stands for. Now, in my new role heading up the Heal’s Contract Furniture/Kitchen and Shop-fitting division, I have a hand in keeping that tradition going.”
Anglepoise + Paul Smith: Edition Two
(UK) - Anglepoise announces continuation of collaboration with Paul Smith with the Type 75 Desk Lamp Edition Two. Instilling modernity and new life into a design classic, the lamps are available from September.
With Edition One evocative of summer in a combination of cornflower, fuchsia and lime, Edition Two is its alter ego, reminiscent of the deep hues of autumn. Combined with deep slate and cool grey, the mix of jewel-like colours is smart, restrained, and sophisticated with a bold accent of orange bringing the colours a new intensity.
Seen in tandem, each Edition assumes a distinct identity emphasized by the anthropomorphic form of the lamps. Edition Two is the perfect counterpart to the more playful Edition One.
Smith commented: “After the success of my first Anglepoise lamp, I’m very happy to be working with them again on a fresh version.”
Anglepoise expressed appreciation for Smith’s designs: "It’s a rare thing to encounter a designer like Paul Smith who can inject modernity and new relevance into a classic design without compromising the integrity of the original design."
Plumen adds to Drop Cap pendant range
(UK) – Plumen releases metallic option in Drop Cap Pendant range, following on from the Copper and Chrome release with Brushed Brass Drop Cap.
Plumen Co-founder and Creative Director Nicolas Roope commented: “Brass has long been associated with fittings and accessories for lighting so it feels natural to see this beautiful, warm and durable metal joining our contemporary Drop Cap collection.”
The Brushed Brass Drop Cap, like all the other Plumen pendants, fits exclusively with modular sets – including all Plumen bulb models and all colours of Drop Top Lamp Shades.
Roope added: “The Brass Drop Cap adds further colour and material combinations to the Drop Top Shade collection, complementing the white, black and amber shades.”
The E26 Drop Cap now has a new, wider ceiling rose for the American Market which we will be released shortly.
Occhio opens London showroom
German manufacturer opens showroom in Shoreditch area featuring modular luminaire and spotlight systems.
The new studio displays the full range of Occhio products with diverse applications for private and professional environments. Visitors to the showroom are met by a professional team of consultants and lighting planners who provide specific information regarding products and distinctive lighting to living areas.
VISO in partner buyout
(Canada) - Filipe Lisboa and Tzetzy Naydenova complete partner buyout in VISO with 100% interest.
Lisboa commented: “We are excited to continue to work as a team and take VISO to the next level.”
The past six years have seen the couple combine their expertise in design, production, management and marketing to build a fashion forward lighting company for a global audience. Viso’s continuing local and international growth has seen them develop global presence in the UK through Tyson Lighting as well as Hong Kong, Australia, the Middle East, South America, South Africa, North America and Europe.
“We’ll be looking at ways to continuously improve our operation, invest in our industrial design team and continue to develop innovative and beautiful light fixture designs,” said Naydenova. “We are known for being an honest and straightforward company and as we grow, we will ensure that our transparency and integrity remains at the heart of the business.”