designjunction is heading to London’s South Bank this September, with a fantastic programme of events and installations.
designjunction, now in its eighth year, is returning to the capital to showcase impressive, world-class design. Coinciding with London Design Festival, there’ll be so much for design-lovers to see and do over the weekend (20–23 September): from product launches and boutique pop-up shops, to installations and talks.
This year the festival is moving from King’s Cross to South Bank, which is, rather aptly, known as London’s cultural district. If you head over to Doon Street, you’ll find an exhibition hall filled with 200 international design brands and pop-up shops, all guaranteed to fill you with interior inspiration. Meanwhile, the Oxo Tower Wharf and Bargehouse will be hosting major brand activations, as well as a number of talks and exhibitions. The Riverside Walkway, on the other hand, will feature a series of stunning, outdoor installations.
Amongst other installations, you’ll find François Dumas and Lisa White’s Gateway to Inclusion; a beautiful structure made of colourful ribbon and steel – two of Saint Étienne’s (the artists’ hometown) traditional industries. It will be a wonderful and – dare I say it? – instagrammable addition to the South Bank.
François Dumas says: “The long, narrow path offered by the jetty inspired me to design this Gateway in a way that would enhance the experience of walking on it, together with others”.
After London’s designjunction, the installation will travel to Paris and Saint Etienne, and will welcome visitors to the Saint Etienne Biennale next spring, from March 21st to April 22nd, 2019.
Other notable installations include Mud Shell, which showcases an innovative housing project that marries ancient earth architecture with the latest drone spraying technology. Led by architect Stephanie Chaltiel, the project intends to build a simple but sturdy housing system, which can be customised for different locations. Chaltiel has created a unique tool that can be programmed to “Drone Spray” natural materials over a light prefabricated framework until it forms an inhabitable structure.