Tony Chambers on the Design Museum's new Kensington home

As the Design Museum reopens in its spectacular new home in Kensington, Wallpaper* editor-in-chief, Tony Chambers, looks inside and forecasts the week ahead
Tony Chambers1 December 2016

The wait is over. After a four-year transformation, the old Commonwealth Institute on Kensington High Street reopened its doors last week as the new home of the Design Museum. In the hands of architect and master-minimalist John Pawson, the 1960s structure has been retuned with floating benches, concealed lighting, wrap-around glass railings and flooring in Danish Dinesen oak; whereas the soaring concrete roof — a key feature of the original building — has been magnificently restored.

The space is a sight to behold, but equally impressive are the three inaugural exhibitions, all befitting the largest design museum in the world.

Those who have been to the museum’s old location in Shad Thames will no doubt know of the Designs of the Year show, an annual fixture since 2008. The 2016 iteration showcases more than 70 nominations, among them KiBiSi’s carbon-fibre electric bike, Daan Roosegaarde’s air purifier, and Jonathan Barnbrook’s cover for David Bowie’s final album, Blackstar. Winners will be announced in January. I’m rooting for the Fondazione Prada, Milan, which I personally nominated for the architecture category.

An adjacent show, Designer Maker User, draws on the museum’s permanent collection to tell the story of 20th- and 21st-century design. Divided into three sections, the exhibition casts a wide net. There’s Richard Rogers’ gerberette (steel beam) for the Centre Pompidou, PriestmanGoode’s prototype for the new London Underground trains, and Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren’s early punk pieces.

The more experiential third show is not to be missed. Called Fear and Love, it uses 11 new installations to explore the emotional impact of design. The line-up is international and interdisciplinary, including fashion designer Hussein Chalayan, Muji art director Kenya Hara and Bogota-based architecture collective Arquitectura Expandida. I’m especially fond of OMA’s Pan-European Living Room, comprising a piece of design from each of the EU’s member states. The walls are clad in the ‘EU barcode’, made up of the colours of every European flag. Conceived in response to the EU referendum, the installation is a poignant comment on what we could lose in our haste to retreat.

The building

Architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris have designed a new shop for the Barbican, which opens early this month. The liberal use of metallic cladding complements the concrete building surfaces perfectly. In addition to the usual range of exclusive products (many of which are inspired by brutalist architecture), there’s also a pop-up space that highlights a different young designer every two months.

The Tech

Kodak made a splendid entrance into the smartphone market last month with the Ektra. Named after a 1941 rangefinder, the Ektra boasts a powerful 21-megapixel camera sensor, a delightfully tactile shutter dial and a textured leather finish on the back. It’s set to conquer the hearts of photography professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Kodak’s new Ektra smartphone

The Person

South African artist William Kentridge is having a moment in London. As well as the success of his show at Whitechapel Gallery (until 15 January), he has directed a production of Alban Berg’s modernist opera, Lulu, at English National Opera this month. He was also commissioned by Ermenegildo Zegna to create a monumental tapestry for its New Bond Street flagship, which opened last month.

Kentridge's tapestry in New Bond Street 

The Experience

Two things to get you in the festive spirit: celebrating our love of Denmark, Wallpaper* is putting together its Hygge Christmas Market just off Granary Square, King’s Cross, from 12-18 December. Expect a snowflake-inspired pavilion and booths (left) by 3xn, food curated by the Danish Embassy and wares by Georg Jensen, Skagen and Tivoli Lights. Over in Haggerston, Pablo Flack and David Waddington of Bistrotheque have created an immersive sensory pop-up restaurant for Sarabande, The Lee Alexander McQueen Foundation. The Reindeer 2016 is open from Friday for three days of brunch and dinners where you can feast off Tord Boontje’s beautiful blue ‘Deer in Forest’ limited-edition plates.

Pavilion and booths by 3xn
Tord Boontje’s ‘Deer in Forest’ limited-edition plates

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