Online video magazine – Crane TV – has made a short film about the Joy of Living charity exhibition, which is being organised by LDG editor Max Fraser. See interviews with Max, as well as designers Hannah Martin, Tom Dixon and Giles Miller.

Watch the video by clicking on the image below:

Video supplied courtesy of Crane TV.

Joy of Living aims to raise £50,000 for Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres. To buy an artwork online, visit the dedicated Joy of Living website (artworks released online on 15th March 2011). To make a donation to Maggie’s, click on this JustGiving link.

Thank you.

Restauranteur Oliver Peyton of Peyton & Byrne has launched the 150-cover Restaurant at Royal Academy, complete with an interior by Tom Dixon‘s design practice, Design Research Studio.

RESTAURANT AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY

Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD (020 7300 5608)

The 250 square-metre refurbishment references the long and illustrious history of the Royal Academy of Arts with materials chosen to complement the existing fabric of the Regency building including Tom Dixon’s signature material palette – marble, brass and velvet.

The dining area is divided into different zones, with each area inspired by the work of a different Royal Academy ‘Great’, such as Turner and Sir John Soane. A dramatic free-standing unit stands in the centre of the space, consisting of a number of glass cubes. Each cube houses a selection of artefacts dating back to 1897. The pieces belong to the Royal Academy of Arts permanent collection but have long been stored out of public view.

The restaurant is open Sunday-Thursday 10am-6pm, and Friday + Saturday 10am-11pm.

It’s Christmas time and here LDG editor Max Fraser brings you his selection of gifts for the holiday season. As always, we would encourage you to buy well made items with lasting appeal to try to reduce the waste that comes with the merriment and excess. Enjoy!

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Every year in my family, someone buys a new Christmas tree decoration to add to a mish-mash of existing baubles and figurines, each one bringing back memories of a specific year. I find most baubles to be tacky and over-decorated, so I was delighted to discover this mouth-blown and hand engraved glass creation, which somehow encapsulates 2010: fragile and transparent.

Glass baubles by Judith Seng and Alex Valder. £41 from placesandspaces, Clapham (page 154 in LONDON DESIGN GUIDE)

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Candles help add to the atmosphere of Christmas day. These slender glass candlesticks will add an elegant glint to your dining table as you tuck into a feast. A stemware collection by the same designer is also available if you want the entire look.

Tilo range by Anna Torfs. Starting from £130 from Vessel, Notting Hill (page 33 in LDG)

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If, like some members of my family, you are prone to breaking glass then perhaps this etched brass candle holder might be a good option. The detailed pattern unleashes a mass of intricate shadows when lit. There is a similar pendant lampshade version also available.

Etch candle holder by Tom Dixon. £30 from Tom Dixon, Ladbroke Grove (page 32 in LDG)

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OK, back to glass. Well, chunky Quartz crystal actually. These glasses are part of a series designed by Max Lamb for historic crystal company J. & L. Lobmeyr. Lamb wanted to explore the optical effect of faceted crystal, creating a series of 23 cylindrical glasses cut with an increasing number of facets, from 3 to 34. The versions shown above were cut with 6 facets to create thick-walled crystal glassware.

Quartz Series by Max Lamb. £130 (small); £155 (medium); £188 (tall) from Projectory at Phillips de Pury & Company (Saatchi Gallery location)

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If you enjoy a dash of lemon juice with your smoked salmon, try out this futuristic-looking new citrus squeezer. This creation is produced by Alessi, the same company that makes the iconic Juicy Salif lemon squeezer by Philippe Starck (which doesn’t function very well!). Thankfully, and by Starck’s own admission, this one works extremely well!

mysqueeze citrus juicer by Roland Kreiter. £33, available exclusively online from mydeco.com or from Alessi, Mayfair (page 52 in LDG)

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Add some colour to the table with this selection of cheerful steel bowls (gloss on the inside, matt on the outside), originally designed in 1953 by Danish civil engineer, Herbert Krenchel. Excitingly, the iconic design has been reissued in 2010 by Danish brand Normann Copenhagen.

Selection of Krenit bowls by Herbert Krenchel. £12-97 (depending on size) from Skandium, Brompton & Marylebone (pages 20 & 42 in LDG). If you’re searching for a highly-collectible vintage original, visit Rocket Gallery, Shoreditch (page 135 in LDG)

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Of course, Christmas is the time to crack open just about anything that is wet and alcoholic. Here’s a bottle opener that will endure such heavy use, made from cast iron by skilled Japanese craftsmen.

Large bottle opener by Nobuho Miya. £13 from twentytwentyone, Islington (page 119 in LDG)

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A Christmas meal isn’t complete without the crack of some crackers. That said, most of them conceal a useless gift destined for landfill. Not so with these crackers from leading online stationery store, Present & Correct, which are made from graph paper in Devon and contain a few little treasures that you will likely want to keep!

Christmas crackers by Present & Correct. £10 from Present & Correct Pop-In Shop, Clerkenwell or from Present & Correct online shop.

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Over the Christmas period, it is more than likely you’ll get a surprise visit from friends or relatives. So, pull up one of these finely-crafted British-made stools which can double up as a wee side table/drinks perch when not being sat upon.

Stool One (oak) by Another Country. £145 from Another Country or The Temporium, Brompton (9-19th December 2010). Additionally, a limited-edition of 100 solid ash stools has been produced in collaboration with Monocle for £175.

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Of course, if anyone outstays their welcome, show them the door… and these simple coat hooks which they probably failed to notice on arrival!

Ceramic and cork knobs by Jasper Morrison. £9, £14, £21 for ceramic and £8, £10, £12 for cork from Jasper Morrison Shop (page 131 in LDG). Also can be used as handles on furniture. The shop is also open on Saturdays in December.

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During any Christmas down-time, while most people can be found reading a good novel, I’m guilty of using the time to scrub up on my design knowledge. Yeah, cool man. So here is a beast of a book delving into the nuts and bolts of the Eames Office, written and designed over 13 years by ex-employee Marilyn Neuhart and husband John. After this weighty accomplishment, we’ll finally be able to draw a line under the Eames legacy.

The Story of Eames Furniture by Marilyn & John Neuhart. £140 from The Lollipop Shoppe, Spitalfields or directly from the publisher, Gestalten. If you have a spare 16 minutes, be sure to watch this fantastic video about the book.

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Before you sit down to read, it’s important that you have a good light. Here’s a beauty – an architect lamp designed in 1921 by Bernard-Albin Gras and recently reissued. The construction of the lamp, hand made in France, is free from screws or welded joints. There are various versions available but this one is my favourite.

Lampe Gras 207 by Bernard-Albin Gras. £380 from SCP, Shoreditch and Westbourne Grove (pages 136 and 31 in LDG)

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For those of you with children, you probably have to tolerate heaps of ugly plastic toys in your home. Well, American designer David Weeks has designed a series of wooden animals that happily fall into the ‘kidult’ category. Beautifully hand made, each limb is fully flexible and simply held together with elastic. My favourite is Hanno the gorilla.

Hanno the Gorilla by David Weeks. £59 from Aram Store, Covent Garden (page 76 in LDG)

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And on to the New Year. I like to start each year with a fresh new notebook to jot down ideas and future plans. You never know when you will have a lightbulb moment, so it’s best to invest in a good looking book for any public appearances. Crucially, this one has unlined pages (that’s just how I like it), with a Japanese screen printed cover and red linen spine.

Large hand bound notebook. £26 from Darkroom, Bloomsbury. Other colours and sizes are available.

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Finally, a little note to jolt your conscience. A staggering amount of landfill waste is generated each year from excessive packaging as well as unwanted Christmas gifts. We would encourage you to carefully consider the person you are buying for (so that they receive what they actually want), avoid unnecessary packaging, and make a concerted effort to buy into quality items that will last. There, we said it.

Check out GOOD magazine’s ‘10 favourite innovations for reducing plastic consumer waste.’

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Foodies and design buffs alike can enjoy The Dock Christmas Market at the water-side estate of Portobello Dock. Hosted by designer Tom Dixon, expect lively festivities on the terrace, in the Tom Dixon Shop and Dock Kitchen restaurant.

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THE DOCK CHRISTMAS MARKET, 16th-19th December 2010

Wharf Building, Portobello Dock, 344 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5BU (020 7400 0500)

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On the opening night (6-8pm,Thursday 16th), one can enjoy roasted chestnuts, London Lager and mulled wine on the terrace with live music from the Bonfire Band.

Food stalls line the cobbled entrance with an array of cheese, charcuterie and confectionary. Traditional home-made cakes are being served at ‘Molly’s Tea Room’ where kitsch floral crochet tea-cosies (hand made by Andrea Lesley Crochet) are sold alongside an exclusive blend of tea provided by Postcard Teas.

The full range of Tom Dixon lighting and furniture is available in the shop, alongside other fresh design arrivals from complimenting designers and brands.

Pine and Needles is selling Christmas trees, as well as decorative wreathes from local florist Scarlet & Violet.

Open Thursday 16th-Saturday 18th 12-8pm, Sunday 19th 11am-5pm.

Chef Jamie Oliver, in partnership with New York chef Adam Perry Lang, has opened a new restaurant called Barbecoa. Located in the Jean Nouvel-designed One New Change near St Paul’s cathedral, the interior is by Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio.

BARBECOA

20 New Change Passage, London EC4M 9AG (020 3005 8555)

Barbecoa is a ‘celebration of the relationship between fire and food.’ Dishes are based on traditional cooking methods from around the world, using wood pits, Robata grills, tandoors, and smoking. The interior aims to reflect this style of food with a colour palette of rich, earthy tones.

The space includes a 200 seater restaurant, 40 seater bar, a take-away venue and onsite butcher shop. The scheme maximises views of neighbouring St Paul’s cathedral with a furniture layout that allows every customer to see the London landmark.

Be warned: it would seem this restaurant is a victim of its own success as it is apparently impossible to book a table. Hopefully this will ease after a few months.

Displayed during the Frieze Art Fair, contemporary ‘design art’ exhibition Super Design returns for its fourth year. Set within the imposing venue of Victoria House, the exhibition brings together collections from leading international galleries and designers at a crucial time in the art calendar year.

SUPER DESIGN, 14th-17th October 2010

Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London WC1B 4DA

Spread over 1,500 sqm of exhibition space, Super Design features specially commissioned, unique and limited edition pieces from world-class international galleries including The Apartment, D&A-Lab, Mitterrand-Cramer, Tom Dixon, Gallerie Van Der Straeten, Quadridge, and Vessel Gallery among others.

Devised by gallery owner Patrick Brillet of The Apartment, Super Design is a carefully curated event designed to showcase the far-reaching capabilities of producers and designers and the inspiring collaborations that exist between the two.

Talents on show this year include Brodie Neil, Philip Michael Wolfson, Marcus Tremonto, Emmanuel Babled, Maarten Baas, Studio Job, Campana Brothers, Tom Dixon, Herve Van Der Straeten, Michael Young, Olgoj Chorchoj, and Jonathan Monk.

The event is open daily from 10am-6pm and is free entry.

Images, from top: Michael Young installation for The Apartment; The Low Table Collection by Jonathan Monk; Cristalloide by Herve Van Der Straeten; Reverb Wire Chair by Brodie Neil; Origami Mirror Chair by Philip Michael Wolfson; Kasimir Console by Herve Van Der Straeten.

Tom Dixon opens the doors to its first shop, in a converted Wharf Building at Portobello Dock, Ladbroke Grove. The former Victorian goods depot is now home to the full Tom Dixon range of lighting and furniture as well as a selection of work from other international designers and brands.

TOM DIXON

Wharf Building, Portobello Dock, 344 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5BU (020 7400 0500)

Premiering for the first time in the UK is the Tom Dixon Etch collection, a digitally manufactured brass pendant light and candle-holder. Inspired by the logic of pure maths, Etch is made using an industrial process that allows for intricate patterns to be cut directly onto the metal.

The designer Tom Dixon has handpicked a number of designers from around the globe to premier their work at  this space. The concession brands will alternate quarterly throughout the year to add variety to this retail destination. The first group of concessions include acclaimed Dutch designer, Piet Hein Eek, who is showing his scrap-wood cabinet collection.

A dedicated materials library opens within the shop, available to professionals looking for reference and inspiration for architectural and interior design projects.

Lunch, dinner and tea is served at the newly-expanded Dock Kitchen where chef Stevie Parle cooks carefully sourced, honest food overlooking the Grand Union Canal. The kitchen has relaunched as a permanent 80-seater restaurant designed by Design Research Studio. The new concept includes a deli, take-away coffee bar and private dining room.

Hosted by British designer Tom Dixon at the Portobello Dock development, the ‘Global Industry’ exhibition brings together a diverse collection of international design entrepreneurs during the London Design Festival.

GLOBAL INDUSTRY AT THE DOCK , 20th-26th september 2010

PORTOBELLO DOCK

344 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5BU

Showing indoor and outdoor installations, exhibitions and pop-up shops, the Portobello Dock transforms into a inventive and creative centre for multiple design brands.

Specially designed for The Dock, a temporary cross-laminated timber pavilion showcases the work of award winning designers from Metropolitan Works. For relaxation, there is a specially-constructed outdoor area designed by Belgian manufacturer Extremis. During the event, bike enthusiasts have the possibility to buy or have free trials of Tom Dixon’s limited edition copper-plated bikes for Brompton Bicycles. Across the canal, Dutch furniture and lighting brand Moooi is launching its first dedicated London showroom.

Tom Dixon has handpicked an international mix of concession brands to be sold in the new Tom Dixon Shop at The Dock. Designers and brands such as Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek, Areaware, Simon Hasan and New Caribbean Design are showing their products. Visitors also have the opportunity to buy Tom Dixon’s latest additions to the ‘Industry’ collection – the Etch candleholder and pendant light are being produced live onsite for the occasion as ‘Flash Factory’ kick’s off.

In case you’re hungry, visitors can eat in the Dock Kitchen, which is designed by Design Research Studio.

The Dock Kitchen is here to stay! Housed at Portobello Dock – the studio and showroom base for designer Tom Dixon – the restaurant was initially set up as a temporary intervention to make use of the old kitchen space. Its success since launching in September 2009 has now secured its permanent home.

DOCK KITCHEN

Wharf Building, Portobello Dock, 344 Ladbroke Grove (entrance on Kensal Road), London W10 5BU (020 8962 1610)

Portobello Dock was originally a Victorian canal dock rubbish interchange, and most recently Richard Branson’s headquarters and recording studios – home to the likes of the Spice Girls, David Bowie, and the Sex Pistols. Tom Dixon inherited the staff canteen, which was where the stars were entertained following the signing of their multi-million pound deals.

Dixon wanted to hold onto this heritage so called in the skills of chef Stevie Parle to create an experimental restaurant that would form a base for Stevie to write his first cookbook, and provide a work canteen for Tom Dixon staff.

Stevie is ex-Spotted Pig, ex-River Cafe, and ex-Petersham Nursery. He has lived and cooked in Sri Lanka, New York, Vietnam, and Japan, bringing global influences to the Dock Kitchen.

The bright and unpretentious space with its open kitchen, is decked out with Tom Dixon furniture and lighting. The designer’s complete product showroom is located next to the restaurant – see the review on page 32 of LDG.

The restaurant is open for lunch, and their popular themed Supper Club events take place on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8pm.

Circus is now open – Covent Garden’s new restaurant, bar, and ‘entertainment experience’, the design of which has been created by Design Research Studio, headed up by British designer Tom Dixon.

CIRCUS

27-29 Endell Street, London WC2H 9BA (020 7420 9300)

The idea behind this venue is to add spectacle to the dining experience by hosting ‘surprising and intriguing acts’ throughout the evening, the details of which are under wraps at this time. Judging from the design of the space, we are imagining cabaret/pole dancing/singing divas and generally vivacious performances. 

The idea is that performances are dotted around the space, rather than being focussed on a single stage. Drinkers and diners can be involved in the performances should they wish – those seated at the specially commissioned wide main table will find their dining space transformed into a stage once they have completed dinner.

Open for lunch and dinner, Circus accommodates 140 covers with a Pan-American menu. Chef Nik Biok (previously of Gaucho, St. Judes in Glasgow and Industrie in Sydney) has been inspired by his travels across the North American continent and his love of New York restaurants. Expect dishes such as snapper ceviche, baby coconut, sriracha chilli, mooli and carrot salad; smoked stuffed chicken wings, chipotle and tamarind, lime relish and sour cream; or seafood jambalaya with annatto, oregano, sun-blushed tomato and chorizo.

Circus can also boast an impressive cocktail selection at the bar.