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Selfridges’ Bright Young Things Windows 2012

James Davidson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:34:11 +0000

Maarten van der Horst

Last week we featured StudioXAG’s turquoise explosion for Future Map’s window at Selfridges’ annual Bright Young Things showcase. Well, we’ve had pictures through for all of the windows that were dressed by the cream of the country’s young creatives – and, quite frankly, we could do a detailed feature on pretty much every one. They’re mind-bogglingly good.

From Tinker and Tailor‘s full on recreated studio to Oliver Ruuger‘s elegantly surreal scene; the acute detail, creativity and sheer artistry on display, is enough to put most major retailers to a great deal of shame. Bright young things? They sure as hell are…

Alex Mattsson

Sorcha O’Raghallaigh

T.Lipop

Tinker and Tailor

Archie McLeish

Astrid Anderson

Becky Sloan

Nuha Razik

Future Map

Oliver Ruuger

Jack Coleman

Maarten van der Horst

MASC

Shaun Samson

William Richard Green

Adam Andrascik

Alice Lee

Group Window

StudioXAG’s Selfridges Window

James Davidson — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:07:55 +0000

It’s that time of the year again, where Selfridges offer up their iconic windows to the latest and greatest young talents. No newcomers to mesmerising window displays, London-based StudioXAG have sent through their collaboration with Future Map – an annual exhibition showcasing University of the Arts London’s finest fledglings – and mightily impressed we are with it too. Future Map’s starburst logo has been transformed into an explosion of lurid turquoise that unites the work of a handful of their designers and artists in a decidedly surreal domestic scene…

Aesop Soho

James Davidson — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:09:19 +0000

Famed internationally for their sublime stores, and crisp, clinical branding, equally as much as their premium skin, hair and body products; Australian brand Aesop have come up trumps once more, with their latest London space. Where the brand and their collaborators usually take materials, ideas or elements from each of their store’s past lives, decades of dingy fast-food shopfit after dingy fast-food shopfit meant there was nothing of any interest left to work with. Which didn’t stop Parisian studio Ciguë from creating the brand’s most beautiful UK retail space to date.

Comprised almost entirely of enamel shelving, the store is as crisp and clinical as the branding, and there’s a nostalgic ‘laboratory’ feel to it all – that’s so intrinsically linked to their identity. We were down for the recent opening, and I can tell you it looks even better in the flesh than it does on these shots; simple, yet so thoughtfully considered, those delightfully stylish Antipodeans have done it again…

Dover Street Market SS12 Tachiagari

James Davidson — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:10:55 +0000

It’s probably (well, unquestionably) fair to say, that Dover Street Market is London’s most notable destination for bleeding-edge haute couture. The brainchild of Comme des Garçons’ über-creative founder, Rei Kawakubo, DSM undergoes a bi-annual Tachiagari (Japanese for beginning), where the 6-floor marketplace of “beautiful chaos” shuts down for 3 days, only to be reborn with new spaces, collections and concepts – many of which the designers themselves get involved in. 2012′s first Tachiagari has just unveiled itself on the beautiful creatures of London town; and with revamped spaces from Hussein Chalayan, Ann Demeulemeester, and the introduction of Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, it is – as ever – one of planet fashion’s most influential ports of call…

Camper Together, Rotterdam

James Davidson — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:49:56 +0000

Camper Together‘s latest international opening is a swirling, metropolitan fish tank with dazzling neon shelving as its showy coral display. Slap bang in the middle of the Netherlands’ first pedestrianised street, Alfredo Häberli‘s playful store design is the latest in a long line of collaborations with the Spanish brand; with Barcelona, Seoul, London and Rome being just some of the many cities where his humorous style has been showcased. Its bold, brave colours and unique appearance make for an unmistakably arresting boutique. There’s no room for ‘refined elegance’ or ‘understated style’ here, Häberli’s brazen concept is literally screaming in your face as you walk down the street; but that’s what makes it all the more charming, all the more original and refreshing. This is a store that doesn’t fit a mould, doesn’t care for convention, and for that, we love it all the more…

Photography: Sánchez y Montoro

Acne; 3 Rue Froissart, Paris

James Davidson — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:24:08 +0000

A firm favourite with editors of so-hip-it-hurts glossies around the world, Jonny Johansson’s ACNE have come a long way since 1997 – when he gave out 100 pairs of jeans to his friends and family in Stockholm. Now Johansson – the creative force behind one of the world’s most in-demand lifestyle labels – is opening a second boutique in Paris; and continuing to ply the brand’s minimal Scandinavian aesthetic… “Let’s just say it’s not French. I absolutely love Paris, but I had to do something Swedish. Especially the colour, it’s very non-Parisian”. The remnants of crude, industrial walls are all that remain of this former garage; bold, crisp yellows and reds now accompany elegant aluminium partitions where the cars and oil once were, whilst avant garde furnishings and contemporary LED lighting complete the typically uncompromising space…

The Chalk Room at Hostem

James Davidson — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:16:21 +0000

Since featuring Redchurch Street’s Hostem early last year, the super-stylish menswear boutique has quickly found itself as one of London’s hottest retail outlets; and, in scooping ‘Best Retail Interior’ at The World Architectural Awards, has seemingly made big waves internationally. The artist/designers behind the original street-level store have returned to unveil a triumphant new basement space. Hannah Plumb and James Russell – aka JAMESPLUMB – are famed for their ‘assemblages’, giving dog-eared antiques and abandoned objects a new life as delightfully vintage, atmospheric interior spaces; and Hostem‘s new downstairs space, ‘The Chalk Room’, is no exception. Dark, moody, and riddled with enchanting curiosities – the specially converted 19th century Chesterfield and leaning Victorian wardrobe are particular highlights – even if the space wasn’t jam-packed with some of the capital’s most unique sartorial finds, it’d be more than worth a visit all of its own…

Home / Unusual Store; Venafro, Italy

James Davidson — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:29:03 +0000

Home / Unusual Store; the architect’s vision is in the name. Luigi Valente states his intention for the retail space to be “a place like home”, but on the contrary “a fantasy place that projects the client far away”. It’s perhaps a paradox too far, unless you live in the future, but what Valente has undeniably achieved, is a thoroughly exciting retail space that belies its diminutive space. Exposed concrete, monochrome colour scheme, arty lighting and Zaha Hadid-esque seating; it’s all very en vogue, and all very effortlessly realised. Luigi Valente’s Home / Unusual Store may not be a fantasy-land cum home, but it’s a bloody good looking shop, and surely that’s all that matters…

Photography: Stefano Pedretti

Starbucks Container Store, Tukwila

James Davidson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:40:13 +0000

Shipping containers as architecture is big news; ever since Freitag’s tower in Zürich, architects have had a fascination with corrugated freight boxes. We’ve had Puma’s portable store, the Muvbox pop-up restaurant, and most recently, the “world’s first pop-up mall”, Boxpark in Shoreditch. Now it’s the turn of coffee giants Starbucks, and their debut reclaimed container drive-through in Tukwila, Washington; just south of their hometown Seattle. Four of their own containers, that have reached their average 20 year lifespan, have been thrown together to comprise a thoroughly delightful, and hugely original, drive-through coffee shop; pushing their commitment to green building initiatives in the process. An “industrial beacon for sustainable thinking” is what Starbucks corporate architect Tony Gale III calls it; we call it handsome, forward-thinking, and a should-be inspiration to food and drink chains around the world…

Photography by Tom Ackerman, Starbucks

Naver App Square, Seoul

James Davidson — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:29:31 +0000

South Korean architect/designers, Urbantainer, have a history of using unexpected objects to craft new and innovative spaces; and their latest work follows suit emphatically. Transforming a shipping container into a giant cardboard box – that recently sat outside Seoul’s Myeongdong Theatre – the studio created a unique showcase for the mobile app services of South Korean search engine, Naver. Putting a ‘real world’ edge onto digital services has rarely been so stylishly executed, with the cardboard theme running through into the interiors of the pop-up and attention to detail outside extending as far as a packing label, complete with QR code…

Photography: NHN Corp

The Weekend Edit; 22.12.11

James Davidson — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:47:01 +0000

We’re back with our second Weekend Edit; it’s a few days until Christmas so there’s a splashing of festive material, some inspiring pop-up shops – for those leaving it right until the last minute – and, of course, some unusual and fascinating design and art related goodness to serve as an antidote to the silly-season’s strifes…

Until 24 December

Hypermarché, Hamburg

Concept store, bar, stage for cultural events… Hamburg’s 24-hour Hypermarché is far from your typical festive pop-up. Designed by talented local studio PARAT, and run by Louise and Florian Kunth of super-cool events agency Here We Go; Hypermarché is a splendid attack on your senses, with DJs, performers, exhibitions and installations accompanying the carefully curated selection of fashion, lifestyle and interiors goodies that are on sale…

Hypermarche: until December 24th, Osakaallee, 16 20457 Hamburg

Until 5 January

The Vest is History

Miss vinyl, Super-8, cigarette advertising and vests? James Wright, the owner of super-cool Covent Garden store Mint, does and The Vest is History is him taking the power back. Soon to open a Dalston outpost of his successful vintage store, Wright has curated a joyfully tongue-in-cheek installation that asks whether mass-consumerism is damaging design, or whether we’re simply suffering from design-sentimentality as we grow older. With forgotten gems from advertising, fashion, art and entertainment; The Vest is History is a delightful diversion from nativity plays and supermarket scrums…

The Vest is History, curated by MINT: 16th December – 5th January 2012, 71-73 Stoke Newington High Street, Dalston N16 8EL

Until 24 December

Dezeen’s Temporium

If you’re still endeavoring to snap up some last minute treats, architecture and design website Dezeen’s The Temporium – back for its second season – is a one-stop Christmas shop for anybody on a strict diet of design. With a whole bunch of gifts, jewellery, art, watches, books and homewares from established and up-and-coming designers and brands from around the world, this Seven Dials pop-up is one of the capital’s most stylish…

Dezeen presents The Temporium: until 24th December, 65 Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9DG

Until 3 January

Food Lust: Shock Candy, Brooklyn

Offering a tasty antidote to the traditional festive window displays, Naomi Huth – founder and curator of the Where Am I gallery – has taken over a whole block of storefronts, just one block away from the Brooklyn Museum, for her gallery’s debut exhibition; a curious mingling of contemporary art and candy. Featuring works by Huth herself, along with Claire Lieberman, Matt Schwartz, Martha Rich, and Lorelei Ramire, there’s Jell-O sculptures, paintings of vintage recipe books and mouthwatering photography; and what’s more, it’s accessible art too, with most of the works available for less than $500…

Food Lust: Shock Candy, on view until January 3rd 2012 at Classon Ave at Lincoln Pl, Brooklyn (24 hours/7 days)

Until 31 December

Hard Poems in Space

If you’re looking for a total diversion from the ‘season of goodwill’, this collaboration between Nektar De Stagni and Gallery Diet in Miami’s design district should provide all the visual-distraction you require. Bringing together artists and designers to make functional pieces, it deals heavily in that fine line between product design and art and is a welcome arty respite from Santa hats and elves…

Hard Poems in Space: until 31st December, Nektar De Stagni Shop 155 ne 38th St. Suite #102 Miami FL 33137

Since 14 December

BrewDog Camden

We wrote about their “cold-war chic” Scottish pubs earlier this year, and now the mildly-deranged duo – who are behind “the world’s strongest beer”, packaged in stuffed animals – have launched an invasion on England; starting with this just-opened Camden outpost. If you’re looking for shelter from the crazed last-minute shoppers who are flooding the streets, and like your beer strong and agressive, then this is your pub…

BrewDog Camden is now open at 113 Bayham Street, Camden, London, NW1 0AG

24 December & 27 December

Underground Christmas at Brunel Museum

Birthplace to the London Underground and a former fairground and shopping arcade, The Grand Entrance Hall to Brunels’ Thames Tunnel – a chamber some 50ft across – was forgotten and inaccessible for 140 years. Reopened last year, the curious subterranean space now plays host to sporadic events such as this, a festive tour of the underworld with your host recounting stories contributed by the likes of Jo Brand, Michael Palin and Zoë Wanamaker…

Underground Christmas: Christmas Eve 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and Tuesday 27th December 7.15pm at Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, London SE16

Until 18 December

Tiffany & Co. Christmas Windows

On a final note, if you find yourself hankering for a little bit of Christmassy elegance from yesteryear, pop your head into the enchanting little frames that adorn the windows of Tiffany & Co.’s lavish Bond Street store. It’s all kinds of snowy fairytale, winter wonderland and very New York; and who knows, you might just come away with a little blue box for your loved one? Told you it was a fairytale…

Tiffany & Co., 25 Old Bond Street, London, throughout the holidays

Louis Vuitton Island Maison, Singapore

James Davidson — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:32:03 +0000

There’s a fair bit of dollar knocking around the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore. A major player in gambling, oil-refinery and the world’s largest oil-rig producer; it’s ranked number 5 in the ‘global power city index’, and a bottle of 62-year-old single malt from our pals The Dalmore recently sold at the city’s Changi Airport for £125,000. Exactly the sort of place to plonk a great, whacking glass behemoth of a flagship store in the middle of a marina then! Shiny wood, expensive leather and a polite palette complete the bland aroma of over-opulence inside Louis Vuitton‘s Island Maison, but the exterior façade of this Peter Marino designed über-shop is undeniably impressive. The fact alone, that very few brands could bring forth an establishment of such decadence, such extravagance, is enough to ensure that LV’s Island Maison is one the most essential retail openings of the year…

The Weekend Edit; 15.12.11

James Davidson — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:53:29 +0000

We’ve been promising some exciting new features since we relaunched last month, and here’s the first. The Weekend Edit is our exclusive weekly guide to the weekend, and week ahead’s most exciting pop-ups, art happenings, events, gigs and more. Stay tuned and enjoy the ride; here’s your first serving of We Heart’s Weekend Edit…

Until 18 December

CIRCUS

For 5 days over the festive period, Shoreditch’s atmospheric Tramshed venue will play host to some of British design and fashion’s most exciting newcomers. A Christmas bakery and café, Bloody Mary bar, spicy cider and mulled wine stand along with a breathtaking nitrogen ice cream and hot chocolate food experience, courtesy of food/art virtuosos Blanch and Shock, will join this carefully curated selection of stalls from emerging names in fashion, homewares, ceramics, jewellery, art – and even taxidermy – in making this a festive pop-up to remember…

CIRCUS at The Tramshed, Shoreditch; 14th – 18th December 2011, 10am – 8pm

Until 25 December

New Windows on Willesden Green

This December, the windows of 25 independent shops in North West London’s Willesden Green are being transformed into a very different kind of advent calendar. Emerging designers, architects and creatives have been working with the local shopkeepers – that include bakeries, barbers, bookstores, pharmacies and a gift-shop – to offer a very creative form of regeneration. There’s an absolute plethora of creative events surrounding this project, and stay tuned for a full feature once all windows are complete…

Willesden Windows‘ window animations will be installed along Walm Lane and the High Road marking the 25 days leading up to Christmas. In addition a series of events will be held on 17-18 December 2011

17 December – 15 January

Studio 180: Bottom Less

This weekend sees a curious exhibition at Studio 180‘s equally curious converted Georgian terrace. Still and moving imagery, installation and performance art from a selection of up and coming artists can be navigated via the map provided upon entry; this weekend is the only time that all artists and performers will be in the space together, so if you’re looking for something a little different, this is it…

Bottom Less is being hosted by Studio 180, 180 Lambeth Road, SE1 7JY. Open; 11:00am-7:00pm 17th-18th December 2011 and by appointment; 19th December 2011- 15th January 2012

Until 22 December

Ryan McGinley: Wandering Comma

If hipsters took over the world, and the streets were full of malnourished, naked kids with homemade tattoos and skateboards; Ryan McGinley would be the overlord. He’s pretty much the king of cool, and where Terry Richardson kinda looks like a creepy uncle playing with a camera just to take photos of naked youths, McGinley seems to the eternal ‘cool older brother’. His style has progressed from snapshots of vomiting naked kids to epic, otherworldly landscapes… with naked kids; and as such he’s got both the art and fashion worlds watching his every move; you’ve got a week left to catch his latest move at London’s Alison Jacques Gallery.

Ryan McGinley: Wandering Comma, runs 24th November – 22nd December at Alison Jacques Gallery, 16-18 Berners Street, London, W1T 3LN

15 December – 17 December

The ‘Corona Extra Summer’ Pop-Up Beer Garden

Whilst all other pop-up bars seem to be about warming up with hot cocktails, Mexican beer Corona are bringing a bit of sunshine to London with a “summer in winter” beer garden. So, if you prefer flip flops to fair isles, then get down to the Southbank over the next few nights…

The ‘Corona Extra Summer’ pop-up beer garden will be open from Thursday 15th December to Saturday 17th December on Riverside Walkway at London’s Southbank, between 1pm and 9pm each day.

15 December – 17 December

Snowbombing Gets Its Skates On

The snow season’s biggest festival, Austria’s Snowbombing, is having itself a little pre-season warmup this weekend at Somerset House’s iconic central London skating rink, Skate.

Snowbombing Gets Its Skates On at Somerset House; Thursday 15th, Friday 16th, Saturday 17th December

Head over to The Brief for more iconic ice skating locations

Until 22 December

Deck The Halls

Pretty much the New York equivalent of the aforementioned Shoreditch pop-up CIRCUS, The Old School on Nolita’s Prince Street plays host to Deck The Halls. Bands, DJs and artists will join the city’s most exciting new talents in design, food, fashion, homewares, toys and more for a celebration of cutting-edge creativity and retail…

Deck the Halls, NYC, 12 Days of Shopping runs between 10th and 22nd December at The Old School, 32 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012

15 December – 24 December

The Robin Collective x Pinkberry at Westfield Stratford City

Celebrating the launch of their new store in Westfield Stratford City, US frozen yoghurt brand Pinkberry – forever immortalised as Oscar’s last meal on Curb Your Enthusiasm – have collaborated with food ‘architects’ The Robin Collective on a trio of limited edition toppings; Christmas Tree, Santa’s Beard and Partridge in a Pear Tree…

Celebrating the launch of their new store in Westfield Stratford City on the 15th; The three Limited Edition toppings will be available exclusively at the Pinkberry store, Westfield Stratford from the 15th – 24th December, as long as stocks last.

Throughout Winter

Citroën’s Nordic Jumper

10kg wool and 2kg thread makes an awful lot of PR stunt don’t cha know? Sure, it’s big brand PR, and sure it’s little cheesy, but it raised a little smile, and isn’t that what Christmas is about?

Throughout the Netherlands this winter.

Pacific Place, Hong Kong

James Davidson — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:23:24 +0000

Internationally acclaimed English designer, Thomas Heatherwick, has given a soft touch to an iconic Hong Kong luxury shopping and entertainment complex with a decidedly fluid £165 million redesign. Artistic, flowing lines sweep around the centre with unthinkable attention to detail – just look at that curbing – and calming natural light washes in from the skylights that now form a centrepiece to the podium roofscape. Natural materials have been used throughout, and the bold stone façade is elegantly mirrored inside by the glass elevator shaft. The highly polished design and execution is delightfully delicate and as tranquil a building as we’ve seen in some time. It’s kind of like the architectural equivalent of a whale noise CD…

Photography by Iwan Baan

BOFFO + The Lake & Stars + SOFTlab

James Davidson — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:04:15 +0000

Pushing the boundaries of what a retail space can be; We Heart favourites SOFTlab have taken the reigns for the last two weeks at TriBeCa’s unique BOFFO Building Fashion space, in collaboration with markedly stylish lingerie brand The Lake & Stars. The New York design studio have created a ‘store within a store’ installation that presents a series of “view cones” through which visitors attention can be led to particular details in the garments displayed behind. With the interior coated in a white, reflective, glossy skin, and the outer being clad in soft, black material – to absorb extraneous light – focussed light, with the helping hand of New York architectural lighting designers Focus Lighting, is pushed through the cones to create a vibrant, human scale kaleidoscope that draws in the attentions of its visitors. It may look like the most elegantly elaborate peep-show in history, but the concept of using interaction to highlight specifics within a collection or within an individual garment is a fascinating one, and one that SOFTlab have so smartly executed…