Design Pop Up @ The Dovecot Studios

More than 300 visitors attend #DesignPopUp during its three-week run

Edinburgh, 15th October – #DesignPopUp opened its doors in Edinburgh for the first time and welcomed more than 300 visitors from Scotland’s architect and design community for three weeks of events, CPDs, meetings and private views.

The award-nominated event’s versatile format allied with the superior products on display ensured that 90% of visitors to the exhibition were architects, designers and specifiers drawn to Dovecot Studios to sample for themselves the diversity of exhibits.

Nine forward-thinking companies took centre stage at #DesignPopUp. Market leaders Domus Tiles, Allgood, Artemide, Milliken, Bute Fabrics, Shadbolt, Crosswater, Bene and Mapei showcased their most innovative products under one roof to give architects and designers the opportunity to view the newest designs in Scotland.

Exhibition highlights included the stunning Tutti Frutti tweed collection by international fabric designers, Bute Fabrics. The West of Scotland company chose #DesignPopUp to introduce their eagerly anticipated 100% pure new wool in bright zesty colours.

Austrian office furniture specialists Bene presented their PARCS collection designed by PearsonLloyd featuring their striking TOGUNA piece, the space-within-the-space element which is an half open space acoustically screened for brainstorming and short meetings, while building industry and flooring experts Mapei from Italy continued the international theme.

Milliken’s new carpet Rogue Knit collection illustrated the intricate artistry of hand-knit textures with unexpected colour combinations and finely crafted pattern. The firm’s advanced technology reinterprets the nostalgic beauty of a favourite pullover with a vibrant new kinetic energy to stunning effect.

Among the other exhibitors making the trip to Edinburgh was Artemide, who brought the elegant Elle Satin lighting to #DesignPopUp. The slimline light fitting uses the same technology in flatscreen television screens and was on show for close-up inspection.

Artemide was complemented by a range of participating companies including Domus Tiles, who showcased their stunning Styletech fine Italian porcelain range, which debuted recently at the 2014 London Design Festival. Using inkjet printing technology, Styletech puts a modern twist on the appearance of natural woods and industrial metals.

The firm also took the opportunity to promote their design competition, launched in September alongside Budapest’s Kaza Concrete, to find the most innovative tiling solution using concrete.

Among the several CPDs that were organised during the three weeks, the AIS’s one on office acoustics, presented by Bene and #DesingPopUp sponsor Source Developments, was particularly well received by the audience of professionals, although the CPDs presented by Bute Fabrics, Domus Tiles and Mapei were also sold out.

Guests who participated in Edinburgh’s first #DesignPopUp included BDG, Malcolm Fraser, Michal Laird, Space Solutions Aberdeen and Edinburgh, Foster + Partners, Graven Images, 3d Reid, 442 Design, Four by Two, C2 Concepts, Edinburgh Council, Form Design, Morgan McDonnell, Oberlanders, Reiach and Hall, Ryder Architecture, Smith Scott Mullan, Twenty Nine Twenty, Splint Design, Edinburgh University, Bergmark Architects, Helen Lucas Architects, KBA + D, Think Curious, Ian Springford Architects, Bright 3D.

Visitors to the temporary showroom were also introduced to Double S’ Architecture Meets Art: Glasgow 2014 event, which has been created to support learning disability charity Enable Scotland. #AMeetsA encouraged artists and architects to create amazing pieces of art inspired by Glasgow and its architecture. All the artwork is currently exhibited at the Italian Centre in Glasgow and will be auctioned on the 30^th October with proceeds going to the charity and the Glasgow School of Art. Timorous Beasties, Paul Stallan, David Mach, Alan Dunlop, Gerard Burns and Contagious Design among others are just a few of the names that have chosen to participate in the ambitious #AMeetsA event.

Sara Seravalli of Double S Events, the creator of #DesignPopUp and #AMeetsA, said after the event closed: “It has been wonderful to see how well the #DesignPopUp event has been received by the Scottish A&D community in Edinburgh. I am excited to see the interest that our initiatives are raising.

“With our Scottish audience craving to be inspired and catered for, I am already working on a calendar of shows for 2015 that will grow to bring more international names in design and manufacturing to Scotland. London Design Festival week showed me that there is huge interest in the Scottish market so I am confident that we will attract more new and innovative firms to our #DesignPopUp 2015.”

 

#DesignPopUp will next be showcasing in Aberdeen before returning to Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2015.

 

BCFA Exhibiting companies – Edinburgh 2014:

1. Artemide (lighting) -http://www.artemide.com/
2. Milliken (carpet tiles) – http://www.millikencarpet.com/
3. Bute Fabrics – http://www.butefabrics.com/
4. Crosswater – http://www.crosswater.co.uk

 

All Images © Double SS Events 2014