BATTERSEA POWER STATION REGENERATION PROJECT

Something I am really, really excited about is the major regeneration project of the Battersea Power Station and its surrounding area. It is a major redevelopment which is eagerly anticipated by many and, once completed, will become one of the most celebrated and visited destinations in the city of London.

The Battersea Power Station was opened in the 1930's and today, it is one of the most recognised works of architecture in the world. Although, it is currently derelict and in bad condition, the beautiful art deco interior features will be preserved and restored throughout the project. It is a landmark loved by many and the £8bn resoration is due to start in October 2013. It is expected to take approximately 10 years to complete and generate over 26,000 jobs.

There will be over 800 residential units including studios, apartments and penthouses. The new site will also include office space, shops, hospitality and entertainment venues, and there is planning permission for a new Battersea tube station to be built as part of the Northern Line.

Visit www.batterseapowerstation.co.uk to find out all about the project.

Images are courtesy of www.costar.co.uk

ASSOULINE BOOKSTORE, LONDON

On my recent trip to London, I didn't have much time to explore as I normally would since I was at the Free Range graduate design show most of the time. However, I did manage to fit in an afternoon of retail therapy (even if it was just window shopping). A hidden gem I discovered was a bookstore in Claridge's called Assouline. I had never heard of the brand before and was told that it is a French publisher that specialise in making hand-made books. They are the equivalent of a gorgeous designer dress in the book world. The quality of the publications is fantastic and some of them are huge! The store itself is chic with expensive-looking fittings and furniture, whilst incorporating old-fashioned features such as a sliding bookcase ladder.

The pricing varies greatly, with some of the smaller books costing as little as £30. The large, premium collection books can cost anywhere up to £550 but they are works of art in themselves and, in my opinion, worth every penny.

Here are some photographs I took of the interior and, of course, the super stylish Assouline books themselves.

Take a look at their website here.

CONCRETE-EFFECT BUSINESS CARDS

Following on from the previous post about Moo Minicards, I want to show you my latest business card designs. I had quite a few varying designs which I considered but in the end, decided to link the overall style to my final uni design project. The effect was created using a high resolution detail of concrete, layered with really old film print. I then added a fine mist of gold spray paint to add that extra bit of metallic texture, creating a striking contrast of a raw material with a refined and classy edge.

The finished product:

Concrete experimentation:

MOO MINICARDS

Next week is Free Range, a design show held at the Old Truman Brewery in London. It gives graduates the chance to showcase their final year design projects on an international scale. My work will be displayed along with others from the Northumbria University Interior Design degree course. In preparation, I decided to order some quirky business cards from a fantastic little company known as 'Moo'. They offer a fully customisable online service where you can upload your own designs and choose from a wide selection of business card styles. I decided to go for something a bit different and try out the new 'minicard' craze that seems to be developing. I was so impressed with the clever branding and packaging when they arrived. I would recommend their services to anyone. In terms of price, they are reasonable and offer a special 2 day turnaround if necessary. Take a look at the Moo website if you are interested.

BOOK HUNT

I decided to make the most of the uni library today and found some little gems that are worth having a look at.

This is a cute little book called 'Eat Me: Appetite for Design' all about product, packaging, branding, art and interiors. There is some great imagery and it's nicely laid out with stylish graphics. The cheeky bite mark at the corner adds that extra touch of fun.

And a selection of design and fashion books with some pretty pictures and sketches, including, Vogue the Covers, Decorative Arts and Design and Karim Rashid's 'Karim'.

PRINT YOUR OWN HOUSE!

Over recent years, we've seen the rise of the cutting-edge 3D printer. Amazingly, it can print 3D objects using clever software and super-accurate machinery. What is really amazing though, is the idea of building a house by using a 3D printer to create the main structure. Is this really possible? Well, Dutch Architects, Universe Architects are attempting the first ever 3D printed house. The project is called 'Landscape House' and will be constructed out of large printed sections of up to 6x9m in size. The specialist printer that enables this is called a D-Shape printer. The giant sections are made from sand and a binding agent and will later be reinforced with a fibre-concrete to add stability to the overall structure. The project is estimated to take 18 months and when complete, it is hoped that it will be open to the public.

Images taken from Dezeen

FACE THE FUTURE

I have recently started a new interior design project for a pop-up information centre that will look at the issues surrounding the future of the cosmetics industry. The project brief was broad so I could decide my own topic and I picked this subject because it is something I am really interested in.

Cosmetic surgery is everywhere now and the beauty industry is a multi-billion pound business. However, many people are not fully aware of just how dangerous this surgery can be and of the lasting effects it can have on your body. The aim is to take a futuristic 'blue-sky' outlook on the project and provide people with information on non-invasive beauty procedures using new and safe technologies.

Whilst researching, I discovered an editorial by Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia entitled 'Face the Future'. It features some extreme facial makeovers and explores the idea that in the future, everyone will become plastic and expressionless in the desire for the 'perfect face'.

Watch the film below - creepy but brilliant to see.

Some shots from the editorial:

DELILAH

Thought I would do a slightly different update today. This one is all about music. One of my favourite UK artists who is relatively unknown: Delilah. She has an amazing voice and a really great album with an edgy style. I would recommend Youtubing her and listening to some of her songs. In particular, Shades of Grey, Inside My Love and Never Be Another.

BEAUTIFUL BUSINESS CARDS

I haven't update for a while as I've been so busy getting work done for the start of my final uni year. 3 weeks in now and the work is mounting up very quickly. Over the summer we were asked to design our own business cards. I did some research and discovered many amazing business card designs that were super stylish and eye-catching. There are companies which create letter pressed cards, laser-cut cards and some can be made from materials such as timber, acrylic or concrete! Here are some examples:

GENSLER

During my second year of studying, I was lucky enough to take part in a small project with one of the largest architectural companies in the world. Gensler has offices in 42 countries and have designed many outstanding buildings of all kinds. The Gensler website has a fantastic portfolio of past and future projects, many are still at concept stage. It is well worth a look, particularly if you are like me - interested in both architecture and interiors and also urban planning.

I've posted a few images from their website.

LONDON AQUATICS CENTRE BY ZAHA HADID

I've decided to do an Olympic related post today as I have loved watching all the sports over the past two weeks and I am so disappointed it has to come to an end. Team GB have performed amazingly well and like everyone is saying - it makes you proud to be British!

So this update today is taking a look at the work of my favourite architect, Zaha Hadid.

The London Aquatics Centre was purpose built for London 2012 Olympics for all swimming and diving events. The structure itself is a typical Hadid design style - encapsulating an organic fluidity throughout. The concept was inspired by the motion of flowing water and the want to reflect and fit in with the surrounding river and landscape of the Olympic village. The theme is included throughout the interior of the building, particularly in the shape of the diving stands and the vast undulating roof.

It's worth having a look at other Zaha Hadid Architects' projects here.

TIMBER FURNITURE

After my last post, I started researching timber furniture and the use of real materials in furniture design. I found a range of really interesting creations most inspired by introducing nature into a contemporary interior and the use of raw timber. Here are several photos of my favourites.