PLUNGE, which will be presented for 26 days from February 7th 2012, invites Londoners to look up and look forward 1000 years to the dawn of the next millennium, to the year 3012, when the effects of runaway climate change will have completely changed the look of the bustling capital city we know and love.

PLUNGE illustrates how sea level will have climbed by then, should we fail to heed the threat of global warming. Up will surge the water, as the glaciers melt and the temperatures rise, triggering thermal expansion of the oceans, on and on to a staggering 28 metres (90 feet) above its current height, submerging landmarks, eroding history and drowning this greatest of cities.

A nightmare vision? A concept too catastrophic to contemplate? But look again and witness a thing of beauty too: an elegant, mystical creation coming gleamingly alive as twilight merges day into night. PLUNGE is a work of art for London full of magic and meaning.

Michael Pinksy is an artist used to working on a grand scale and PLUNGE is no exception. His rings of blue fire, set at precisely 28 metres above sea level, will be visible on familiar icons across London, including the column at Paternoster Square adjoining St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Stock Exchange, the Seven Dials Sundial pillar in the heart of Covent Garden’s theatre district, and Duke of York’s column overlooking the elegance of St James’s Park and the grandeur of the Mall, just yards from Buckingham Palace.

28 metres is the level, backed by the latest scientific evidence, at which Central London would be clearly and visibly different, including the partial submersion of some of the city’s most historic and iconic monuments and buildings.

PLUNGE is presented by Artsadmin + LIFT

Mark Ball, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of LIFT said: ‘Our ambition for this commission was to create a major public artwork for London that tackled the subject of climate change. At LIFT we firmly believe that artists have the power to make us stop and look again at the world around us, and Michael Pinsky’s vision of a future flooded London does this with a simple and elegant beauty.’

Judith Knight, Director of Artsadmin is in no doubt of Plunge’s uniqueness: ‘Climate change can seem like a far off problem that doesn’t affect us, but already parts of the world are suffering the effects of rising sea levels. Plunge is an extreme illustration of what the future might hold but its message is simple – we need to take action against climate change now.’

MICHAEL PINSKY
Dr Michael Pinsky is a renowned British artist whose international projects have created innovative and challenging works in galleries and public spaces. He has undertaken many residencies that explore issues which shape and influence the use of our public realm and combines the roles of researcher, urban planner, activist, concerned London resident and artist. Through video, performance, mapping and programming, Pinsky responds site-specifically to physical and sociological space, frequently to highly dramatic effect.
He has exhibited extensively in galleries and festivals including TATE Britain, the Saatchi Gallery, the ICA, London; BALTIC, Gateshead; Centre for Contemporary Art, Glasgow; Modern Art Oxford, Liverpool Biennial, Archilab, Orleans; CCC, Tours; France, Armory Centre of the Arts, Los Angeles and the Rotterdam International Architectural Biennial.
www.michaelpinsky.com

LIFT – LONDON INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THEATRE
Above all, LIFT is proud to be in and of London. No other organisation or festival brings theatre to so many diverse, quirky and accessible places and spaces across our city. There’s a sense of discovery in all LIFT’s work and it’s our intention to give members of the public the chance to see the world through the eyes of others, both artists and ordinary people, and to experience art on their own terms. Every performance or event staged intends to be a personal experience that will mean something unique and real to each and every individual lucky enough to witness it.

www.liftfestival.com/

Artsadmin
Artsadmin is a unique producing and presenting organisation for contemporary artists working across the spectrum of theatre, visual arts, dance, live art and performance, producing, supporting and promoting arts projects locally, nationally and internationally. At Toynbee Studios in East London, Artsadmin has developed a creative environment for artists and arts professionals, with a theatre, five rehearsal spaces, offices and studio spaces and the Arts Bar and Cafe. Through presenting projects that cross the line between art and activism for the Two Degrees festival, and commissioning other one-off projects like PLUNGE, Artsadmin hopes to influence participants and a wide audience into engaging further with the subject of climate change.
www.artsadmin.co.uk

Ben Austin FAD’s Editor At Large caught up with Beau McClellan who exhibited a large-scale interactive lighting installation at London Art Fair 2012. This spectacular centrepiece was presented at the entrance to the Business Design Centre, where visitors could control the colour effects using an iPad.

With its combination of innovative, contemporary design and cutting edge RGB LED technology, the five metre long piece used the studio’s signature mirror reflective coating. Designed to showcase its artistic, sculpture-like form during the day, the Nomad then transformed into a stunning semi-transparent light installation at night.

www.beaumcclellan.com

Award winning event organisers and publishing company, Media 10 has acquired the leading interior design exhibition, 100% Design London from Reed Exhibitions.
Media 10, which runs the revived Ideal Home Show, Grand Designs Live and Clerkenwell Design Week add 100% Design to their portfolio of design and architecture events and magazines.

Website:www.media-ten.com/

About Media 10
Formed 9 years ago, Media 10 is a privately owned publishing and events company based in Loughton, Essex. It currently employs approximately 150 staff and has fast become one of the leading players in the events industry as a result of the hugely successful Ideal Home Show and Grand Designs Live exhibitions.

Other events in the portfolio include Clerkenwell Design Week, Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model, The London Design Trail; The Milan Design Trail and the Duke of Essex Polo Trophy .

Media 10’s award-winning magazine portfolio also includes icon magazine, the leading international architecture and design magazine; OnOffice, the market-leading workplace design magazine; Grand Designs, the magazine of the leading property program on Channel 4; The Selfbuilder, a monthly resource for anyone looking to refurbish their home.
Full Press Release on next page

MEDIA 10 ADDS ‘100% DESIGN’ TO ITS EXPANDING PORTFOLIO OF EVENTS

Award winning event organisers and publishing company, Media 10 has acquired the leading interior design exhibition, 100% Design London from Reed Exhibitions.

Media 10, which runs the revived Ideal Home Show, Grand Designs Live and Clerkenwell Design Week add 100% Design to their portfolio of design and architecture events and magazines. On the publishing side, Media 10 owns Icon, OnOffice and The Clerkenwell Post. Since 2010, Media 10 has launched Grand Designs in South Africa and Australia, these being the first of a series of planned international ventures for the company.

100% Design was launched 15 years ago and is admired for being the country’s first and leading contemporary interior design exhibition. It is an event primarily aimed at architects, interior designers, specifiers and retailers but attracts a high percentage of visitors with a pure passion for design. The 2011 event, held at Earls Court, attracted over 18,000 visitors.

Lee Newton, Managing Director of Media 10 Ltd commented: “To add 100% Design to our portfolio shows exactly how far our company has come in only 9 years. We are delighted to be the new owners of this prestigious design event and it will complement our existing events and magazines perfectly. We have a proven track record for reviving and enhancing brands and delivering the very best exhibitions in the market and look forward to re-invigorating 100% Design.”

“We firmly believe that with the experience and contacts we have in this market the event will produce immediate growth in terms of exhibitors and visitors, as well as adding unique content, ensuring 100% Design flourishes for years to come. I can confidently say this because with our existing brands we cover the complete consumer demographic for home and design, with the Ideal Home Show and Grand Designs Live, and with Clerkenwell Design Week, we have an event that brings the very best in design to the trade in their environment. This acquisition will complete the circle and demonstrate that Media 10 – with the aforementioned events – and our publications in this sector are the leading UK company in the market.”

Justin Tadman, Managing Director of Reed Exhibitions commented on the sale saying “100% Design London is an iconic show and we believe the event will be enhanced by the synergies provided by Media 10 ‘s portfolio of design exhibitions and magazines. Media 10 is a well respected company and we are delighted to see 100% Design London continue with new owners who are so well established in the interior design sector.”

Reed Exhibitions continues to own and run 100% Design Shanghai and 100% Design Singapore, a recent launch, as well as several leading interiors events in Europe.

Media 10 will seek to include many of their existing clients into 100% Design London and believe that the scope for better content, more illustrious brands and speakers of the highest profile is all eminently achievable for the 2012 show.

Newton added: “We will look to engage with as many of the prestigious design companies as we can for 2012 and are committed to bringing in the best seminar programme that the industry has seen. We have a proven track record of filling our events with the very best in content and 100% Design offers us the opportunity to fulfil this again at Earls Court in September.”

The event will be split into four distinct areas, encompassing 100% Interiors, 100% Office, 100% Kitchens and Bathrooms and 100% Eco Design and Build– all will be entered by a Media 10 ‘trademark’ tunnel, delivering the visitor to the heart of the 4 zones. There will also be a design arcade – 100% New Design – showcasing new and innovative products from Britain’s best student designers. Within each of these areas there will be a mixture of exhibition space, interactive ‘feature’ installations and a celebrity chef restaurant.

The whole event will also offer a range of packages for sponsorship as well as VIP and student visitor programmes.

Image: Willesden Green Pilot Shop, courtesy Mike Massaro

New Windows on Willesden Green is launching the second phase of its project and seeks proposals from suitable businesses, projects or individuals interested in taking up short term leases on selected vacant shops along Willesden High Road.
To find out more about the project, and how to apply, visit:
www.willesdenwindows.vacant-shops/.

All applicants must attend a Proposal Development Workshop – taking place from 28th January – 8th February – before they can apply for a space. Deadline for proposal submissions is 14th February, midday.

Also, the new Library Lab hosted by Architecture 00:/ will be offering free events in Willesden Library Centre from February, so watch the project website for details.

www.willesdenwindows.com

colette this Christmas has commissioned Pernilla & Asif to create a unique miniature version of their Cloud installation previously exhibited at Design Miami / Basel, for the Designers of the Future 2011 Award and later on a giant scale at the boxing venue, York Hall in east London in November 2011.

During the darkest three weeks of the year, every minute one hundred baby clouds will be released within two specially designed vitrines, each combining a cocktail of water, soap and helium gas.

Like colette, always going against the grain and the expected, the flurry of micro-clouds will be like an upside-down snowfall.

‘I first discovered the work of Pernilla & Asif with the so poetic Harvest chair, then I saw the foam clouds they did for DesignMiami, and the very recent sand/ice installation in Singapore. I’m so proud they agreed to do our Christmas Windows with their magical clouds. It will certainly remain one of the most impressive windows in our history and we hope Colette will not fly in the air like a balloon with all the helium we’ll keep!’ – Sarah (Colette)

The special window installation at colette runs from Dec 12-31, 2011. Download a video of the installation here.
PERNILLA & ASIF are currently working on a pavilion commissioned by Coca Cola for the Olympics in London 2012.

1st to 23rd December 2011 1st December – Talk 6pm with drinks at 6:30pm

There is only one useful thing that winter brings to the design world and that is the opportunity to explore the dark.

Darkness allows us to look at the possibilities within the world of artificial light. Light is the cover we add to space but what about the power of containing light. What happens when we purposely set out to ban light or seek to contain and control light?

The SCIN Gallery, the new Clerkenwell based Materials and Architecture Sourcing Gallery and Library, explores the notion of light control through its new event, Cut Out The Light.

The event looks at both the artistic and engineered opportunities to interfere with light in collaboration with award-winning graphic artist Noma Bar and renowned product designer and lighting engineer Jake Dyson.

Noma Bar will be exploring a range of materials offered by The SCIN Gallery that work by either pulling in light to interact with them or forcing light to remain within the material. This, together with his brilliant cut out images, will be visually explosive as light takes the form of the negative space in his work.

Jake Dyson will install his DMX LED Motorlight Wall light system, a concept working prototype which he is developing with the purpose of being able to control light quality and direction wirelessly.

These two influential designers are accompanied by some additional investigations into photo-luminescence and a talk about Jake’s exploration into his new lighting technologies.

Limited edition Electro Luminescent Die Cuts will be available for sale.
The SCIN Gallery, Morelands, 27 Old Street London, EC1V 9HL
Opening: 10am – 6pm Monday to Friday www.scin.co.uk

About the SCIN Gallery

The SCIN Gallery is the unique new gallery and library space of SCIN (Surfaces Covering Interiors), the online materials database website. SCIN is the trademark for MAD Ltd., a Materials and Architectural component sourcing and advisory company. Founded by Annabelle Filer – one half of design partnership Filer+Cox – 7 years ago to bring “background to the foreground”, her materials experience and knowledge is second to none.

The Gallery is in a recently refurbished quasi industrial building and is split over four floors housing the Materials Library and a flexible event space showcasing emerging design talent ranging from new material design to architectural ideas, art and light. On the upper floors you will find The Architecture Gallery – a space dedicated to companies that specialize in Architectural components and technologies, ranging from doors and ironmongery to external woven mesh systems from Oikos, Omporro and Cambridge Architecture. Above this is The Interior Gallery – a rotating space dedicated to companies with interior materials ranging from British stone to advanced resin systems, new acrylics and a recycled wood composite from Burlington, Rezart and David Clouting.
The SCIN Gallery is a fully independent resource that primarily acts as a connector between the specifier and the supplier. SCIN was created in 2003 and now has roughly 11,000 registered subscribers. It is a unique business that manages to promote Manufacturers without losing its integrity and also acts as a valuable resource for the Architect and Designer.

Annabelle Filer is a trained architect who is a materials researcher and consultant for a wide range of businesses from Aston Martin to La Coste, Checkland Kindlseyside to Zaha Hadid and Virgin. She is a regular contributor to a number of key design publications including FX Design and Indian design magazine, Design Today and seasoned speaker about materials and design.

We caught up with designer Ben Van Berkel from UNStudio at the Premier Composite Technologies (PCT) -stand at 100%Design 2011.

Website:www.100percentdesign.co.uk/
Website:www.unstudio.com/
Website:www.pct.ae/

At 100%Design some of the African & African-Caribbean Design Diaspora Designers transformed a 96sq metre space and created a playful and eclectic sitting area – the “Re-Loved Lounge” used African and African-Caribbean design inspiration in fabrics, colour schemes and accessories.

The brief for the AACDD designers had been to ‘re-love’ and ‘up-cycle’ discarded furniture transforming it once again into desirable objects for the home thus challenging the ethos of a throw-away consumer society.

The ‘Re-Loved’ Lounge at 100% Design.

www.aacdd.com

Carlos Couturier serves as creative force and is Managing Partner at Grupo HABITA which owns and/or manages Hotel Básico, Condesadf, DESEO [Hotel + Lounge], HABITA Monterrey, La Purificadora, Hotel Habita, hotel Boca Chica, and Distrito Capital lifestyle hotels in MEXICO. He also solely owns and operates Azucar and Maison Couturier in Veracruz.

Based now in New York City, in Mexico City and Veracruz, Coutcurier is part of the team behind GRUPO HABITA’s powerhouse hospitality brands, all renowned globally for their architecture and interior design, and including the first lifestyle and design hotel in Mexico City: Hotel Habita. He currently oversees all design, architecture and creative teams for all GRUPO HABITA properties: Hotel Básico and DESEO [Hotel + Lounge] in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico; and Hotel Habita and Condesadf (for Distrito Federal) plus Distrito Capital in Mexico City and HABITA Monterrey and La Purificadora. Right now he is devoted to the design of Hotel AMERICANO, a New York hotel in West 27th St. in Chelsea with Enrique Norten from TEN Arquitectos and Arnaud Montigny from Paris.

He also oversees all future projects for Grupo Habita, their corporate parent which include another hotel in the downtown area of Mexico City, Baja California wine region, and Tulum.

Couturier has been instrumental of creating all of Grupo HABITA hotels each one unique and individual distinct and his work has garnered press in publications such as Wallpaper*, Vogue, Condé Nast Traveler, The New York Times and Travel + Leisure, MONOCLE, Hotel & Lodge, among many others internationally. Each property has been designed uniquely, with architecture and interior design by luminaries including Enrique Norten from TEN Arquitectos; India Mahdavi, Victor and Ricardo Legorreta, Javier Sanchez, and Joseph Dirand.

www.grupohabita.mx/

List of Exhibiting Galleries
www.padlondon.net