Discover Riviera Home at Design Central North West

The gallery has also hosted various artists from around the region and the world, showcasing their work, artistry, and the inspiration behind their ideas. These events have been instrumental in bringing together clients and artists to interact in understanding the creative process and vision behind many pieces.

Unlike anything in the region, Gallery Collectional has become the standard for collectible design and a reference point among regional and international buyers—a destination for people who value one-of-a-kind collectible pieces.

Picture Credit: COLLECTIONAL

Location: Eden House

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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an immersive exhibition space design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Torden & Lynild.

The museum Øhavsmuseet is situated in Faaborg, surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes of Denmark. The nature around Faaborg is unique and very varied with ice age landscapes, wooded areas, and the archipelago. In the summer of 2021, Øhavsmuseet opened a new, innovative exhibition concept ‘Discover Yourself’. The exhibition is about the importance of nature for humans of today and for our ancestors.

Discover Yourself’ consist of five immersive spaces: ‘The Hill’, ‘The Bog’, ‘The Forest’, ‘The Sea’ and ‘The Human Nature’ which also represent five ages: the Stone Age, the Iron Age, the Middle Ages, the 19th century, and the present. Throughout the exhibition sound, light, films, scents, artefacts, etc. give the visitor a varied experience.

The exhibition is designed to convey both cultural and natural history. But it is very much a sensorial experience, which also takes elements from the science center tradition and mixes this with a very aesthetic approach to exhibition design. This way the exhibition has attracted a wide audience, including many guests who do not belong to the ‘usual museum segment’.

What was the client's brief? 

The design brief was to create a new, innovative exhibition concept in a disused warehouse at the harbor in the atmospheric old town. The aim of the exhibition was to give the audience a sense of the importance of nature for humans of today and for our ancestors. Nature has always played a central part in the lives of humans. However, in course of time, industrialization and urbanization have estranged us from the very same nature. Part of the design brief was to give the visitors an opportunity to reconnect with nature as well as with our common roots.

The client wanted an immersive experience, where guests would have no need for prior knowledge to visit the exhibition. Everyone should be able to walk in from the street and have an exciting and educational experience. It was also important for the client to create an exhibition which stimulates all senses. An exhibition that addresses the body, the brain, and the imagination.

What inspired the design of the project?

The landscapes of this part of Denmark is amazing. One of the most inspiring experiences during the development of the exhibition was a trip to some of those magic nature places.To inspire us at the beginning of the process, two of the museum curators took the design team from Torden & Lynild on a see to the highlights of the region. They showed us a very atmospheric forest with a lot of burial mounds, a beautiful place by the see and a large area with ice age hills. This experience truly kicked us off creatively.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

A bit more than halfway through the process we had a big hurdle, as the construction company which were supposed to build the whole exhibition told us that they could not manage in time. Luckily, we found another very skilled contractor and with only a minor delay we managed to complete an exhibition of extremely high standard.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We are very happy that the public has received the exhibition so well. The museum had set their success criteria to reach 10.000 visitors in the first half year and they reached this goal.  As part of the qualitative evaluation of the project carried out by an external consulting firm, it has also been concluded that the audience is very enthusiastic about the exhibition and especially happy with the sensorial, physical, and engaging elements. Also we are proud and honoured that the exhibition received four nominations for international design awards including the SBID International Design Award.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We had noticed SBID Awards because some of the most esteemed Design Companies have had the honor of winning the prize, which inspired us to submit this project. SBID is a very prestigious award and it seemed like a great opportunity to present the work of Torden & Lynild.

Questions answered by Sigrid Bennike, CEO and Scenographer, Torden & Lynild.

Material Source Studio has opened its doors, offering architects and designers in the North West the opportunity to immerse themselves in ‘beautifully useful’ products and materials. CDUK is proud to announce its partnership with the Studio which will include a CDUK exhibition area showcasing a diversity of products including Corian® Solid Surface and the recently launched sustainable surface, PaperStone®.

CDUK

CDUK is a leading supplier of surface materials and complementary products. With over 40 years’ experience the company understands customer needs and continues to provide design solutions based on market intelligence. Building on decades of product experience, CDUK understands the value of collaboration and working with fellow creative partners to take products directly to market. With an ambitious programme of growth and development, joining Material Source Studio shows how CDUK is diversifying and tapping into new audiences while continuing to provide high quality design products, expert training, and support.

Material Source Studio

Material Source Studio is the first of its kind in the UK, the 15,000sqft studio is situated in the Grade II listed Hanover Building in NOMA. Set across two levels, it features a wealth of inspirational exhibits and interactive displays from 35 leading brands operating in the commercial interiors and built environment sectors. It also includes an 60-seat theatre, a CPD area, a 300+ book library, 7 meeting spaces, a co-working hub and a podcast studio. Plus, an internal garden and a fully mature, 6-metre tree, spanning both floors.

The space is enhanced further with a seasonally-changing Gallery, opening with two exhibitions as part of the Material Source Studio Presents series. “From the Ground up: A preview” comprises a celebration of innovation in biomaterial development, and “Coo Birds by May Wild Studio” features the local studio’s signature Coo Bird sculptures, inspired by Manchester’s pigeon population.

Fusing the creative acumen of Darren Clanford with the operational experience of Michael Rogan, Material Source Studio was a venture born out of a fervent desire to support and champion the North West’s creative communities. The addition of David Smalley as commercial director bolstered the vast amounts of experience both Darren and Michael bring to the table.

A word from the founders

"With Material Source Studio, we’ve had nothing but support from the design community of the North. And, for this, I can’t thank them enough. It's kept us positive through a pretty tough transformation over the past two years.

“The Studio has been designed by the team at Material Source led by Darren, the partners and the A&D community. I’d like it to be used by everyone as a place to work, meet and, also, socialise. Something we’ve all missed lately.

"I personally can’t wait for the talk series we'll be running in our Theatre space, especially the sessions focused on how we can influence the wellbeing of everyone who walks through our door. After being empty for almost 50 years, it will be great to see the Hanover Building alive again”, comments Michael Rogan, operations director and co-founder of Material Source Studio.

Inside the Studio

Best in the business: 35 built environment brands showcase their products to visitors Making up the Studio’s core offering are bespoke partner PODs – created by neighbouring design and build studio, Tim Denton - and showcasing paint, tiles, flooring and wallcoverings furniture, lighting and smart solutions, fabric, bathroom accessories, plants and acoustic panels.

In addition to the interactive PODs, products from all partners are featured in-situ throughout the space, offering further inspiration to visitors. The entire scheme has been developed by creative director, Darren Clanford, who carefully curated a unique ambience for every zone.

“When serving a design driven audience, it goes without saying that the interiors of Material Source Studio needed to be aspirational. Working with products and materials from the best built environment brands in the business allowed us to create a versatile palette of dynamic, on-trend schemes.

“Spanning a range of ‘zones’, from our 60-seat theatre, to the podcast studio, never-before-seen bespoke pieces from our partners are featured throughout, illustrating the extensive capabilities of each and every one”, comments Darren Clanford, creative director and co-founder of Material Source Studio on the design of the space.

The Studio’s opening hours are 10am – 6.30pm Monday to Friday (closed weekends and bank holidays), and it operates an open-door policy. Events will be advertised on materialsource.co.uk, where you can also find out more information on all partners.

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