Surface Design Show 2019 – Celebrating the best in new and innovative surfaces @surfacethinking

Surface Design Show 2019 – Celebrating the best in new and innovative surfaces @surfacethinking

From 5-7 February Surface Design Show 2019 will take place at London’s Business Design Centre to provide a platform for architects, designers and specifiers to explore the best in interior and exterior surface materials, lighting design, development and innovation.

Surface Design Show is the only event in the UK that focuses solely on interior and exterior surfaces.

For more than ten years Surface Design Show has been the place where industry professionals immerse themselves in the latest materials for the built environment, gain new insights and network with likeminded designers, architects and suppliers.

Since 2013 the Show has hosted the Surface Design Awards, now recognised as one of the most respected events in the design calendar. The 2019 Awards received 197 entries from 22 countries, including America, Italy, China and India. There are 13 awards that recognise exterior and interior surfaces for different sectors of design, including commercial, housing, light and surface, public building, retail, sustainable, and temporary structure.

The shortlist for this year’s Surface Design Awards, includes Zaha Hadid Architects, Studio Egret West and Chris Dyson Architects from the UK, Rockwell Group from the USA, and Kengo Kuma & Associates from Japan.

The shortlist consists of an impressive 43 projects across seven categories, each entry is an exemplary example of creative and innovative use of materials and lighting in both interior and exterior schemes. Some projects received nominations across several categories, resulting in 48 finalists.

Awards Presentation will take place on the morning of Thursday 7 February, at Surface Design Show. Tickets to the Presentation are available via the Surface Design Show website. Award partners include; James Latham, Finsa, Business Design Centre, Soluis and Roof Maker.

The 2019 judging panel:

Christophe Egret (Co-chair) – Studio Egret West

Paul Priestman (Co-chair) – Priestman Goode

Cany Ash – Ash Sakula Architects

Roz Barr – Roz Barr Architects

Paul Edwards – Airbus

Katie Greenyer – Pentland Group

Jeremy Offer – Arrival

James Soane – Project Orange

Surface Design Show 2019 will once again have a packed programme of events all designed to inspire and engage. The Opening Night Live Debate from 6.30pm, Tuesday 5 February will be organised in association with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and New London Architecture (NLA).

The ever popular PechaKucha Evening will once again be hosted by Phil Coffey of Coffey Architects, taking place on the Main Stage on 6 February from 6.30pm. Speakers include Nigel Ostime of Hawkins Brown; Soraya Khan of Theis and Khan Architects; Alex Scott-Whitby of ScottWhitbyStudio; Stuart Piercy of Piercy and Co; Simon Fraser of Hopkins Architects; and Alison Brooks of Alison Brooks Architects. This year’s Media Partner will be Blueprint.

The Main Stage will also host talks including: ‘The office of the future: virtual or virtuous?’ Studio Tilt‘s Oliver Marlow meets architectural correspondent Veronica Simpson to discuss how the configurations of interiors can assist a more fluid, more creative and more effective way of operating; ‘Four key colour stories for Spring Summer 2010, Idyll, Kinship, Mask and Parade’ taken by Hannah Malein of Colour Hive; and ‘Designing for an aging population’ by speaker Gilly Craft, President of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID).

The CPD Hub is Surface Design Show’s forum for learning and professional development whereby manufacturers and industry organisations present a rolling programme of talks covering all aspects of the surfaces sector. The sessions include: ‘Responsible timber procurement’ by Charlie Law, Sustainable Construction Solutions, which is hosted by PEFC; ‘An insight into the world of decorative wood veneer’ by Reliance Veneer; and ‘Exploring design opportunities by using structural LED Light Panels’ taken by Pixalux.

Each year Surface Design Show introduces a ‘Focus’ into the event. The chosen focuses for 2019 are the workplace and the public realm, both of which have great impact on our daily lives. Through a series of profiles in the run-up to the show, and in presentations at the show, these two specialist areas of design will be explored from a surface specific point of view, providing engaging insight into the best and latest products, materials and applications that impact working and public realm environments.

Surface Spotlight Live, curated in collaboration by trend expert Sally Angharad and colour forecasters Colour Hive will return to Surface Design Show 2019. One of a Kind will aim to inspire a kinder approach to design. A series of thought-provoking and innovative products will be showcased, all which go beyond aesthetics to promote meaningful experiences, with highlights for the workplace and public realm.

Stone Gallery, which is officially supported by Stone Federation GB whose Stone Knowledge Hub forms a focal point for the event, will also be returning to Surface Design Show 2019. Stone Gallery is an industry-leading event for architects and designers to meet and specify natural stone. The 2019 edition welcomes back returning exhibitors as well as new additions, such as Piedra Paloma, Airemarmores and Marmi Faedo. The Stone Hub hosts a series of presentations bringing the A&D professionals to listen and learn from the leading designers in the sector.

Now in its fifth year Light School, the home of architectural lighting, allows architects and designers to touch, compare and learn about innovative lighting and technology products. Confirmed returning exhibitors include Appelec, Optelma, and Pixalux. The Light School arena, Light Talks, will return once again supported by the Institution of Lighting Professionals. Industry experts from Hoare Lea, Nulty+, Atelier Ten and 18 Degrees have already confirmed to share their knowledge at Light Talks.

New to Surface Design Show is the New Talent area curated by internationally acclaimed speaker and forward-thinking Chief Creative Director at Trendease International, Jennifer Castoldi. Those chosen will be up and coming designers in the surface and materials sector. New Talent exhibitors can only have been in the industry for five years or less and will be hand selected by Jennifer.

Participants include experimental materials studio, MUUNA; Laura Evans Designs; Yi-Han Fu, textile designer; Orla Lawn, decorative panelling and Tomasz Maker, woodworking and metal work.

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