Welcome to our journal … bringing news & views of design.
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Watering Spots
DRINKING FOUNTAINS DES has long wanted to revive the drinking fountain and celebrate outstanding design and provide free and clean drinking water. In 2019 we invited Tania Kovats and collaborating artists Laura Aldridge and James Rigler to design a fountain fit for our contemporary age.
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Sitting Pretty
Design Exhibition Scotland’s OPEN CALL to design a park bench was inspired by a wish to celebrate all that the public bench offers: the joy of sitting down, the great outdoors and of course the chance to pause for thought and take in a view. Partnering with Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute, the selected benches were shown at Mount Stuart last summer before travelling on to V&A Dundee earlier this year.
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‘A walk in the woods’ . . again
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN After a 5 year closure for extensive renovation, Glasgow’s The Burrell Collection has re-opened. Suzanne Ewing once again delights in the building’s architecture, the fall of light & its outstanding collection.
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Questions & Answers / Hugo Macdonald
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Hugo Macdonald, curator of Radical Acts: Why Craft Matters which recently opened at Harewood House, talks ideas, changing the narrative, growing up on Skye & the joy of the wind & rain. Image Mac Collins – Thaneray (Tenroy) from Radical Acts at Harewood House. Photo Edvinas Bruzas.
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Burrell reborn
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN In our second piece on the celebrated Burrell Collection, Kieran Gaffney explores the revitalised building & how architects John McAslan & Partners have updated the structure for the 21st century.
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Park Life
DESIGN Carys Wilkins reports on the recent pandemic’s affect on design, in particular public seating & the National Museums of Scotland’s recent acquisition of a social distancing bench by Dutch designer, Björn van den Broek.
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‘A walk in the woods’ shelter in place
NEW WRITING ‘But suddenly you touched my heart.’ Two years ago Suzanne Ewing reflected on The Burrell Collection, its architecture & location while it was closed for renovation. Summer 2020
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Shroom with a view
MATERIAL INNOVATION Glasgow School of Art graduate, Catriona Brown had long thought the ubiquitous plastic tree protector was a blot on the landscape, so she set out to design an alternative. Here Catriona tells the story of Shroom, her tree protector made of mycelium, which is currently on show at V&A Dundee. Summer 2020
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Cinema Paradiso
ARCHITECTURE Cromarty’s new cinema cuts a brilliant architectural dash. Looking out to Cromarty Firth, it is testimony to a community-led initiative & outstanding contemporary architecture. Susanna Beaumont speaks to Cromarty Community Cinema’s architect, Lynne Sproull. Winter 2021.
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Oyster shells, salt & the Firth of Forth
Chalk Plaster are plasterers and keen experimenters. Here Steven Blench, one half of Chalk Plaster, reveals their latest explorations along the shores of the Firth of Forth. Summer 2020
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Making Connections Work
DESIGNING NETWORKS Since its launch in Scotland in 2014, Make Works, an online introductory agency for designers & artists who wish to meet manufacturers & fabricators, has gone from strength to strengh. Susanna Beaumont talks to Helen Voce, its co-project lead about networking for creatives. Winter 2022.
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Questions & Answers / Catharine Rossi
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Catharine Rossi, curator of Night Fever at V&A Dundee & Craft Scotland’s recent Craft & Cultural Conversations, shares insights into 1960’s Italian nightclubs, her favourite disco hits & the kitchen gadget she couldn’t do without. Winter 2021.
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Light & shade
ART + ARCHITECTURE Edinburgh’s Fruitmarket reopened in the autumn of 2021 as a multi artform space with an exhibition of work by Karla Black. Brilliantly extended & revitalised by architects Reiach and Hall, Susanna Beaumont talks to their design director, Neil Gillespie about the importance of light & dark, shade & shadow in its transformation. Autumn 2021.
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Geometric Variations . . Paolozzi the designer
DESIGN CLASSIC Eduardo Paolozzi, the Leith-born artist is celebrated widely for his sculptures & collages but his work in design & collaborations with industry are arguably lesser known. Here curator Sarah Rothwell applauds his brilliance in design.
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Giving delight
ARCHITECTURE From a football stadium to a transplant unit, Peter Womersley is arguably the architect behind many of Scotland’s most notable 20th century structures. Here Brian Robertson, curator & founder Zembla gallery in the Scottish Borders, celebrates Womersley & asks why his work is not more widely recognised. Zembla recently exhibited WOMERSLEY, an exhibition of work by 12 contemporary artists made in response to his architecture.
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Sculptural forms in space
DESIGN Edinburgh’s reopened & revitalised Fruitmarket is embracing functional objects commissioned from artists & designers. Here DES takes a look at Tania Kovats drinking fountain WELL & light sculptures by Andrew Miller.
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Building the dream – architecture that inspires, delights, perplexes or intrigues.
ARCHITECTURE Architect Paul Stallan of the Glasgow practice Stallan-Brand, shares his thoughts on six buildings in Scotland that inspire, delight, perplex or intrigue him. And he offers insights into Stallan-Brand’s recent project, Broomlands primary school (pictured) in the Border’s town of Kelso.
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Weave been waiting . . . says Beca Lipscombe
DESIGN CLASSIC Archie Brennan was arguably the most inventive tapestry weaver of the 20th century. Here designer Beca Lipscombe celebrates his work & heralds the exhibition of Brennan’s work which was recently on at Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh.
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Arrange Whatever Pieces Come Your Way
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Sheelagh Boyce & Annabelle Harty have known each for decades yet it was only recently that they began their collective practice of quilting. Here they talk ideas, inspiration. They are currently exhibiting their work at Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute.
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towards a right-angled sock, for Ružena
NEW WRITING Artist, writer, designer, Kate Morgan explores & exposes the fascinating intricacies of knitting proper socks from the mighty MUJI to a modest Czech grandmother.
