super natural.
At the London Design Week, I came accross a great installation by Studio Toogood.
Super natural is the name of the installation, and the name is program. Just like the Super normal movement started by Jasper Morrison and Naoto Fukasawa stresses the super in normal, this project brings out the super in natural: visitors are confronted with a mushroom installation, can try cheese and food by La Fromagerie and Toogood presents a collection of furniture. The English countryside served as the main inspiration.
The furniture uses three elements - wood, brass and stone - with an emphasis on English-sourced materials. All furniture has been made by English stonemasons, carpenters and metalworkers. I especially liked the table lamps in 3 different materials constructed by combining three basic shapes.
The space was also filled with a scent, or more precisely: an olfactory installation by Francis Kurkdjian. Not that I knew him before, but he apparently is the perfumer who created J. P. Gaultier's Le Mâle. I smelt moss, wet leaves, mushrooms ... truly magical! Unfortunately this one was not for sale.
The whole project was created by Faye Toogood (what a name, eh?) who has worked with people such as Tom Dixon and Comme des Garçons, and has recently started her own studio, concentrating on creative consulting in interior decoration, styling, brand design, etc.
If you happen to be in London this week, it certainly pays to go and visit the installation. Take a deep breath, touch the materials and you'll feel sheer bliss. It's on display until the 28th of September at The Garage, North Terrace, SW3 2BA in London (open 10am to 6pm).
