Dezeen Magazine

Video tour of West End Design District at London Design Festival 2013

Movie: Dezeen takes a tour of the inaugural West End Design District during this year's London Design Festival, taking in highlights including the Sanderson hotel, shoe designer Tracey Neuls' store and the Republic of Fritz Hansen showroom. 

Aram store, London
Aram store, London

West End Design District is a new London Design Festival district launched this year by design show designjunction - see the digital map Dezeen created for the district here.

Net tables by Benjamin Hubert for Moroso on show at Aram Store, London
Net tables by Benjamin Hubert for Moroso at Aram, London

designjunction show director Deborah Spencer says she launched West End Design District because she felt central London was underrepresented during London Design Festival.

Deborah Spencer, designjunction show director
Deborah Spencer, designjunction show director

"There are hubs going on in the east, hubs going on in the west, but there had been nothing happening in central London," she explains.

Sanderson hotel, London
Sanderson hotel, London

designjunction curated West End Design District in partnership with Visa Luxury Hotel Collection and this year the district included the local Sanderson, Claridge's and W London hotels alongside showrooms and stores such as Aram, Molteni&C Dada, Republic of Fritz Hansen and Tracey Neuls.

Sanderson hotel, London
Sanderson hotel, London

In the movie we visit the Sanderson hotel on Berners street, refurbished in 2000 by French designer Philippe Starck, which featured an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by American artist Miya Ando during London Design Festival.

Verena Haller, senior vice president of design at Morgans Hotel Group
Verena Haller, senior vice president of design at Morgans Hotel Group

"We're very proud to be in the West End Design District," says Verena Haller, senior vice president of design at Morgans Hotel Group, which owns the Sanderon. "There are a lot of design stores around all in walking distance and it really attracts young designers and celebrities."

Tracey Neuls store on Marylebone Lane, London
Tracey Neuls store on Marylebone Lane, London

Next we visit shoe designer Tracey Neuls' store on Marylebone Lane, who designed special reflective versions of two of her signature shoes in collaboration with bicycle brand Tokyobike.

Reflective shoes by Tracey Neuls
Reflective cycling shoes by Tracey Neuls for Tokyobike

"For London Design Festival Tracey always designs a limited edition shoe," explains manager Jane Howard. "This year we've teamed up with Tokyobike. We've done two classic styles of Tracey's with added reflective detailing, which are perfect for cycling."

OFF | CUT by by Chung Tyson Architects at Republic of Fritz Hansen
OFF | CUT by by Chung Tyson Architects at Republic of Fritz Hansen, London

Finally, we visit Danish furniture brand Republic of Fritz Hansen's showroom on Margaret Street, which featured an installation called OFF/CUT by Chung Tyson Architects.

Republic of Fritz Hansen, London
Republic of Fritz Hansen, London

"This is a structure made out of our waste veneer and leather materials from our production facility in Denmark," explains Martha McNaughton of Fritz Hansen. "The whole idea behind it is an exploration into the re-use of waste materials."