Dezeen Magazine

Claridge's Christmas tree by Marc Newson and Jony Ive

Jony Ive and Marc Newson create room-size interpretation of a Christmas tree

An immersive Christmas tree installation by Apple's Jonathan Ive and industrial designer Marc Newson has been unveiled in London.

The duo worked alongside British set designer Michael Howells to create the "magical experience", which is located in the lobby of Claridge's hotel in Mayfair.

Claridge's Christmas tree by Marc Newson and Jony Ive

For the installation, the entrance to the hotel has been lined with four-metre-high light boxes that glow with black and white photographs of snow-covered silver birch trees.

Real silver birch trees are placed in front of the backdrop in small mounds of artificial snow, while larger green pine trees stand in the foreground.

Claridge's Christmas tree by Marc Newson and Jony Ive

In one corner, a young, metre-high tree stands on its own – something the designers describe as being "symbolic of the future".

Lights cast different colours on the wintery scene throughout the day, transforming it from sunrise to night time.

Claridge's Christmas tree by Marc Newson and Jony Ive

"There are few things more pure and beautiful than nature, so that was our starting point, layering various iterations of organic forms with technology," said the designers.

"Our aim was to create an all-enveloping magical experience that celebrates our enormous respect for tradition while recognising our excitement about the future and things to come."

The Claridge's Christmas Tree, described by the hotel as a "seasonal landmark", is imagined by a different designer each year.

Claridge's Christmas tree by Marc Newson and Jony Ive

The tradition has been going since 2009, and has seen designers including Burberry's Christopher Bailey, Dolce & Gabbana and John Galliano each bring a festive addition to the hotel's lobby.

Ive and Newson are longstanding friends as well as collaborators at Apple.

Claridge's Christmas tree by Marc Newson and Jony Ive

Ive began working at Apple's design department in 1992 and became senior vice-president of design when the company's founder, the late Steve Jobs, returned to the helm in 1997.

Newson joined Ive at the company in 2014, and has worked on projects including the sometimes-maligned Apple Watch.

The designers also previously collaborated on a camera for Leica.

Both designers featured within the top 100 on Dezeen Hot List. Newson was the 9th highest-ranking designer on the list and Ive the 11th.