London and its limitless facets. Cosmopolitan London, a crossroads of style and trends, the birthplace of unrestrained creativity. It would be impossible not to be inspired by this magnificent city: a journey to the British capital is an opportunity to open the mind to influences which are never ordinary and explore a culture in continuous evolution.

You could be walking along Carnaby Street, the historic area of Swinging London and find yourself taken by the window display of a vintage boutique. Or breathe in the vibrant and offbeat energy of the market stalls of Portobello Road, wandering among the books, prints, flowers and antiques. The unexpected might be waiting around each turn and corner.

On our very own journey right to the heart of London, we are taking you to the Design Museum: the largest museum in the world dedicated entirely to design, inaugurated in 2016.

The building, designed by architect John Pawson, arose from the five year redevelopment of the Commonwealth Institute in South Kensington, an icon of the Ultra-modern Britain of the 1960s.

The space is punctuated by wide steps which develop around an oak-lined atrium. A minimalist, three-story structure of wood and glass whose angles and lines contrast those of the pre-existing concrete vaulted roof.

 

“The first time I found myself under that roof, my immediate instinct was do not fight with what was already there.” – John Pawson.

 

Designer Maker User is the name of the permanent Collection located on the top floor of the structure. The Vespa Clubman Piaggio which came from the pencil of Corradino d’Ascanio, the Valentine typewriter by Ettore Sottsass and Perry King, the British road signs by Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert, the Sony TPS L2 Walkman by Nobutoshi Kihara: more than a thousand objects are on display, each representing a milestone in the history of design. All are organised according to theme, from architecture to engineering and computer science, from fashion to graphic design and, finally, the digital world.

Visitors are welcomed by a six metre wall which displays the objects selected by the public through an online platform, the Crowdsourced wall. To reflect on what design is, and its importance in daily life, not only from the point of view of the designer but also that of the end user.

If you are planning a trip to London, do not miss the opportunity to visit this true work of art constructed from wood and glass.

A place where everyone comes to talk about innovation and the future.