The London Design Festival (15-25 September) is five this year. Mirroring the uniquely diverse nature of the London design scene, its vibrant programme of exhibitions, talks and debates, workshops and installations in public places extends right across the city at around two hundred different locations.
In an exciting partnership between the two bodies, the Festival’s Central London hub this autumn will be at Southbank Centre. Events take place from 15-25 September unless otherwise stated. For further details of all events mentioned below see: www.londondesignfestival.com.
About the Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall, at the heart of Southbank Centre, which holds a unique place in the cultural life of London, was the first significant public building to be erected after the Second World War. Designed by Robert Matthew, Chief Architect at the London
County Council, with Leslie Martin and Peter Moro, they had only three years to build the new concert hall in the ‘enriched modernist’ style favoured by the team in time for the opening of the Festival of Britain in 1951. They seized the moment to take forward the ideas of Le Corbusier and the Modern Movement, and committed to making a democratic building befitting the post-war climate. Generous, functional, spirited and rich in details, the Royal Festival Hall is rightly much loved and admired.
Due to restrictions on materials following the war, reinforced concrete was used for almost the whole structure. But the use of rich colour, pattern and texture, and the variety of beautiful woods and other materials used in the auditorium reflect the effort
made to avoid compromise. Changes from light polished stone to dark walnut, for instance, define the nature and underlie the logic of the design. Moro’s eight-strong team designed everything with wit and style, from the light fittings, door handles,
balustrades, ‘net and ball’ patterned carpet and textiles, while Robin Day designed all the seating.