The Isos Collection comprises of sixteen exemplary pieces of British furniture, combining striking design and exceptional production. Furniture Works and Furniture Link coordinated the project with aspirations to get home grown talent back on the high street. The collection is sure to grab the attention of the international market when it visits Milan this month, helping to get it onto shop floors over here.
I previewed Isos at its temporary home in Furniture Works on Commercial Road. On one side of the showroom, a slick, minimalist gallery was an apt space for the project. On the other, chairs donated by East End furniture company Frederick Parker and Son dating back to 1870 lined the walls, generating an entirely different atmosphere that accentuated the modernity of the collection, along with its East London roots.
Hidden Art designers are at the heart of the Isos Collection. Rose Cobb’s Lacuna is a classic corner sofa concept, adapted with a scoop around the back and side of the seat, to catch keys and coins that stray from pockets. Cocoa by Rock Galpin is for sitting or snoozing, made to divide a room or fit neatly in a corner. Manufacturers Pekalp are the production company behind these designs, which will be available to purchase in a variety of colours and fabrics.
Aloom is the result of the collaboration between bdm design and Davis Cash. This innovative storage system is constructed from curved stacking aluminium units, with walnut and teak panelling. The shelving or drawers can be expanded upwards with additional parts as your possessions grow. Aloom would suit an office or the home, as would the Jasper Startup designed metallic CD units and wall panels, which are a stylish solution for music fanatics.
Other highlights include a playful hybrid of a beanbag and armchair, which is Gary Van Broekhoven’s work with Andrew Figueira and manufacturers Alma. morph and Sam Johnson have worked with Sunday to create a range of minimalist sideboards and a coffee table. They have also contributed a striking storage box in either birch or walnut and brightly coloured drawers with holes that resemble eyes.
The Isos Collection will be on display with Design London in Milan from 13 – 18 April 2005 at Superstudio 13, via Forcella, 13, Milano 20144.
Sarah Phillips
