Haeckels’ Top Picks for London Design Festival 2024

In this journal, we present five highlights from Haeckel’s selection at this year’s London Design Festival, held from September 14 to 22.

The 22nd edition attracted leading thinkers, practitioners, and educators from around the globe, reinforcing London’s reputation as a hub for innovative design and creative excellence.

Uncover these standout exhibitions and installations, each chosen for their focus on innovation and sustainability.

‘Reclaimed: The Silo Collection’ by Studio Omelette

Cécile Dumetier of Studio Omelette teamed up with zero-waste restaurant Silo for a ceramic exhibition, where discarded wine bottles from Silo were repurposed into a glaze.

The exhibition featured works by 22 London-based potters, each showcasing unique techniques for applying the recycled glaze. The project sparked important conversations about finding beauty in waste. Silo’s founder, Douglas McMaster, also hosted a panel discussion on the topic, featuring Dom Bridges, founder of Haeckels; Rodrigo García, co-founder of Notpla; and sustainable architecture experts Nina Woodcroft and Ana Rita Martins. This collaboration resonates with Haeckels’ commitment to using locally sourced, natural materials.

Well Made: What It Means Today by Pearson Lloyd

Pearson Lloyd, an industrial design studio, showcased over 40 design contributions from industry leaders, alongside products submitted through an open call, challenging perceptions of quality and sustainability in manufacturing.

Haeckels’ postbiotic edible cup, crafted from a seaweed-based material, was nominated by Malina Dabrowska, Design Lead at Arup’s Foresight team. This recognition highlights our continued commitment to advancing biodesign innovation.

Read more about The Dirt On Our Edible Cup in this journal entry.

Bio-Spaces: Regenerative, Resilient Futures

The Zaha Hadid-designed Roca London Gallery hosted Bio-Spaces, an immersive exhibition at the intersection of biophilic design and architecture. Curated by Planted and Oliver Heath Design Studio, it featured ‘islands’ showcasing nature-inspired design concepts. The exhibition highlighted innovative applications derived from natural resources, including pulp, natural minerals, algae, and cork.

These tangible examples demonstrated the potential of bio-integrated, bio-inspired, and biomimetic design principles, offering a vision for the future of sustainable and regenerative living environments.

Materials Matter

Material Matters showcased the importance of materials in shaping our world. Held across five floors of London’s Bargehouse Gallery, it united over 50 world-leading brands, designers, makers, and organizations. The exhibition featured a diverse range of materials, including innovative options like algae, collagen, and fungal-based substances. At its core, Material Matters explored how the design sector can address circular economy challenges while emphasizing material intelligence in daily life. By highlighting both traditional and cutting-edge materials, the exhibition demonstrated their crucial role in sustainable design and future innovations.

Vert by Diez Office in partnership with OMC°C curated by AHEC

‘Vert,’ an innovative installation at Chelsea College of Arts’ Parade Ground, embodies the fusion of architecture and ecology. Designed by Diez Office in collaboration with urban greening experts OMC°C, it is crafted from sustainable red-oak glulam. Central to its design is a biodegradable net that supports 20 carefully selected plant species, creating a living ecosystem that promotes biodiversity and cools urban environments.

‘Vert’ will remain in place for four weeks after the festival, offering a chance to observe the living ecosystem it supports and reflect on how architecture and nature can work together to create more sustainable, livable cities.

Banner Image credits: Ruth Ward