(UK) – Clerkenwell Design Week 2016 saw Tom Dixon make London’s St James’ church available as a creative resource.

Tom Dixon collaborated with Andrew Baughen, the Vicar of St James’ classic 17^th century church on Clerkenwell Green. Baughen saw the potential of making his unique building available to the daytime residents of Clerkenwell – the creative workforce, and a place for the residential community to use as a resource.

The partnership involved the British design studio installing a large central chandelier of Curve pendants in the main space, a co-working environment featuring Melt pendants and standing lamps, and a kitchen all to be donated as permanent fixtures.

The extraordinary volumes of this heritage site allowed Tom Dixon to demonstrate its new lighting and furniture products recently launched in Milan against a series of historic backdrops – the panelled wood of the 18^th century vestry, the bare stone construction of the entrance hall and the huge volumes and stained glass panels of the main church provided a variety of design challenges.

As the Church evolves and adapts to the new conditions of the 21^st century, the opportunity of opening up to new audiences and unexpected collaborations becomes a necessity. For the design audience and the more permanent residents of Clerkenwell, Tom Dixon aimed to see a contemplative and spiritual space become more comfortable and accessible with the designer’s intervention.

www.tomdixon.net