architect: Universal Design Studio
location: London, UK
year: 2017
For the fourth consecutive year, Universal Design Studio Frieze London, returns as the architects of Frieze London, creating a series of new restaurant and a reconceived entryway installation for 2017, highlighting the fair's approach to sustainability. For 2017, Universal has designed a new reflective installation as the entranceway marker to the fair, one of a series of aluminium screens created using "borrowed" material and are to be recycled after the Fair. The use of aluminium draws attention to the sustainable nature of the material, which can be recycled and reused infinitely without any reduction in quality.
The monolithic screens will be constructed from an ensemble of pleated aluminium extrusions, the same extrusions used to build the fair, and will reference the forms within the overall tent structure whilst creating shifting reflections and movement that act as changeable viewing devices of the surrounding vista. The reflective aluminium entryway and accompanying screens are constructed by art fabricator Joseph Waller Fabrications, and will frame an external courtyard, which will house an art project by Donna Kukama as part of Frieze Projects. The remainder of the courtyard is built from a kit of parts of scaffolding and fibreboard, which will be either reused of recycled after thr fair.
For the fourth year in a row, the Studio has masterplanned the art fair across 24,500 sq m, using colour and tone to help visitors navigate the Fair. The structure for Frieze itself is built from over 400 tonnes of aluminium. "We are excited to be part of this extraordinary event for a fourth year running, as Regent’s Park once again becomes the temporary home for the art world. The result, we hope, is one that will enhance the visitor experience by balancing moments of activity and event alongside moments of pause and reflection, allowing the art to speak." – Jason Holley, Director, Universal Design Studio
“We have designed the entrance installation from materials that directly reference the structures which house these important artworks, whilst drawing attention back to the beauty of Regents Park. We were interested in using a material that is in a state of change, which seems fitting for a temporary global art fair” – Richard McConkey, Associate Director, Universal Design Studio
About Universal Design Studio
Universal Design Studio is an award-winning architecture and interior design practice based in London. It works internationally on commissions including boutique hotels and restaurants, retail spaces, galleries and renowned cultural institutions, such as; Ace Hotel, At Six Hotel, Vitra, LVMH, The Victoria and Albert Museum, Frieze Art Fair, Science Museum and National Gallery in London. Universal was founded in 2001 by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, in response to the growing demand for their distinctive design aesthetic and clever use of material details in an architectural and interior design context. The studio is co-directed by Hannah Carter Owers and Jason Holley. http://www.universaldesignstudio.com/
About Frieze
Frieze is a media and events company that comprises three publications, frieze magazine, Frieze Masters Magazine and Frieze Week; and three international art fairs, Frieze London, Frieze New York and Frieze Masters; a programme of courses and talks at Frieze Academy, and frieze.com - the definitive resource for contemporary art and culture. Frieze was founded in 1991 by Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp, with the launch of frieze magazine, the leading international magazine of contemporary art and culture. In 2003, Sharp and Slotover launched Frieze London art fair, which takes place each October in The Regent’s Park, London. In 2012, they launched Frieze New York, which occurs each May in Randall’s Island Park, and Frieze Masters, which coincides with Frieze London in October and is dedicated to art from ancient to modern. In 2016, Frieze launched Frieze Academy, a year-round programme of talks and courses. Frieze fairs are sponsored by global lead partner Deutsche Bank.
About SAPA
Sapa Profiles UK is one of the world’s largest aluminium extrusion companies. Based in over 40 countries Sapa provides a diverse range of innovative aluminium solutions to 30,000 customers globally within various market sectors including building and construction, transportation, distribution, industrial and automotive. 75% of 1 billion metric tonnes of aluminium ever produced is still in productive use today. It can be recycled and reused infinitely without any reduction in quality. Sapa UK process over 40,000 tonnes of scrap aluminium every year and cast almost 50,000 tonnes of billet annually in Tibshelf Derbyshire. Their goal for the future is a world where waste for someone becomes a resource for someone else, a principle of circular economy. This amazing lightweight material could be the main ingredient of the mobile phone in your hand, the car you drive, or even the spectacles you wear, meaning old aluminium never dies.
