As part of its commitment to celebrating world-class design and style, Native Land recently hosted a series of talks with leading brand ambassadors and design professionals in the grounds of Holland Park Villas. The latest evening talk centred on the subject of design: Tony Chambers, Brand & Content Director of Wallpaper* Magazine and Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum, were invited to discuss the Design Museum’s history and the impact of its move to Kensington.
The Grade II* listed Design Museum, which sits just south of Holland Park, is a world leading museum of contemporary design and architecture, hosting an international showcase for design skills and acting as a creative centre, promoting innovation and nurturing the next generation of design talent.
During the discussion, Deyan Sudjic and Tony Chambers retraced the history of the Museum, spanning from its former home in Shad Thames and the move to West London. The conversation highlighted the museum’s move as exemplary for the area around Holland Park establishing itself as a destination for design.
The wider borough is already rich in culture, with the “Albertopolis” grouping of institutions devoted to science, natural history, fine art, design and music in South Kensington. However, now Holland Park is evolving to attract an international design crowd, a trend which can be evidenced by the Selgas-Cano designed Second Home co-working space, which has opened its Holland Park branch earlier this year, as well as an increase in new residents coming to the area.
Native Land is outspoken about the integral role of design as a differentiating factor for its high-end developments, as well in influencing wider inner-city development. Holland Park Villas benefits from collaborations with Britain’s top-tier interior designers, Studio Reed, Studio Ashby and Rose Uniacke, showcasing how curated design can contribute to our lives on a daily scale.
Alasdair Nicholls, Chief Executive of Native Land, said:
“Kensington is home to many forms of design, art and culture and we are fortunate to have the Design Museum as a close neighbour to Holland Park Villas. Each element of Holland Park Villas, from the elegant interiors to the private courtyard garden designed by the famous landscape architecture practice Gillespies, and through to the scent – sampled especially for this project – was carefully chosen to create a well-rounded design and lifestyle experience.”
The event has set the tone for this autumn’s forthcoming London Design Festival taking place across the city, with Holland Park Villas placed firmly within the newly established West Kensington Design District. Design Museum will present an exciting new programme exclusively for the launch of the new district while V&A Blythe House will offer a rare opportunity to participate in guided tours.
