London’s Largest Living Room, Somerset House, London Festival of Architecture 2008
Contractor: Linea Floors Limited
Designer: Studio Myerscroft
Type of works: Desso donate carpet tiles for LFA launch event.
Desso was delighted to support and take part in an exciting and eye-catching element of the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) 2008.
Between 20-23 June, visitors to Somerset House’s courtyard in the Strand found it transformed with a full suite of over-size furniture on a massive, colourful carpet, and could make themselves at home.
Jointly produced by Design for London and the London Festival of Architecture, with creative direction from the Royal College of Arts Gerrard O’Carroll, London’s Largest Living Room played host to the Festival’s launch event and opening by London Mayor Boris Johnson.
The Living Room carpet, cleverly designed by graphic designer Studio Myerscroft, used a range of carpet tiles donated by Desso, mounted on a special membrane, to create the look and feel of the pattern of a giant Turkish rug. The carpet covered 450m2.
Installed in rapid time, through the night, by flooring contractor Linea Floors Limited, the carpet design was created like a jigsaw, piece by piece, to achieve this stunning effect.
Moira Sinclair, Executive Director, Arts Council England, London said: "It is through installations like this that we can help bring the work of artists, architects and designers to more people, encouraging them to take a fresh look at what’s around them.”
Following on from the stunning success of the London’s Largest Living Room installation, comes another success story.
The carpet tiles donated by Desso to help form the 450m2 ‘living room rug’ in the courtyard outside of London’s Somerset House, are now finding new homes in some indoor living rooms in London.
At the end of the installation period the carpet tiles were carefully lifted from their special linking membrane backing, and given to One Housing Group. The tiles have been stored and are gradually being used to carpet new homes for tenants who cannot afford carpet when they move in. It is anticipated that tenants in some 10 to 12 properties will benefit from this donation.
Martin Hudson, Asset Management Voids Manager Community, at One Housing Group commented that the offer of these tiles had been greatly appreciated, and assists in continuing to provide ‘added value’ to the social housing the group provides to those in housing need.
David Smith, Sales and Marketing Director UK/ROI for Desso said: “We are more than delighted that the carpet tiles could be re-used in this way. This fits into Desso’s philosophy of sustainability and responsibility, and the whole project from start to finish has been an inspiring one for all concerned.”