The Floating Column @ VitrA

The Floating Column, by Space A (Amelia Hunter and Anna Drakes) @ VitrA Bathrooms

Our starting point was to celebrate a rainbow of emotions in space. We loved the idea of using colour to create something that had an impact in the space's tall 5m ceilings. We were inspired by the form of flowing, overlapping and looped strips of textile weaving and enjoyed the joyful mix of shades demonstrated by artists like Annie Albers. We loved the idea of an elongated, radial piece that both resembled a floating classical column but also a grand chandelier. The piece is fabricated from a material that is used everyday (in the home) and generally taken for granted : toilet roll. As a material it is infamous for its impact on global deforestation and more specifically its role in the 'panic buying' sprees that took place at the start of the Covid -19 lockdowns. But by showcasing this taboo product we wanted it to be a 'joyful beacon' calling to arms a collective wave of action to question its role in our 21st century homes, offices and public spaces.

**

The Floating Column is one of four winning installations from the second edition of Showroom Showcase, a design competition which sees a series of innovative paper installations by emerging architects and designers displayed in some of London’s leading design showrooms. You can hear Amelia and Anna sharing about the story behind their design, alongside Nicola Friel from VitrA, by clicking on the event link.

**

Pairing product design with art, HagenHinderdael are an award-winning creative practice who work at the intersect of sustainable design and innovative technology to create sculptural products and immersive installations. Merging sustainable materials with traditional craftsmanship and innovative technology, they produce elements, feature installations, and placemaking schemes that push the boundaries of engineering whilst bearing the incentive of a continuous afterlife.

VitrA London is the award-winning flagship showroom for VitrA Bathrooms, located in the design community of Clerkenwell. Set over two floors, you can find design inspiration, co-working areas, specification support, design advice and an exhibition space.