If you’re looking to rub shoulders with West Coast design elite, the annual Interior Design Show West (IDSwest), September 29 until October 2, is the place to do it. Since its inaugural event in 2004, IDSwest has evolved every year into a greater spectacle of international and local contemporary residential design innovation, drawing both industry professionals and the general public to the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Sure to attract a crowd this year is the Ultra-Compact L41, a 220-square-foot concept home designed by architect Michael Katz and artist Janet Corne. A play on the words “all for one, one for all, a home for all”, the L41 is factory built and is intended to cater to those who might have difficulty entering the housing market. With the potential to act as a stand-alone unit or a module stacked to form six-plexes or a high-rise building, the mini-dwellings propose to provide affordable housing in inner-city locations.
Stars from the design world are also invited to the podium; this year’s keynote speaker is industrial design veteran Ross Lovegrove, best known for his work on Sony Walkmans and Apple computers in the early 1980s. Also joining IDSwest 2011 are Jeremy Cole, an award-winning lighting designer who counts Harry Winston, Bulgari and Anne Fontaine as clients, and local designer Omer Arbel, whose recent work includes designing the 2010 Winter Olympic medals.
With 200 vetted exhibitors showcasing high-calibre products and services, attendees are sure to seek a reprieve from all the excitement. They needn’t look any further than Tom Dixon’s pop-up bar, sure to attract thirsty design enthusiasts like moths to a flame. Presented by Inform Interiors, the bar’s lights will beam through acid-etched brass pendants, shades and candleholders, beckoning guests to take a seat on an Offcut stool and indulge in a cocktail.
Featuring the cutting-edge in art, architecture, lighting and design, IDSwest is anticipated to attract more than 30,000. So if you’re looking for some bright ideas to liven up your home, you might find enlightenment here.
