Back

Clerkenwell Design Week 2023

We welcomed over 2000 visitors to our new showroom with a bonanza of events and a show-stopping installation.

Cloud to Cloud was responsible for a lot of double takes as festival goers ambled around Clerkenwell in the sunshine. The installation is a collaboration between Iris Ceramica Group and Szczepaniak Teh, and explores the properties of hydrogen through water. Iris Ceramica is leading the move to green hydrogen within the sector, and wanted to communicate a message about hydrogen, sustainability, and ceramics to CDW attendees.

Cloud to Cloud was a festival highlight with CDW organiser Marlon Cera-Marle dropping in to speak with creators Nicholas Szczepaniak and Wen Ying Teh. The installation featured on the official CDW and BIID tour and will remain on show until September.

Cloud to Cloud explores the cycle of water and its connection to green hydrogen

Iris Ceramica CEO, Federica Minozzi, joined Solus Creative Director, Sam Frith, and one half of Szczepaniak Teh, Nicholas Szczepaniak on Tuesday evening to discuss Cloud to Cloud, its significance for Iris Ceramica and the process of collaboration. The well-attended event was a great way to frame the conversation for the week.

Federica said, “I’m delighted to be collaborating with Solus and Szczepaniak Teh on this important piece. Green hydrogen promises to decarbonise the sector. We have to make it happen.”

Solus Sustainability Manager, Ken Graham, took the baton on Wednesday delivering his RIBA-accredited Moving Earth: Sustainability and Ceramics presentation to a rapt crowd. His energy and erudition took us through a well-researched and deeply informative review of the environmental claims within the sector. Ken can come to your practice to deliver Moving Earth. Just drop us a line.

In Conversation with Juhani Pallasmaa, a film made by our PR Executive, Conleth Buckley and Roger Tyrrell, took the Wednesday evening slot. A relaxed and deeply personal interview with celebrated author and architect Juhani Pallasmaa provided a moment of mindfulness during a busy day. We’ll be making the film available upon request.

Expert Lover, a collective of contemporary electronic musicians, took to the stage later that evening. James Mason on decks and mixer, Geoff Tornn on guitar, Nick Samuel on saxophone, and Paul Shearer on congas, delivered a blistering set that threatened to take the roof off. Smash Hips featuring Mathew Dougherty on guitar and pedals, and Sam Neild on drums followed with a captivating set that served as a fitting coda to day two.

Some slightly bleary expressions greeted day three and a packed schedule. Martin Ballard of Fila delivered a seminar on indoor air quality and sustainable surface protection, and Margherita Giannoni of Iris Ceramica Group spoke compellingly about eco-active buildings. Events Manager Jo Sinclair’s Terrarium Workshop was well received with the green-fingered amongst you creating self-sustaining microcosms.

Another sort of sustenance was available at the riveting performance by Roberta, Head Chef at Pasta Evangelists. Roberta, in a masterclass of charismatic people management, wrangled a five o’clock crowd into some semblance of order and tutored them in the mysteries of pasta. The subsequent bowls of outrageously delicious handmade pasta surely averted many booze-related mishaps later and certainly put the audience in a receptive mood for our Thursday evening panel discussion.

We had a full programme of sessions, panel talks, workshops, tastings, and more.

Our Brand Manager, Katie Mitchelmore, suggested the question and the guests. Graphic Artist Anthony Burrill, colour expert Justine Fox, and activist Architect Robert Delius of Stride Treglown inspired the packed house with their answers to “How can design drive optimism and change?”. A longer piece on this will follow but the most succinct summary would be, “Design is a fundamentally optimistic act” – a message the audience embraced with approbation.

DJ Arveene stepped in to bring proceedings to a zenith with a transformative set that saw our new showroom blessed by the throb of a shamanic mania. Shapes were thrown, promises were made, glasses were smashed as Arveene magisterially twiddled and tweaked the crowd into a feverish euphoria which exploded out of the locked doors sometime around 3am.

The success of the event rests largely on the Solus Clerkenwell team whose efforts could rightly be described as Herculean. Showroom Manager Mirko Francia was tireless in his pursuit of the perfect CDW experience for all our guests. Jo Sinclair was everywhere – one minute troubleshooting recalcitrant tech, the next lugging bags of ice. Commercial Director Ian Hamilton managed the queues with his customary aplomb. All hands were on deck be it the Birmingham team helping at the door, the London and Regional sales teams hosting their socks off, or Managing Director Ryan Bennett popping corks and pouring drinks.

We had a fantastic and exhausting time. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello!

NEWSLETTER

Get the latest news and updates sent straight to your inbox.

Related stories

View all
  • What’s on this Clerkenwell Design Week 2024

    23rd Apr 2024

  • Cloud to Cloud: Water, Green Hydrogen and the Future of Ceramics

    9th May 2023

  • In conversation with Mauro Mazzi, CEO of Mirage

    17th Apr 2023

  • Say hello to our new branding

    27th Apr 2023

  • We’re delighted to achieve ISO 14001 Certification, a big step forward on the path to sustainable business

    22nd May 2023

  • The Future of Water: design solutions for the water crisis

    16th Jan 2025

  • Earth: Elements by Florim and Stiff + Trevillion

    18th Nov 2024

  • Clerkenwell Design Week 2024 – The Aftermath

    30th May 2024

  • What’s on this Clerkenwell Design Week 2024

    23rd Apr 2024

  • Sounds of the Earth: An exploration of sound and surface with Mirage

    22nd Aug 2023

  • How can design drive optimism and change?

    15th Jun 2023

  • Cloud to Cloud: Water, Green Hydrogen and the Future of Ceramics

    9th May 2023

  • What’s on this Clerkenwell Design Week 2023

    24th Apr 2023

  • How do materials shape positive experiences?

    6th Oct 2022

  • London Design Festival: How materials shape positive experiences

    24th Aug 2022

  • How can the design industry lead with purpose?

    13th Jul 2022

  • Bringing to life the story of Ketley Quarry at Clerkenwell Design Week 2022

    1st Jun 2022

  • This Clerkenwell Design Week, visit our showroom to hear, touch, see and smell an immersive story about clay, canals, quarries, conflict and creativity

    5th Apr 2022

  • Artisanal ceramics take centre stage for CDW Unlocked

    22nd Jun 2021

  • ALEKSA studio creates colourful tile magic during Clerkenwell Design Week 2019

    26th May 2019