Urbanism 2 April, 2009
Editor’s Blog
The last faint smudge of eyeliner wasn’t budging this morning as I raced out of the house and into work so I’m probably looking a bit weary today. However, despite appearances, I’m feeling rather bright after last night’s Urbis Designday after-party.
And I have good reason to feel bright. The 2009 Urbis Designday was a huge success. We had record numbers of attendees and some of the most high profile fashion designer – showroom pairings we’ve ever had. The mini-vans were running every few minutes taking punters from one stop to the next. The transformed showrooms were filled with happy guests lounging with a cocktail or helping themselves to another nibble, and everywhere groups of yellow Designday tote bags were seen bouncing along Auckland’s streets.
The party last night was to congratulate everyone involved with putting the day together. It is a huge task to create these installations and without that dedication we wouldn’t have Urbis Designday. All of those who spent days painting wooden spoons (Matisse and Karen Walker), or covering chairs with foil (Cite and World) or shovelling sand to make a beach in the city (Coast and Emma Kate Bamford), all deserve to be congratulated for their hard work as everything came together on the day.
The purpose of Designday is to pull design out from the pages of Urbis and get it out into the real world. It was so gratifying to see people getting comfortable on an Apartmento sofa or to see the exquisite fabrics and stitching of garments in Jaeha’s installation at Inovo. Every stop held something entirely different and surprising. Huffer’s quirky and playful touch was evident in their Free the Fish installation at Poggenpohl while Design Denmark was overrun with Lonely Hearts’ motocross racers.
If you missed anything, we will have full coverage of all the Designday installations in the next issue of Urbis so make sure you check it out.
Now last night we didn’t just drink Daniel le Brun and enjoy The Westin’s stunning nibbles, we did get down to some serious business as well. Two awards were given on the night, the first for Best Installation by a Fashion Designer and the second for Best Ambience, awarded to the venue.
And the winners are…. (on the night, instead of a drum roll, at this exact moment, the huge Designday sign at the back of the stage fell, threatening to squash myself and Sarah Hutchings from Orsini jewellery who was preparing to give the winner their prize.) Such dramatics are thankfully avoided in cyberspace.
So again. And the winners are: For Best Installation… Lucie Boshier for her prohibition-themed speakeasy at Natuzzi. And for Best Ambience… The Westin for the serene and elegant atmosphere captured with Zambesi’s beautiful installation.
Congratulation to all the winners. And congratulations to all the other pairings involved. This year was truly spectacular. I’m already thinking about next year. Nicole Stock
The winning installations, Lucie Boshier’s prohibition-themed installation at Natuzzi (left) and Zambesi’s installation at The Westin
Shots from the day
Orsini Jewellery
Orsini generously provided the prize for the Best Installation by a Fashion Designer for Urbis Designday 2009.
This Pianegonda bracelet is from the Italian ‘Twisty’ collection. The inspiration comes from the 60’s, with that particular design of soft shapes, with that peculiar glance of those years with miniskirts. It’s a part of the historical lines of Pianegonda. Peculiar marks of these pieces are the sinuous movements of the silver spiral; polished surfaces alternated with the diamond cut laser etching. Pieces made for an independent woman, who wants to be dared with a unique style but rich in suggestions and personality.Available at Orsini Fine Jewellery, 243 Parnell Rd, Parnell.
>>Visit www.orsini.co.nz
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