Flying Agate: Focus 15

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 Natalia Design Agate

We’ve all heard of the term flying saucers but what’s even more unusual than a UFO sighting; gigantic slices of flying agate.

I haven’t turned delirious from all the LDF parties I promise, the facts are true Focus 15 began with a bang and a dramatic installation.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 Natalia Design Agate

Photo credit: Natalia.

Focus is an event run once a year at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, it is an opportunity for brands to launch new collections, alongside workshops, design discussions with top designers and ultimately a chance to join in the fun festivities. The exhibition had some really unique installations and pop ups this year that you’ll get to see if you never managed to pop by.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 Natalia Design Agate

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 Natalia Design Agate

The key installation this year was by Natalia Design, an utterly unique display of suspended agate slices. The turquoise pieces weighed 32kg and were suspended from subtle wires over the central dome in the Design Centre.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 Natalia Design Agate

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 Natalia Design Agate

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 Natalia Design Agate

The concept was to create a fusion between nature and technology. The designer produced the agate slices using a specialist-printing method on acrylics that were then finished with gold edging that was hand painted.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015

I headed to the Focus party but made sure I had a brief browse of new fabrics, wallpapers and furniture beforehand of course.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015

A few pieces caught my eye starting with this awesome display of multi-coloured pencils by Zimmer and Rohde.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 zimmer & rohde

The next blinding beauty was this geometric colour explosion wallpaper from Cole and Son, that had a three dimensional quality and reminded me of looking through a kaleidoscope.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 cole and son

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015

Followed by this rather dreamy sofa spotted in GP & J Baker’s showroom. The vibrant weaved fabric that wrapped the back of the sofa looked amazing against the plush deep navy velvet and was rather comfy – it had to be tested.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015

This chair was a statement piece mixing turquoise and orange with this animated print.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015

Having caught my fix from the new launches it was time to enjoy the party.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015

The bar sparkled against the atmospheric lighting, and was presented in a subtle yet stunning print.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015

We were spoilt with delicious cocktails and non-stop nibbles to indulge in.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015

One of the best things about these types of events is you bump into so many familiar faces you can’t walk one metre without stopping for a good old chin wag. At events like Focus you realise how close knit the industry is and it’s always a great chance to meet new influential suppliers/designers, but more importantly a chance to put the fabric boards down and let loose.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate

Natalia’s floating agate really caused some excitement as guests spent half the evening staring at the mesmerising fluid blue tones.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate

The cluster of 20 pieces all had different forms and shades, which created an added depth to the space and the perfect sky setting to party underneath.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate

I spent much of the evening admiring the sky above with the agates looking like planets like a view into the galaxy as the dome turned darker throughout the night.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate

As we headed into the south dome we were treated to a surprise display, the unveiling of Banksy’s iconic ‘Donkey Documents’.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 banksy donkey documents

The Design Centre was fortunate enough to be given the incredible works of art to be presented to the public before being shipped to Los Angeles to be auctioned.

The ‘Donkey Documents’ was created in 2007 as part of a collection of art on a concrete barrier separating Palestinian West Bank and Israel.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 banksy donkey documents

Alongside this piece was the small humorous ‘Sperm Alarm’ that was originally was sprayed onto the Hesperia Hotel in London.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 banksy sperm alarm

People soaked in the rarity of seeing such iconic works of art, with conversations drifting to guessing the price the items will sell for. The rumour mill has expected the sale will be over half a million dollars.

Check out Artsy’s Banksy’s Page for exhibition listings, articles and over 150 of Banksy’s works.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate

The dome shone a vibrant blue and I managed to capture plenty more agate slices in case you hadn’t had your fix of flying saucers for one night.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate  Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate     Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate

The drinks flowed and we spent the rest of the evening behaving like groupies dancing away to the indie band.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate

When the party finally ended I drifted off into the night replacing the agate scene above with teeny twinkling stars.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Focus 2015 natalia design agate

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