Back from Germany

Former shop sign, Shadowstrasse

Just back from three excellent days in Germany, specifically the cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf.

I was primarily there for the huge Cologne photography trade fair Photokina, but also visited the Düsseldorf Quadriennale (yes, they do exist).

I'll post separately about Photokina and the Quadriennale, but thought that I'd briefly share my thoughts about Düsseldorf.


Vodafone Tower

Although I've been to Cologne on many occasions, I've never made it to nearby Düsseldorf. First impressions were that it's a bit underwhelming, but during the course of a few days the city really gets under your skin. The inner suburbs seem to consist largely of low-rise 1960s apartment blocks; if you are familiar with the city shots by photography Thomas Struth then you will know exactly what I mean.

It's a place of designer fashion - the Königsallee boulevard is lined with fashion boutiques that reminded me of Paris or Omotesando in Tokyo. In fact, the Japanese influence is everywhere, with a Japan quarter and lots of large department stores that are more downtown Ginza than western Germany. It's testament to the city's status as an international business hub.


Rhein promenade
Right at the heart of Düsseldorf is the cutesy old town, its streets lined with a multitude of bars and restaurants. The Aldstadt faces directly onto the Rhine, which is spanned by a series of cable-stayed bridges which seem to be the favourite type of crossing in this part of the country.


Refurbishment to Town Hall in the Aldstadt


You can never have too many cable-stayed bridges


Düsseldorf's Media Harbour is like a mini Docklands, but with far more interesting modern architecture, by the likes of Alsop & Störmer and David Chipperfield, not forgetting Frank Gehry's fantastical Rheinhafen arts and media complex. Nearby is the TV tower, an obligatory feature of most German cities.











But Düsseldorf's real jewels are its art galleries, and it's a real mecca for photography lovers thanks to its art school, which produced such luminaries as Andreas Gursky, Thomas Ruff, Candida Höfer and Thomas Struth, under the tutelage of the Bechers.

John Pawson portrait and profile in this week's BD Magazine

The latest issue of Building Design's monthly BD Magazine supplement is all about interiors. I was commissioned to interview John Pawson and take some portraits of him at his studio in Kings Cross.

The Design Museum is about to launch an exhibition about John's minimalist architecture and interiors, and there's a new monograph about the practice to boot.

You can read all about it here>

More images of luxury private house interior by Platform

As promised/threatened, here are some more images of the house in Berkshire which has a super-luxe interior designed by Platform.

There are more bedrooms and bathroom than you can shake a (Chanel lip)stick at. But the interior is very well ordered, with a sequence of reception spaces that open off each other and separate sleeping areas for the client's children (including a very funky lounge stuffed with pop design classics). The design is further spiced by antiques and art objects from Asia.

House interior by Platform makes cover of Designer magazine

A high-end domestic interior by Platform has been extensively featured in the latest (September) issue of Designer magazine. You read read the article in their on-line magazine here>

It's a very glamorous project (the guest bathroom's mirrored ceiling is something else). I'll post a selection of images in the near future so you can see for yourselves.

While it's always gratifying to see your images used in the press, making the cover always gives an extra buzz!

Veggie-tastic at the Museum of Garden History (interior by Dow Jones)

London is full of those moments when you think: "I can't believe that after all these years I have never been here before". And so it is with the Garden Museum, located in a wonderful 14th century former St Mary at Lambeth church adjoining Lambeth Palace, on the south bank of the Thames.

The building is a treat, and it's hard to think it was threatened with demolition back in the 1970s. The veggie café is excellent - I had a tasty Moroccan fruity vegetable tagine, which came with some fab salads. You can choose to sit inside, surrounded by tombs and monuments, or in the churchyard garden.

The museum's interior was revamped in 2008, designed by London-based Dow Jones architects. The building itself was left untouched, the museum housed in a free-standing timber structure constructed between the stone pillars and arches. It's well worth a visit even if, like us, it was just for food rather than to enjoy the exhibitions.