Bicycles are brilliant, but best left outside. Until now. New designs from Quarterre mean the hallway now makes a better bikeshed than ever

We are always drawn to new and innovative storage solutions that address the living and breathing piles of just-had-to-haves that grow in our homes, and this is by far one of the most zen we have seen: London design studio, Quarterre, made up of four designers, Clive, Daniele, Jason and Nick, hailing from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, have come up with sleek and sculptural bike stands that will keep your bike (and you) neat and safe in your urban home environment.

During the London Design Festival in September, three of their new designs entitled, Branchline, Shadow and Hood, will be unveiled as part of their Furniture for Bikes range, designed to seamlessly unite cycling and interior design. Made exclusively in the UK with craftsmanship and detailing at the heart of the operation, the pieces are made from steel, leather and bamboo with the utmost attention to aesthetics, functionality and materials. So pop down to the cult East London cyclists' hub, look mum no hands!, and  join us in celebrating the end of tripping over your bike on your way to your morning coffee fix.



Look mum no hands! 49 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HX
18-25 September 2011
7.30am-10.00 pm Monday -Friday,
9.00am-10.00pm Saturday,
9.30am - 10.00pm Sunday

Text by Jacki Lang
Images courtesy of Quarterre

There's something about unfinished drawings, designer's models, and creative doodles and musings that is utterly compelling, which is why we're always first in line at the Prototypes and Experiments exhibitions that have been taking place over the last couple of years at the Aram Gallery in Covent Garden. And happily Casts and Moulds, the latest and sixth installment of the series, is perhaps the best yet.

Opening last week, Casts and Moulds focuses on casting and moulding as a means of manufacture, 14 designers - among them BarberOsgerby, Michelle Oh, and Max Lamb - share the trials, tests and experiments that go into the creation of their work. Product, furniture, jewellery and architecture are all represented with an array of prototypes that represent the different stages of their development.

The models on show expose the attention that goes into even the tiniest design details as well as demonstrating whole cast projects, but it's the shoes, noone will be too surprised to learn, that we homed in on fastest. Both Tracey Neuls and Marloes ten Bhomer's clever leatherwork and free-folded cardboard models give an entirely new insight into what goes on behind the scenes, a new appreciation of their fancy footwork to boot... All in all a show worth stepping out for.


www.aram.co.uk
www.barberosgerby.com
www.michelle-oh.com
www.maxlamb.org
www.tn29.com
http://marloestenbhomer.squarespace.com/


Text: Henrietta Thompson
Images courtesy of Aram Gallery

We've always been inspired by meticulous Japanese craftsmanship and design, and would encourage anyone who might feel the same way to hop on their bike while the sun is (hopefully) still shining and head down to Tokyo Bike's super cool pop-up shop in London's Rivington Street. An expert bike mechanic on loan from Tokyo for the past few weeks has set up camp in the shop to run a series of bike maintenance workshop sessions on Tues-Thurs from 6.30-7.30pm, advising urban cyclists how best to look after and repair their treasured bikes. The Tokyo Bike temporary space, designed by London's Emulsion Architecture, echoes the brand's understated, utilitarian ethos and will be open until 31 July. The perfect way to wheel away an hour or two this week.

http://www.tokyobike.co.uk/

Watch this space: Tokyo Bike is planning to build a permanent home in our city next year, but until then it's a very good idea to join one of their designer-led cycle tours during the London Design Festival in September, which will start and finish at Designjunction in Holborn.

http://www.thedesignjunction.co.uk/
The pop-up is located at 54 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3QN.
Opening hours are:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Saturday: 11.30 - 19.30
Sunday: 13.00- 18.00
Closing Date: 31st July 2011

Text: Jacki Lang - 

Images courtesy of Tokyo Bike