IT’S ALMOST TIME FOR 14TH ANNUAL INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW (IDS) VANCOUVER, HELD SEPTEMBER 20-23 AT THE VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTER WEST. And just like years’ past, the 2018 event promises design talks aplenty, inspiring exhibits, rousing parties, and tours that will spark creative dialogue each day.
We’ve handpicked the highlights, and as always, come see us at the GRAY Stage. And for a little pre-show insider peek into the savvy design mind behind it all, read our Q&A with IDS Director Jody Phillips.
St. George House Tour
On Wednesday, September 19, from 2-4pm, tour Vancouver’s most highly anticipated modern house and experience the work of an award-winning design and build dream team: architecture by Randy Bens, exquisite craftsmanship by boutique builder Moosehead Contracting, and signature interior detailing by Falken Reynolds. Features include Corian-walled showers, Delta architectural lighting, 11 skylights, Bensen furniture in Raf Simons fabrics, and so much more.
The Party On Opening Night
This party on Thursday, September 20, from 7-11pm, kicks off IDS Vancouver at the convention center in grand style, hosted by Inform Interiors. Explore exhibits and features, and don’t miss the Central Bar, designed and built by Leckie Studio and Origins CNC, presented by LaSalle College Vancouver. The winners of GRAY’s exhibit design awards will be revealed, and hang out by the GRAY stage to hear our live band made up of local architects and designers, plus a DJ!
The Field Guide
Your guide to all things IDS printed in full-color glory, featuring esteemed guest cover designers, Alberto Minotti of Minotticucine, Jing Liu of SO-IL, and Glasfurd & Walker. See and collect all three this weekend!
Canadian by Nature
With visual direction by Glasfurd & Walker, the entrance feature showcases the best in Canadian architecture and design from emerging and established designers and studios, whether practicing in Canada or abroad. Some commonalities define what Canadian design is, including a sensibility favouring restraint over excess, a minimalist approach, and a respect for function, materials, and craftsmanship.
The GRAY Stage
It’s all about cutting-edge design at the GRAY Stage. Sporting an all-gray motif and featuring furniture from BoConcept, come to visit us to meet members of the GRAY team, pick up our Futurecast issue, and view programming throughout the show. Thursday night’s opening party features the GRAY band of architects and designers (one night only!), plus a DJ taking us late-night. Trade day, come here from editors from Monocle, Azure, Design Milk, and GRAY divulge all you need to know about getting editorial love in media. Then, an exclusive chat with Alberto Minotti of Italy’s Minotticucine, presented by Habitat by Aeon, all about the company’s unique take on kitchen design that they name “visual silence.” During the weekend see the final round of our Hot New Next design competition, where the finalists vie for the grand prize of cash and design mentorship to propel their product to big success. We’ll also tackle modern prefab and innovations in wood construction from the region’s leading architects, and uncover the trends that are moving design forward with an expert panel of interior designers and architects. See the full rundown, HERE!
ADDRESS
ADDRESS and IDS Vancouver are celebrating this week-long, high-design vibe. The historic Settlement Building in Railtown is the setting for this year’s ADDRESS featuring Vancouver’s thriving community of designers and makers, and it’s where the party’s at Saturday night! GRAY is once again a proud media sponsor.
The Caesarstone Stage
Always a big presence on the show floor, the Caesarstone Stage brings the heavy-hitters. Kicking off trade day Friday morning, the keynote breakfast features architects Jing Liu, Johanna Hume, Susan Scott, in an honest conversation about what it means to be a woman leading an architecture firm in 2018. Throughout the weekend expect to see Michael Ford, hip-hop architect, sought-after product designer Sebastian Herkner, architect Alex Mustonen of Snarkitecture (see their show installation, Altered States), Helsinki-based trend analyst and journalist Susanna Bjorklund, a panel on redefining luxury, design personalities Brian Gluckstein and Aly Verlji, and last but certainly not least, global design superstar, Karim Rashid.
GRAY Magazine After Party
Party with GRAY Magazine at the loft-like Montauk Sofa in Gastown, now featuring Valcucine. Mingle with the design-minded! Friday, September 21, from 8 pm to late, with beverages from Mission Hill Family Estate and Strathcona Beer Company. RSVP required.
Central Bar
An impressive feat of architecture, the Untitled (360 Sheets of Plywood) Central Bar installation is the next instance of material exploration by Leckie Studio, a Vancouver-based studio known for creating material-driven and innovative architectural environments. The design balances opposing forces of solid/void, open/closed, and vertical/horizontal, loosely enclosed by 360 sheets of pine plywood, assembled without adhesives.
What the HEL
This trend installation showcases Finnish design that mixes visual and societal trends in a surprising, ambient, and multidisciplinary way. Curated by trend analyst Susanna Björklund, the feature explores how boundaries between trends are blurring.
New products and emerging designers
The IDS show features Prototype and Studio North present cutting-edge work from design’s up-and-coming stars. Whether it’s custom or one-off collections, or designs that are on the precipice of going into production, you’re guaranteed to see something new and inspiring.