Matter Nightclub

Matter, opening this month at the 02 venue in London is a new nightclub that is specifically designed and operated by London’s Fabric nightclub and it promises to be the country’s best equipped live music venue. ‘i-am’ looks forward to checking out what looks set be one of the most captivating clubbing experiences in the capital. In terms of branding, Juan Cortés has evolved the original Fabric artwork to reflect the architectural features of the building interior to create a coherent brand experience. ‘i-am’ look forward to reporting more once Matter’s doors open later this month.

Douglas & Gordon

‘i-am’ have been designing striking modern environments and distinctly memorable customer experiences for well-respected estate agents Douglas & Gordon for several years, and across 14 London sites. This summer, ‘i-am’ are pleased to unveil the stunning new branch design at D&G’s Balham office. Situated on Nightingale Lane and boasting sleek blue-tinted glass detailing and a modern take on the traditional hanging sign, this branch offers a environment and brand experience to truly rival its competitors.

And there’s more eye-candy inside…
Originally a chemist, this unique building contains a number of listed features including original Victorian Apothecary shelves, which have been filled with carefully-sourced vintage medical vials and equipment. Retaining these original features and coupling them with modern materials ‘i-am’ have delivered an environment that is as inspiring and surprising as it is welcoming. A trip to the estate agents will never be the same again.

Visit: www.i-amonline.com/estateagents.html for more estate agency transformations from ‘i-am’

Serpentine Pavilion

After much anticipation, this summer’s new temporary pavilion by acclaimed architect Frank Gehry is now open at the Serpentine Gallery in London’s Kensington Gardens. The Serpentine’s Pavilion series has been running for 9 years, with a different architect rising to the challenge of designing an innovative temporary structure each summer. In recent years, we’ve seen pavilions from Olafur Eliasson and Oscar Niemeyer, and 2008 sees Los Angeles-based Gehry take the helm.

Gehry’s four huge wooden columns support a structure of glass, fir timber and steel. This acts as a framework for a promenade-like space which is set to house live talks, music and performance over the coming months. ‘i-am’ love the way the apparently haphazard network of glass appears to tilt and slide.

Gehry says, “The Pavilion is designed as a wooden timber structure that acts as an urban street running from the park to the existing Gallery. Inside the Pavilion, glass canopies are hung from the wooden structure to protect the interior from wind and rain and provide for shade during sunny days.”
The Serpentine Pavilion runs from 20th July – 19th October. Visit www.serpentinegallery.org for details on upcoming Park Nights.

Viktor & Rolf

With their surreal and hauntingly beautiful take on fashion design, Dutch duo Viktor & Rolf present this startling 15-year retrospective of their most innovative work. This theatre-like installation is the first time the designers have exhibited in the UK, so as lovers of innovative and surprising experiences, ‘i-am’ really recommend taking a peek into Viktor & Rolf’s darkly glamorous parallel world of couture. Central to the exhibition is a gigantic yet graceful dollshouse (‘The House of Viktor and Rolf’), featuring inhabitants dressed in exact replicas of the designers’ most innovative creations. This utterly compelling collision of high-fashion and Alice in Wonderland theatrics is exhibiting until 21st September, and you’d be as mad as a hatter to miss out. www.barbican.org.uk / www.viktor-rolf.com

Going Global

This summer we’re proud to announce the expansion of ‘i-am’ into not one, but three of Europe’s most buzzing and influential cities, Istanbul, Berlin and Barcelona. Click the buttons below to visit our newly launched Turkish site, our Brand Experience blogs from Berlin and Barcelona, and of course the London site..

Stay tuned for the imminent official launch of the ‘i-am’ Berlin and ‘i-am’ Barcelona websites! Subscribe HERE for automatic updates delivered straight to your inbox.

The Hoxton Pony

Within stumbling distance of the ‘i-am’ studio, new hotspot The Hoxton Pony has opened. Despite East London’s Hoxton needing another trendy hangout like a hole in the head, the points of difference here include a cocktail list using organic, seasonal British produce, and a bar menu featuring suitably east-end grub (pie ‘n’ mash and jellied eels). The ‘i-am’ team also applaud the owners’ commitment to protecting the environment; you’ll notice several innovations including waterless urinals and no bottled water, making this an innovative aswell as ethical bar experience. Design-wise, we’re talking smoked mirrors alongside stainless steel and high-gloss lacquer surfaces. Nice. Visit www.thehoxtonpony.com

Sake No Hana

From Alan Yau, the influential restaurateur behind Wagamama and Hakkasan, comes a new Japanese fine-dining experience Sake No Hana (’sake flower’). The interior of this Modernist building in St. James has been well and truly transformed with gloss black escalators, Shinto arches and bamboo forests by award-winning Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Alan Yau is said to be the man who ‘made dim-sum fashionable’ and his restaurant brands are responsible for setting a standard for Oriental restaurants, with each offering a consistent and high-quality brand experience. Reservations: 020 7925 8988