December 2009
Blacksheep part of Creative Island
John Sorrell’s great tome ‘Creative Island’, which profiles ‘a celebration of the inspired design’ and ‘the extraordinary creativity’ in the United Kingdom across many disciplines, from architecture and interiors to fashion, accessories and graphics, has been updated for 2009. The new volume of the book – Creative Island II – focuses on the last decade and includes Blacksheep and our Inamo interactive Soho diner project (where consumers select their own meals and drinks direct from their table tops). We are keeping the very best company on the pages of this splendid book, which also includes Richard Rogers, Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, Sir Paul Smith, Oswald Boateng, Stephen Jones, Giles Deacon, James Dyson, Hussein Chalayan and Rolls Royce!
November 2009
Global hospitality showpiece bar at Sleepotel
Blacksheep will be easy to find at this year's Sleeper magazine event, Sleepotel, which takes place at London’s Business Design Centre on November 3rd and 4th. We'll be at the bar! Not because of any over-developed Bacchanalian tendencies, of course, but because we designed this year's bar area, on invitation from the organisers of the event, which is billed as 'Europe's leading event for all those involved in the creation of new hotels'. Our bar concept is based on the idea of 'Global Hospitality' and is inspired by the easy, inclusive hospitality of traditional peoples and, in particular, those from Central Asian and Mongolian cultures. The 11m x 9m space will have two focal points: a continuous, freestanding bar, which runs the entire length of the bar area and an 'exploded' interpretation of a Mongolian yurt structure! Our thanks to Belfast-based MJM Group, our partners in this undertaking, who have responded very well to this ambitious and unusual concept design.
October 2009
Nomination for 'Interior Design Practice of the Year'
Not only has Blacksheep’s interactive restaurant design for Inamo in London’s Soho been shortlisted for an award for a third time this year (in the International FX Interior Design Awards 2009), but Blacksheep itself has been nominated as ‘Interior Design Practice of the Year’ at the same awards. The surprise nomination follows on from a very successful twelve months of high-profile London projects, including Inamo, Whisky Mist at Zeta at The Hilton Park Lane and the budget chic hit YHA hostel in Bolsover Street. The FX Awards will be held on Park Lane in November 2009.
September 2009
Blacksheep redesigns Novotel's Number One UK Outlet
Blacksheep have created a stylish and colourful redesign of the ground floor spaces of Novotel's leading UK outlet at London's Tower Bridge. Blacksheep were briefed to create a seamless integration of the brand's appeal to both its business- and leisure-user target markets, in order to achieve an upgrade of the hotel's star-rating from 3* to 4*. Blacksheep’s core concept for this unique location was called 'Liquid History', referring to the Thames, weaving by just 100m from the hotel, and its associations with journeys, destinations, views and iconic cultural and architectural landmarks. This translated into both an abstracted wave pattern unifying the newly re-drawn areas of the ground floor scheme (in the form of 'wave effect' timber wall panels at the side and forming the back wall of the reception area) and into the idea of views through from one area to another at all times. 'Snapshot London' is a second theme, with famous landmarks represented in specially-commissioned black and white photographs.
August 2009
Judge & Winner
In addition to all the recent awards scooped up by Blacksheep, co-founder and director Tim Mutton is also to feature this year on the jury of Sleeper Magazine's 2009 European Hotel Design Awards. The invitation to contribute to the judging of the awards continues the relationship between the magazine and the agency, who last year were invited to design a series of stage sets for the key areas of the Sleep Event, billed as 'Europe's leading event for all those involved in the creation of new hotels' and incorporating an exhibition and conference at the Business Design Centre, as well the actual ceremony for the European Hotel Design Awards.
July 2009
Seven time winner at London's Club & Bar Awards
Bars and clubs designed by Blacksheep have scooped an amazing four awards at this year's London Club and Bar Awards, held at the Riverbank Plaza Hotel on May 26th. The new wins bring the design agency's total tally to seven London Club & Bar project wins over a four-year period. 'This achievement proves that our designs continue to hit the mark aesthetically, operationally and commercially', commented Blacksheep director Tim Mutton. 'We are delighted that so many of our projects continue to be favourites with London’s club-goers.' Award-winning schemes at this year's event included the super-glamorous Whisky Mist at Zeta bar and club in London's Hilton Park Lane, named as both Best New Bar and Best Night (Tuesdays!); the Cuckoo Club, an enduring favourite with club-goers and critics alike and winner of the award for Best Boutique Club and, finally, recent opening Molton House, the new venture from former Cuckoo Club co-owner Nick Valentine, which was named Best Member's Club. Blacksheep projects were also winners at the 2008, 2007 and 2006 Awards.
June 2009
Tim Mutton named in Theme's Top Ten
Blacksheep director and co-founder Tim Mutton has made the top ten of Theme magazine's Top 100 Industry Figures 2009 (representing the most influential figures in the UK's bar and leisure industry). Tim was voted - by readers of the magazine and by industry peers - into 9th place in the annual list, announced at a special gala evening at London's Bloomsbury Ballroom on April 28th. Theme magazine, which runs the highly-regarded annual event (sponsored by Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands), initially selected a longlist of 150 names and then left the public to decide on final inclusion in and ordering of the Top 100 names.
May 2009
Second shortlist for Inamo
Origami-inspired wall panels, overhead 'cocoon' projectors and an interactive ordering system that puts the consumer firmly in charge - all these innovations and more have ensured that Inamo - the pan-Asian Soho hotspot created for client Compurants Ltd - has now received its second award shortlisting. The restaurant is a finalist in the 'Most Innovative Retail or Leisure Project' at 2009's Retail & Leisure International Awards, to be held in June 2009.
April 2009
Conde Nast sites Inamo for innovation
Leading luxury magazine Condé Nast Traveller has listed ingenious pan-Asian eaterie Inamo, designed by Blacksheep, as one its finalists in the forthcoming Condé Nast Traveller Innovation and Design Awards 2009. The project is in the Gourmet category of the awards, now in their third year, and will also be featured in the May 2009 issue of the magazine. Condé Nast Traveller's readers are also being invited to vote online for their favourite from the list of nominations throughout April at www.cntraveller.com.
March 2009
Shortlisted at Restaurant & Bar Awards
The design of Whisky Mist at Zeta, the glittering and sophisticated west end destination venue created by Blacksheep for The Hilton Hotel in Park Lane and London nightclub pioneers Nick House and Piers Adam, has been shortlisted in the Best Bar Interior category of the inaugural Restaurant and Bar Design Awards, to be held in London at the end of April 2009. Billed as 'The UK's first and only restaurant and bar awards dedicated exclusively to project and product design', the shortlist was the result of judging by a panel of sixteen leading industry figures and journalists (including Tony Chambers from Wallpaper magazine). This recognition follows on from media plaudits including GQ magazine, who called the space 'sexy and chi-chi', London newspaper London Lite, who said the venue was 'old and spicy...a forbidden treat', whilst hotels magazine X2 Global really caught the flavour, when it said 'Whisky Mist oozes exclusivity with its opportunities for private membership and divine, Scottish-influenced menu. It's a sophisticated design with a traditional twist that makes for a sumptuous and seductive venue.'
February 2009
Inamo used as location for fashion shoot
Blacksheep's designs for futuristic hit restaurant Inamo, in the heart of London's Soho (where diners can order from interactive tabletops), have served as the backdrop for a fashion feature! After appearing in endless newspapers, restaurant and lifestyle magazines (and the odd TV show) since its launch last Autumn, Inamo's fame went a stage further this month when YOU Magazine (the Mail on Sunday's colour supplement) chose Inamo as the background a four-page fashion feature called 'The Future is Now'. The kaleidoscope table tops and graphic wall coverings were a perfect match for the futuristic feel of the shoot, with the strapline 'Cyber cool rules for the new season'.
January 2009
Design Week applauds YHA concept
Design Week, Britain's leading design business weekly publication, has shortlisted Blacksheep's 'budget chic' concept for YHA London Central for its 2009 award for Best Hospitality Environment, having faced stiff competition from any number of luxurious and high-spend project submissions from around the world. The finalist placing is the latest plaudit for a project which has already been a great success with media and punters alike. The London Evening Standard said the project had 'set a new benchmark for budget accommodation', whilst The Observer featured the project twice, calling it 'bright, contemporary and colourful' and 'a world away from the traditional dingy image'.
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