THE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Heralded by Sir Terence Conran, who knows a thing or two about design, as the ‘Leonardo da Vinci of our times’, Thomas Heatherwick is one of the world’s most innovative designers. Coinciding with a major show at the V&A museum, the first comprehensive monograph on this influential designer has also been published by Thames & Hudson entitled Thomas Heatherwick: Making. Still just two decades into his career, the hot-Brit property has produced everything from sculptural chairs forged from the world’s largest aluminium extruder, to a bridge that rolls open and closed, and an exuberant seed bank ‘hairy’ with fibre-optic lights which was the award-winning UK Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo. Closer to home, Heatherwick has just redesigned London’s much-loved Routemaster bus, and has been commissioned to design the Cauldron to hold the Olympic Flame - to be revealed in July 2012. The book presents an exhaustive overview covering the studio’s entire history – over 140 projects, each fully illustrated. Thomas Heatherwick: Making £38 published by Thames and Hudson www.thamesandhudson.com. Heatherwick Studio: Designing the Extraordinary (31^st May-30^th September 2012) at the V&A museum, tickets: £6 (concessions available), V&A Members go free. For advance bookings visit www.vam.ac.uk (booking fee applies). Credits: Middle left: Bleigiessen, Wellcome Trust, London, UK 2005 © Steve Speller, Middle right: New Bus For London, UK 2011 © Heatherwick Studio; Bottom: Rolling Bridge, Paddington Basin, London, UK 2004 © Steve Speller