New home for London's Design Museum

After a dry press-release on the Jan 24th (2012), finally some juicy details about the Design Museum's planned relocation, via Creative Review.

Despite a grade 2 listing and amazing structural design, we're weren't optimistic about the future the dilapidated former Commonwealth Institute (Kensington, West London), which has been sitting unoccupied and seemingly unloved for decades.

I'm very happy to learn that it'll be getting some appreciative new occupiers.  Not entirely appreciative - the interior will be redesigned by architect John Pawson, to give it some sort of modern gloss.  From the pictures on Creative Review, it's hard to say whether his ideas appear any more futuristic than the original building designed by Sir Robert Matthew in 1962 (see photos above and below).  I hope the public might get a last chance to see the interior before work starts on renovation.

Vintage Berghaus Body warmer

My House mate, 'Harrison' in vintage Berghaus Body Warmer

Twill binding on the pockets

History of Backpacking Gear

I've just read a good article on the history of backpacking gear, on Backpacking Light dot com.  Brief, but far more readable than Invisible on Everest.



From the writers of IoE comes this short piece on the history of Blacks, the British outdoor retailer that recently went into receivership.

Humble beginnings

Would you have spotted this as a winning design?