Met Works helps launch ‘Pennyfields’ chair at The Dock, London 22 September

• Date:Wednesday 8th September, 2010 12:00am

Alex Whitney’s ‘Pennyfields’ chair is to launch at The Dock, Ladbroke Grove, hosted by Tom Dixon during the London Design Festival from the 20th-26th September 2010.
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Alex, Design Manager at Pli Design Ltd, was on eof the eight designers that received a Metamorphisis award for his innovative chair design from Metropolitan Works, the Creative Industries Centre at London Metropolitan University. The judging panel, led by Metropolitan Works’ Head of Enterprise Projects, Matthew Lewis, said the design was chosen because of its thoughtful combination of fast growing bamboo and refurbishable steel.
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“ I am really ecstatic that my chair was chosen for the ‘Metamorphosis’ award because it has allowed me to uncover the true potential of the design. It only started as a side project to explore the possibilities of using bamboo and steel, and to make a low-volume production chair which compliments Pli’s current range of bamboo and steel tables. Now, with the extra funding and support, doors are opened up for us and the development process has been put into overdrive.”
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The Pennyfields chair will embody the sustainable nature of bamboo. The first 10 chairs are currently being pressed, formed, welded, sanded and finished by skilled hands across the UK. The raw bamboo is produced in China to the highest international quality standards by Pli’s long-standing supply partner. Once it reaches UK docks all the production is carried out by British manufacturers based around the South of England. This combination of cultures is also reflected in the name ‘Pennyfields’; a street in Limehouse which was the first ‘China-town’ in London, after Chinese sailors settled in the area in the the 19th century.
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Matthew Lewis said: “Alex Whitney’s chair design was chosen for Metropolitan Works’ Metamorphosis New Product Development project as it was already at advanced concept stage, and offered significant business potential for Pli Design Ltd. Developing a chair design is a major undertaking, but we had confidence in Alex and Pli who have experience developing and manufacturing furniture products. As part of London Metropolitan University, Metropolitan Works are very pleased to be able to offer Alex this opportunity to develop, prototype and showcase his design at the UK’s most prestigious design event.”

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