The installation, located in the heart of London’s Design District, is a playful and immersive experience that invites visitors to interact with the furniture. A Squashed Space is a multi-sensory experience that combines the tactile sensations of soft materials with the visual appeal of playful shapes and colors. The installation features a variety of furniture pieces, including sofas, armchairs, and tables, all designed to be soft and squishy.
Central to the collection is the colourful Squash armchair, complete with a soft bloated seat set within a curvy birch plywood base. Toogood described the chair as an homage to a traditional club chair, which references the early research of brand founder Renzo Frau. “When Poltrona Frau started, Renzo came to the UK and was looking at traditional English upholstery – old chesterfields and club chairs – and these were the starting points that he wanted to give an Italian leather twist,” she said. “So it kind of made sense, being the English girl exploring their factory and archive in southern Italy, doing it the other way round and bringing the English into an Italian company.”
The room was designed to evoke a sense of playful nostalgia, a feeling of being transported back to a childhood memory. This was achieved through the use of vibrant colors, playful patterns, and whimsical details. The room was designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with a focus on creating a space that was comfortable and inviting.
“I really want to bring a more human element to furniture,” she considered. “Because I know that AI can do a better job of it than me – you know, in terms of inputting ‘Faye Toogood and Poltrona Frau’ and I’m sure something interesting would come back. But it wouldn’t have the human touch.” Toogood reflected on the associations with “femininity” connected to her recent furniture designs, including other pieces that she presented in Milan. “I think what it means for me is that the work has me in it,” she explained. “Having spent 10 years designing clothes, I’m really fascinated by the body, and how the body interacts with textiles. How the body wants to feel. So now, I feel like I can bring that into the furniture. This link between body, furniture, human, textile and the way we live.”
“We’re starting to see more women taking roles in furniture design because I feel like we have a relevant contribution that is not exactly what has come before,” added the designer. “I feel that we do have a closer sense of emotion, humanity, tactility – these are the things that are potentially more important to women.” “Growing up as a furniture designer, there really weren’t very many furniture designers,” continued Toogood. “They were mostly architects doing furniture design.” “Patricia Urquiola, to name one of them, has banged down the door for women. I feel I’m closely behind her,” she added. “And then there’s a whole other generation of girls and women who won’t have to have that conversation – I feel like I’m having it for them.”
The London Design Festival is a celebration of design and creativity, attracting visitors from all over the world. It is a platform for designers, manufacturers, and businesses to showcase their work and connect with potential customers. The festival is a significant event in the London design calendar, attracting over 200,000 visitors annually. The festival’s focus on sustainability and innovation is evident in its diverse range of projects.
