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Furniture Works, a manufacturing "incubator" centre, recently opened in East End London. It represents the type of resource centre for emerging furniture designer/makers long advocated by VCR for BC and Canada (proposal).
Operated by London Metropolitan University, the centre provides professional facilities, services and courses. All London's designers and manufacturers can access the centre's 250-square-metre showroom, reference library, seminar rooms and the Frederick Parker Collection of more than 150 chairs, dating from the 17th century.
Offered services include workshops for design development, prototyping and the following component manufacturing processes:
- CNC routing and CAD/CAM workshops
- Laminating multi-ply shapes and panels
- Pattern, mould and jig making
- Acid catalyst spray finishing
- Epoxy and polyester powder coating
- Plastics vacuum forming
- Metal tube manipulation and fabrication
- Weaving, stitching and printing textiles
- Soft furnishing and upholstery
- Materials analysis and testing
Furniture Works' inaugural event featured a public exhibition of designs by Metropolitan University graduates (page three).
The centre works closely with the Geffrye Museum Design Centre and Hidden Art, institutions featured in VCR issue 15/16. Contact Furniture Works at furnitureworks@londonmet.ac.uk or stop by on your next London visit; the nearest tube station is Aldgate East.
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