When it comes to design, inspiration is all around us. Built expressions of creativity make up our cities, holding and guiding the rhythms of daily life. At Tom Faulkner, we feel privileged to be based in a city as creatively vibrant as London. However, there’s a whole world of distinctive forms to explore. Tom often looks to travel as a means of collecting new perspectives and ideas. In that same spirit of exploration, we’ve pulled together our top ten cities of design to set you off on the right foot…

 

Milan

 

Milan is a must-see city for design-lovers. It’s brimming with captivating vignettes and magnificent monuments spanning a vast range of historical periods. There is, of course, the famous Duomo. However, we’d recommend exploring some lesser-known gems which were designed in more recent years, too. Villa Necchi Campiglio is an excellent place to start. It was designed by Piero Portaluppi, who beautifully expresses the Milanese Rationalist style. For those with a taste for contemporary art, we’d recommend visiting the Fondazione Prada. The grounds of this former distillery converted by Rem Koolhaas are well worth a wander, and the exhibitions are guaranteed to make you think.

 

 

London

 

Placing our bias aside, London is undoubtedly a top-tier city of design. With a cavalcade of creative festivals on the calendar, there’s no shortage of new ideas to explore every year. The fabric of the city itself is also brimming with diverse expressions of design. A stroll through Westminster is enough to grasp the grandeur of London’s architectural offering. Those with a more modern leaning will appreciate the British Library and Brutalist Barbican Estate. Coal Drops Yard is also an intriguing spot, thanks to its sweeping contemporary forms dreamed up by Thomas Heatherwick. While you’re up that way, it’s worth a peek at the Modernist houses of North London which start to crop up as you near Hampstead. We’d suggest a look at 2 Willow Road to get you started.

 

 

Los Angeles

 

Los Angeles is a veritable cornucopia of design delights. The diversity of architectural styles which coalesce here creates quite a tapestry while speaking to the city’s pioneering creative spirit. The famous Case Study Houses are a key part of the story, embodying a collaborative effort to dream up new modes of urban living. Work by Richard Neutra, John Lautner, as well as Charles and Ray Eames are excellent examples of California-style architecture. Many of these places are immortalised on film, contributing to their iconic status. Frank Lloyd Wright’s work offers a different flavour of design, drawing upon Mayan influences, for example, and feeding into the certain mythos of self-determination which pervades in the ‘city of dreams’.

 

 

Seoul

 

Seoul brings old and new together to reflect a rich contemporary culture informed by history. Modern skyscrapers sit comfortably alongside traditional temples, blending to bring vibrance to this capital. Reflections of pop culture punctuate the city, speaking to a common, and ever-changing, creative vernacular. A visit to Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park is more than enough to spark inspiration. Before even entering, you’re sure to be struck by the ingenuity of the site’s architecture designed by Zaha Hadid alongside Samoo. For a deeper sense of the city’s contemporary offerings, be sure to check out Seoul Design Festival, which takes place every November.

 

 

Chandigarh

 

Chandigarh represents a newly independent India’s “faith in the future”, as then president, Jawaharlal Nehru put it. He called up the legendary Le Corbusier to lead the charge on design. The architect’s cousin, Pierre Jeanneret was brought aboard and the pair worked alongside urban planners to chart a course for modern Indian living. They collaborated with no shortage of local talent, key among them being a young woman named Eulie Chowdhury. She, in fact, is often credited with the ’Chandigarh chair’ for which Jeanneret has become quite famous. Together the group created a refreshed design vernacular which spoke to a city with a deeply rooted sense of its own identity and hands outstretched to the modern world.

 

 

Copenhagen

 

Scandinavian design will be no mystery to the aesthetically attuned, and the city of Copenhagen plays a major part in that. It’s an architecturally gorgeous place; however, many of its most impactful contributions come in the form of furniture and product designs. For example, Hans Wegner is known the world over for his chair designs, cast in rich wood and tactile cord. His style beautifully embodies the enduring legacy of mid-century Scandinavian design, with a functionalist, yet organic quality. Verner Panton will also ring a bell for lovers of vintage modern design, illustrating a more abstract, colourful take. Architecturally speaking, Arne Jacobsen is a Danish name to know, who left his mark on the city with original forms cast in crisp materials and clean colour palettes. Together, these icons of Modern design bring an added spark to a city with a deep-seated aesthetic tradition.

 

 

Brasília

 

Brasília is a reflection of the functional role of design in creating a scaffolding for urban life. It’s a truly unique city, given it was all designed in a cohesive manner with urban planning at the centre of the operation. Architect, Oscar Niemeyer and urban planner Lúcio Costa started with a blank slate, working in tandem to conjure a purpose-built city with a functionalist yet beautiful bent. It was inaugurated as the nation’s new capital in 1960, complete with a streamlined offering of architectural gems which come together to support a future-facing way of life. From public transit, to governmental operations, to religious monuments, Brasília is a collection of carefully attuned elements which combined to present the fresh face of Brazil.

 

 

Mexico City

 

Mexico City has truly got it all. It’s bustling with creativity and ingenuity, with young designers, captivating artists, and legendary architects forming a rich cultural mosaic. The Museo Nacional de Antropología offers a look at the past, with invaluable artifacts from Mexico’s pre-Columbian history. The place itself is beautifully designed and offers an indispensable understanding of the country’s native roots. For a foray into Mexico’s more modern artistic side, we’d suggest exploring the murals of Diego Rivera which crop up across the city. The architectural creations of Luis Barragán are also a key part of the CDMX design story – and thankfully, multiple houses of his are open to the public. Once you’ve got a sense of the city’s creative past, it’s well worth engaging with some contemporary talent. Start with Design Week Mexico and Zsonamaco for a curated offering, or simply stroll through neighbourhoods like Roma where you’ll inevitably discover some gems for yourself.

 

 

Marseille

 

Despite its many modern gems, Marseille is, in fact, the oldest city in France. It was founded in 600 BC and still carries a deep sense of history. Its rocky, coastal character is enriched by traditional landmarks like the famous Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, alongside modern additions. Best-known among them is Le Corbusier’s Cité Radieuse, a housing complex which boasts the UNESCO World Heritage stamp for its contribution to Modernist architecture. In more recent years, contemporary architects have made their marks as well, with Norman Foster’s addition to the city’s Vieux Port being a prime example. For an immersive trip through Marseille’s Mediterranean heritage, pop into the architecturally brilliant Mucem museum.

 

 

Antwerp

 

Antwerp is an undeniably cool city. It’s small but mighty, boxing well above its weight when it comes to design. Internationally acclaimed talents like Axel Vervoordt have taken the city as their creative base. Vervoordt’s Kanaal headquarters is a converted industrial distillery which now plays host not only to a residential complex, but also a design studio, antiques offering, and art gallery featuring a permanent installation by James Turrell. The Belgian architect, Vincent Van Duysen’s presence is felt here as well. We’d suggest immersing yourself by staying at August hotel, which he designed in his characteristically restrained yet evocative style. You can also catch contributions by out-of-town talent like Zaha Hadid, who designed the captivating Havenshuis just by the city’s port.

 

 

 

 

Text by Annabel Colterjohn