MAY 2014
At a party held in the Vitra showroom in Clerkenwell last night, Arad said of the entries “It is clear the designers invested a great deal of thought into this project with clever interpretations of the original Tom Vac".
From these Arad picked his favourite - ‘Pamela’ by Hawkins Brown, which reimagined it as a life guard’s seat with steps and a lifebuoy "There was nothing unnecessary added to this design, it was very streamlined and witty.”
May 2014
This Clerkenwell Design Week at the Vitra showroom they will be celebrating 15 years of Ron Arads Tom Vac chair by displaying over 20 re-interpretations of the iconic design from over twenty architects and design studios. Get down there and check out MCM’s proposal which we helped to materialize! Ron himself will be there tonight to pick the winner!
MAY 2014
Join us for drinks at Clerkenwell Design Week on Wednesday 21st May! We are delighted to be joined by Four-O-Nine’s creative directors, here all the way from Shanghai to introduce their designs at our CDW opening party. We will be here all week at the Brands Clerkenwell showroom and launching new products from:
To rsvp CLICK HERE
APRIL 2014
Recently we have been sorting through our extensive archive which includes some incredible unique projects we have worked on over the last 37 years. It is a great and extensive collection that we are working towards sharing on here!
FEBRUARY 2014
This cabinet was an edition of thirteen we built for Damien Hirst’s 'New Religion' exhibition. Like a cabinet of curiosities they open out to display all the objects which embody Hirst’s idea of our new religion.
Here in our London workshop we finished them in leather, glass, silk and gold blocking. Each one comprised of a selection of unique pieces by the artist.
Image 4 shows the exhibit in All Hallows Church, London, 2007.
Image 5 shows one of the cabinets objects: The 'New Religion' crucifix adorned with pills.
They were sold for over a quarter of a million pounds each at the time. Would be interesting to see what they go for now...
Introducing one of our most recently completed projects; A collection of bespoke tables distinctively veneered in stained quarter cut American walnut, edged with an ebony inlay and fitted on mirror polished stainless steel bases.
We have designed and made these with the direction of interior designers Gensler for a leading law firm in London. The set includes two rectangular meeting tables, a plectrum shaped table and a console table shown below.
The rectangular meeting tables and console table have a ‘herring-bone’ veneer lay-up, quartered to each half of the top, which gives an interesting reflection from whichever angle it is viewed.
The plectrum table is veneered in a striking sunburst pattern. It’s central grommet provides 360° cable management for power, data and AV connectivity. All internal cables pass down the central column to connect to the floor box.
Collectively these pieces demonstrate the exceptional quality that we continue to achieve and the care and attention to detail that we apply to all of our work.
To view the full project, click here >
If you have any questions regarding this project or any current projects you are working on, please contact us at info@opmfurniture.co.uk
Aegistra are an online store that stock a great range of furniture including OPM products and their teams wonderful Lucy interviewd OPM director David Lyall on his role within the company:
L: Explain what you do at OPM?
DL: I am one of 3 directors and I look after the production and installation of bespoke pieces of furniture. This can range from a small reception desk to a suite of office tables and credenzas across 3 floors After drawings are signed off, manufacture is split between 2 factories: London takes large individual pieces such as board room tables and feature projects. Evesham takes smaller pieces and repeats, such as 20 no credenzas.
Coordination between the 2 factories and our various subcontractors who produce components in metals, glass, stone and many other materials takes up most of my time.
Quality control is an essential part of the process, as is making sure all the components that go to making a piece of bespoke furniture, do actually fit together.
Site installation these days also has to be planned as a military exercise, preventing damage and lost time due to coordination with other trades being the hardest areas to control.
Sites in the past 12 months have included London, Moscow, Paris, Geneva and Edinburgh, the logistics involved in shipping and managing labour are very complicated.
L: When did you join the company?
DL: I was one of the co founders of Osiris Furniture Makers in September 1985. The company was started as a cooperative of makers but soon developed into a more conventional business structure.
In 2004 Osiris and PMFM (Peter Milne Furniture Makers) merged to become OPM Furniture and we continue to thrive today.
L: What do you think makes OPM different?
DL: I do not think we are necessarily different, what sets us apart from our competitors is a tenacious pursuit of service and quality, we don’t always get things 100% right in this fast and frantic industry but we always stick with projects until our clients are satisfied.
L: Can you briefly explain the process of making an Engage table?
DL: Our Aluminium extrusion, developed specifically for this product is stored at our metal workers. They receive drawings that detail all the metal components and once made, they are finished to specifications that range from basic powder coating through to mirror polishing and patinated bronze. The table tops are produced in our workshops in a range of timber veneers and finishes. Then all the components are fitted together and have any connectivity attached and tested before dismantling, wrapping and storing for delivery to site.
L: What does your company stand for?
DL: Quality and service. A dissatisfied customer will be unlikely to refer us on or pick up the phone to us again, we work very hard to ensure they do.
L: Why should customers choose OPM products?
DL: We are very good at making the process of designing, producing and delivering furniture as straightforward as possible, I’d like to think that all challenges are met by our team with a positive approach and a smile. The end product is as close as possible to perfection in the clients eyes and with on going dialogue and service, their furniture will stay that way well into the future. Everything is made in your UK workshops, what are the benefits of having UK production?Local control ensures quality is maintained throughout the process of manufacture. Environmental issues surrounding manufacture and the materials used, are also better controlled and audited locally.Lastly we feel very strongly that manufacture and the employment opportunities it provides should be integral to the UK's business landscape and we will continue to promote that going forwards.
Check out OPM products on Aegistra here: http://www.aegistra.com/partners/suppliers/OPM-Furniture/
Right: David Lyall veneer selecting.
The continued development of our Engage collection, designed by Jonathan Prestwich, has seen it selected for numerous recent projects including Lend Lease HQ, BlackRock London, Edinburgh and Zurich, Antofagasta, KPF’s new offices and Wragge & Co.
Here the table is finished in figured walnut with Nextel lids and base. Below shows soft lift connectivity module, storage module and the beautiful detail of the figure.
Click here for more information on the engage table and range >
A fantastic large scale project we recently completed for a global financial company in Canary Wharf included curved screens, Corian tables, breakout booths, banquet seating and TV units.
The space planning and furniture was designed to enhance the modern workplace, swapping rigid conventional desk layouts for a mix of open communal areas and private niches ‘offering everyone a choice of the most appropriate place to meet, collaborate or concentrate alone’.
Designed by Squaredot, we started at the drawing board to manufacture and install this unique collection of furniture.
The full project on our website here >
Or on the squaredot website here >
Following on from a very successful week at Design Junction in September, we are please to show you our new ‘Network’ table designed by Jonathan Prestwich. It has a flexible range of connectivity and storage for extra AV equipment like remote controls, keeping the table organised.
The Table is shown here with our Media base which is designed to sit over a floor grommet so that connectivity can be housed within the base thus avoiding the need for floor boxes and trailing cables.
The table also incorporates our new Face-to Face connectivity/ storage pod. Using clever hinge device, the lid can be opened from both sides for easy access from both sides of the table.
Table sizes and finishes can be made to suit your requirements.
Click here for more information.
We recently completed this project for the head quarters of an international law firm on Fleet Street. Designed by TP Bennett, it included bespoke board, meeting, dining and AV room tables.
The tables are Veneered in straight grain American Walnut with an inlaid copper edge detail. The bases to the fixed tables sit over a floor grommet so that no cables are visable at the floor level.
The dining table shown here is designed to split into two sections and has a flip top so that the sections can easily be removed and stored.
Our Soft-Lift connectivity pod, designed for us by Jonathan Prestwich, was used throughout this project. The image above demonstrates its function and shows off our craftsmanship with the sun burst veneer lay up running perfectly from the centre of the table across the lids.
If you have any questions regarding this project or any current projects you are working on, please contact us at info@opmfurniture.co.uk
OPM will be launching their latest products at this years Design Junction event which will be held during the London Design Festival between the 19th and 23rd of September.
We would be very happy to give a personal presentation of our latest products on our stand, S11.
Opening times are Wednesday 19th 3pm-6pm (Press Preview) / 6pm-9pm (Private View), Thursday 20th 10am-7pm, Friday 21st / Saturday 22nd 10am-6pm, Sunday 23rd 10am-5pm.
www.thedesignjunction.co.uk See you there!
We work closely with the internationally renowned Design consultancy Prestwich Design - led by Jonathan Prestwich. The team research and develop new products that combine the OPM heritage of traditional furniture making with the advantages of modern industrial design.
Prestwich Design focus their research on new ways for people to interact with furniture that is relevant to todays work place. With the goal to create simple, elegant, innovative products.
Working internationally with clients including Arco (NL), Davis Furniture (US), Allermuir and Modus Furniture here in the UK. Gaining acclaim with their products including a red dot award, Interior innovation, Wallpaper award and most recently the IF Gold award.
Prestwich Design are responsible for our tri-line table and ever popular Engage range. Designed to invite people to engage with their meeting by providing all necessary support in a stimulating package.
OPM’s countless years of quality craftsmanship coupled with Prestwich Design’s expertise in modern industrial techniques provides an exciting and successful working relationship. Building on this we are working on several new projects together and are very excited with what the future holds.
Taking influence from the ancient art of origami, Tri-line is a combination of delicate design and quality engineering, creating an elegant sculptural form. The Tri-Line is also available as a folding top table and can be specified in a large range of configurations and surface options, with carefully considered connectivity solutions.
View the full Tri-Line base options here.
We are delighted to introduce the Engage credenza. Designed to fit harmoniously with the Engage meeting tables, it’s aesthetic is bold and pure. It has variations to suit your specifications and is available in any custom wood or finish to suit it’s surrounding furniture.
Click here to view the full specifications.
A massive congratulation to Jonathan Prestwich who was given the Interior Innovation award at this years IMM in Cologne. It is these award winning design skills that developed the innovative Engage collection including it's table system shown below.
Click here to see the Engage Collection.
We have worked hard with industrial designer Jonathan Prestwich and are very excitied to introduce the Engage conference table. A strong and innovative solution for clients to connect and communicate in a meeting.
For more information on our product development with Jonathan prestwich, click here.