We drink quite a lot of coffee here at Rockwell house, it’s the oil that greases our cogs and keeps the whole machine running. So we were really pleased to find out that our lovely next door neighbours over at Protein now serve proper coffee thanks to their newly installed DunneFrankowski designed modular coffee bar. In their own words “the two coffee connoisseurs have crafted a coffee bar that works under the ethos of functionality over form, focusing on presentation, service and design. It’s a space that can be run comfortably by a maximum two people, and also be taken and re-created in a variety of spaces”. Sounds great to us and the coffee shop, which opened today at 8am, is offering a free coffee with your first Foursquare check in at Protein. See you there for that bleary-eyed morning caffeine fix.

It has officially been a year since we were first renovating this big old warehouse and turning it into a space for ourselves and like-minded creatives to enjoy.  We officially removed around 10 tonnes of defunct suspended ceiling, horrendous sticky flooring and metres and metres of old cabling.

Here’s a few pictures to show you what it used to look like…and keys parts of the build process.

Yes! Having suffered through a morning where the whole building felt like it was going to shake loose from it’s foundations we finally have our beautiful reclaimed spiral staircase installed. The possibilities for our newly accessible rooftop space are endless so you can expect a slew of interesting events up there in 2012.

Check out this gem from Alex Dobbin down in the Action Station Studio. We love art for art’s sake, and this incredibly well animated tribute to childhood memories of Alex’s father and friends blasting out Tom Waits is just that – a labour of love.

We’ve got the most amazing flat roof on top of Rockwell House, all Summer we’ve been nipping up there for the odd after work beer and smugly sitting in the sun gazing out at one of the best views in East London. The only thing is it’s been a case of breaking out a ladder and climbing up there from the balcony. This is obviously far from ideal, particularly after a few of those after work beverages make getting down a bit dicey. The solution serendipitously turned up the other day in the form of a perfectly sized spiral staircase. It’s literally being constructed right this very moment.

Rockwell House stalwarts, SEAM design,  recently completed this impressive project as part of the London Design Festival. ‘Timber Wave‘ – supported by The American Hardwood Export Council with lighting designed by SEAM Design – builds on a collection of installations that demonstrate the enduring qualities of American hardwood.

Installed in the entrance of the V&A, this soaring three-dimensional latticework spiral made from red oak spanned the height of the Museum doors. Visible from a long way down the Cromwell Road, the installation gave the impression of the V&A spilling out out onto the street, and exuberantly celebrated the London Design Festival’s residency at the V&A.

What we do
The SEAM Team is really diverse and we have people from multidisciplinary backgrounds including architecture, interior design, lighting design, furniture, products and graphic design.  We use the tools of lighting to create atmosphere and mood in a dynamic relationship where lighting design courts the architectural experience.

Your background
SEAM was founded in New York in 2004, and launched in the UK in 2009. We are a design practice that collaborates with architects and other design consultants to help bring architectural vision to life through Lighting.

Some projects you’re most proud of
Stone Towers Development by Zaha Hadid architects was our first big project. It was introduced to us when we were barely 3 months old, which was exciting and challenging as at that time it was just me and a couple of freelancers renting some desks in another design space.  We built a design team around the project and the project needs.  It was a great collaborative working experience with the architects and their design consultants.

Another project is the Timber Wave installation by Amanda Levete Architects at the entrance of the V&A for the London Design Festival. We loved the brief which was to marry a very modern and geometrically complex installation, against the backdrop of this wonderful heritage building.

Why Rockwell House
The spaces in Rockwell House are amazing. The building has an energy that really sets you up for a day of creativity. Not only that, but the space is complementary to our identity as a fresh, young, dynamic and creative collaborative.
As architects and lighting designers, we work with a diverse range of clients and creative’s in the Design and Construction industry.  Being in a place like Rockwell House where we are surrounded by other creative’s of other industries, the work from the studios and the conversations with these designers are quite inspirational. To be able to think about design from a different perspective challenges us in how we think about our own work and our own design process.

A good example of this was our collaboration on EndoftheLine’s TRON graffiti mural that was completed at the end of last year.  Initially, we were asked to assist with the final display lighting for the four panels that were located on Great Eastern in Shoreditch. As Jim and Matilda (EndoftheLine) were describing not only the final mural, but also a filming and still photography element to it.  For us, this was an opportunity to leave the realm of architectural lighting for a bit and to think about light, film and moving image.  This was also an opportunity to work with some other studios in Rockwell House such as Distillery, Toby Summerskill and other collaborators in 3D animation and film. For the final display, we provided a lighting design that transformed from early evening hours to late night, where white light and darklight (or blacklight) was used to bring out two identities of the mural.

What We Do
We produce music videos, short films, branded content, live event coverage, virals, fashion films and installation pieces for every spectrum of client imaginable. From Myspace, Gaymers and Channel 4 to Converse, One Little Indian and Topman.

Background
Art War Entertainment is a London based boutique production company. Set up in 2007, by the directing / producing duo Alex & Mike and their long time editor William Hancock.

Projects we’re Proud of
Check out some of our work on these links:
http://www.youtube.com/user/artwarentertainment,

http://vimeo.com/search/videos/search:artwarentertainment/st/cc3a6fe1

Why Rockwell House
Aside from the fact that there’s a great studio, we enjoy working in Rockwell house because  there are lots of other creative people in the building which is inspiring and gives us opportunities to collaborate with like minded people.

What I Do?
Art, design and web work. I hand code, work a lot on paper and take a keen interest in understanding my clients so I can appreciate their fundamental objectives, dreams and processes and see beyond the initial brief

Background
I’m London born and bred. Studied at Camberwell and then Leeds LCAD. Lived worked and travelling between 2005-2009 in Brazil, Mexico and New Orleans. I do what I do because I like things to look good, I like helping people and I like doing what I’m good at.

Projects I’m proud of
mestreaprendiz.raiar.org – I liked the international collaboration and the good nature of the project – educational, spiritual and positive. I’m also very pleased with the jQuery effects.
I also liked the OKM project on my Behance (behance.net/monkeyzbox) because it looks good and was for a mate’s custom branding.
Lastly I’m proud of my personal art work coming together step by step, see monkeyzbox.com and facebook.com/LikeMonkeyzbox. I’m enjoying drawing from dreamworld using excellent paper and ink. You can check out my design portfolio at laurencelord.co.uk

Why Rockwell House?
I like knowing the people I pay my rent to and that they are good people doing good things. The atmosphere is friendly and lively. I’m looking forward to having a nose around some more of the other studios but Action Stations are inspiring people to be around. Working side by side with Angus Patterson is also well handy, some good graphic and web teamwork developing here. I’m looking forward to some inter-studio collaborations further down the line.

The Vans Downtown Showdown concept was created for skateboarders by skateboarders and has been running globally for the last six years, each time creating unique off the wall ideas to be skated.

Ten of the best skate teams competed at the historic Old Spitalfields market for their chance to take part in a contest renowned to test skill, flare and creativity. Far removed from the usual format of other skateboarding competitions – the event took place on special customised ramps, all designed by the invited teams themselves.

The top professional skateboarders came down to do what they could to secure their share of the crown jewels. A combined prize total of €50,000 was all the inspiration needed to get the assembled skaters carving and slashing enough to make another, more notorious, local ripper proud.

Rockwell House residents - Black Sparrow produced the event for Vans and their close neighbours on the 2nd floor - Cure Studio, produced the special newspaper-style program.