WIDN blog
London Design Festival: The Tournament
August 21, 2009
By Nicole Robinson
London’s Trafalgar Square will play host to The Tournament, a gigantic chess set created by Spanish designer Jaime Hayón, during the London Design Festival.
Chess pieces measuring 2m tall will be played on a specially-created board of mosaic glass tiles by Bisazza. Each of the 32 pieces will be designed and handcrafted by Hayón, working with Bosa ceramics in Veneto, Italy. Game pieces will be supported by a wooden base on castors so they can be moved around easily, and there will be a metal frame within the ceramic form to provide stability. Rising above the giant chessboard will be elevated platforms where players will sit and direct their pieces around the board.
And if you’re not a big chess fan?
Many of the pieces will reference specific iconic buildings in London and their domes, towers and spires. Elements of the city of London and its history will be encoded on the pieces and each one will be unique and hand-painted by Hayón.
The London Design Festival encourages the general public to apply to take part in the chess games and come down and play or simply watch.
19 – 23 September
Trafalgar Square, London
www.londondesignfestival.com
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