MUST RUN 5-11

GROSVENOR HOUSE ART & ANTIQUES FAIR WILL BE JUNE 14–20

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LONDON — An epic transformation of The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair takes place this year with a new look for the UK’s oldest fair, June 14–20 in the Great Room at Grosvenor House, Park Lane. Interior designer David Bentheim was commissioned to create the new design and his brief was to deliver a totally modern and minimalist environment to complement the diversity of works of art on display.

In the new design scheme, each year a different historic building will be taken as the theme for the fair, providing an English theatrical backdrop to the works of art on sale and creating the context for where they live.

Bentheim explained the rationale for the redesign: “The concept is to deliver a sharp, minimalistic design that will result in an international museum-quality environment for the exceptional items on display. To achieve this we have created a framework based on De Stijl and Mondrian, which will contrast with a glorious backdrop inspired by the richness of the British architectural tradition.”

Stowe House, built in 1677 by Sir Richard Temple, but remodeled in the 1720s and 1770s, was home to the Temple-Grenville family until 1921. A showcase of works from architects and designers such as Vanbrugh, Gibbs, Kent and Soane, the house was rescued from certain destruction in 1923 by Stowe School and is now at the heart of an independent co-educational boarding and day school.

The new design has been achieved in collaboration with Early Action Group, the stand builders for the fair, which has put many months of research and development into creating a new stand system that offers great flexibility to exhibitors both in terms of display and lighting opportunities.

This year the fair looks to the architectural wonders of Stowe in Buckinghamshire. Shades of Vanbrugh, Gibbs, Kent and Soane will be evoked throughout the fair, from the entrance on Park Lane to Stowe’s elliptical ceiling in the Marble Saloon, which will be produced as one huge ceiling within the Great Room. This massive screen-printed ceiling, which will take 24 hours to erect, weighs two tons and will be clearly visible from the aisles creating an intimacy as well as grandeur.

For more information, www.grosvenorfair.co.uk or 440 20 7399 8100.