Inside the Collector’s Lounge at Collect 2026

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A Contemplative Study in Craft and Materiality by Tola Ojuolape Studio

At Somerset House this season, the annual Collect art fair opens its doors to a new kind of immersive experience. In the West Wing of the neoclassical landmark, Tola Ojuolape Studio, in partnership with Trimble SketchUp, unveils a Collector’s Lounge that redefines how contemporary craft is experienced within interior environments.
Far from a conventional VIP space, the lounge acts as a living laboratory; a tactile and contemplative world where materiality, spatial intuition and the artistry of craft unfold gently across a curated interior landscape.

A Maker’s Library Reimagined for the Modern Design Era

The installation draws inspiration from the maker’s library, transforming that concept into a serene, design‑led environment where visitors are encouraged to pause and drift through moments of quiet discovery. Conceived as both a working lounge and an experiential installation, the space encourages a deeper engagement with contemporary craft, slowing down the visual consumption that often defines today’s cultural experiences.
Describing the project as an environment where craft is “lived with” rather than simply displayed, Ojuolape emphasises material honesty, light, and spatial rhythm: core principles that define her London‑based studio’s work across interiors and cultural spaces.

Craft Embedded in Architecture, Not Placed Upon It

Rather than presenting objects as standalone pieces, Ojuolape weaves them into the room's architecture. Every proportion, circulation path and viewpoint is calibrated to allow artworks to exist in quiet dialogue with the space. Glass, recycled materials and tactile objects respond subtly to natural light, creating a layered sensory experience that changes throughout the day.

Central to the installation is a curated selection of Director’s Choice works assembled in collaboration with Collect Fair Director TF Chan. This edit includes notable pieces from London glassmakers Louis Thompson and Peter Layton, alongside Bloom by Irish artist Helen O’Shea; a poetic work crafted from recycled plastic milk bottles, cotton threads and domestic pins. O’Shea’s practice speaks directly to the installation’s broader exploration of material transformation and sustainable craft methodologies.

A Study in Materiality: Wood Wool, Voile and Global Craft Voices

Materiality is the quiet backbone of the Collector’s Lounge. The room is wrapped in recycled wood wool panels from Baux, selected for their warmth, sound‑softening qualities and sustainable credentials. This creates a grounded, cocoon‑like atmosphere that intentionally contrasts with Somerset House’s historic architecture.
A sheer voile from Vescom introduces a soft architectural layer around the bar zone; semi‑transparent, elegant, and reminiscent of delicate textile partitions found in traditional craft studios.
Upholstery from Sunbury Fabrics in a camel‑toned palette reinforces the sense of calm, while sculptural pieces from Brazilian design studio Jig introduce an international and multicultural narrative to the lounge, echoing Ojuolape’s global perspective.

Where Digital Craft Meets Material Craft

While the installation champions touch, texture and material presence, digital tools played an equally significant role.
Ojuolape designed the space using Trimble SketchUp, allowing her team to refine spatial interactions and test subtle relationships between materials, light and form. This marriage of analogue and digital, hand, intuition and modelling, highlights how modern tools can support craft‑led design rather than replace it.

The result is a space that feels instinctual and human, while also meticulously resolved. As Ojuolape notes, the aim was to shape an environment that feels “intuitive, adaptable and materially honest.”

Designed for Lightness, Built for Longevity

In a cultural moment increasingly concerned with sustainability, the Collector’s Lounge stands as an example of responsible, intelligent design. The installation is envisioned as lightweight, recyclable and adaptable, ensuring minimal environmental impact without compromising on visual strength or spatial presence.
Like a carefully bound volume in a maker’s library, the lounge reveals new layers with every step, from the tactile grain of the wood wool panels to the refractive qualities of contemporary glass artworks.

The space is open to visitors during Collect 2026, running from 27 February to 1 March, offering a rare opportunity to experience a convergence of contemporary craft, spatial storytelling and sustainable design thinking.

All photography: James Harris

A Reflection of Tola Ojuolape Studio’s Design Ethos

This installation sits comfortably within the broader philosophy of Tola Ojuolape Studio, a multidisciplinary practice known for its balance of heritage and contemporary design, its quiet reverence for craft traditions, and its ability to create interior spaces that feel both personal and enduring. Based in London and working internationally, the studio continues to shape environments defined by material richness, cultural depth and a distinctive sense of humanity.

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