B&T design marks 30th anniversary with opening of permanent showroom in london

This month’s edition of Clerkenwell Design Week sees the Istanbul-born brand B&T Design mark its 30th anniversary with the opening of a permanent showroom space in the UK capital’s architect- soaked neighbourhood.

A design showroom is not meant to be static, quiet or intimidating, nor can it operate in a vacuum. It is a place that represents an opportunity for meeting in person, connecting with products, sharing and exchanging with a community and context. Especially during an era of digital work, this opportunity to physically, joyfully and productively experience design is one to be cherished – even indulged.

As part of its ‘3 Days of Discovery’ narrative, B&T Design reveals the creative journey of Japanese designer Jin Kuramoto, culminating in the creation of the Tri and Quad seating islands. Video/Photo: Griyer

This is the ethos of Turkish furniture brand B&T Design, which has opened its showrooms as welcoming and lively hubs for collaboration. Now, for its 30th anniversary, the team is bringing this same concept to London’s design district of Clerkenwell with its very first international showroom. As part of Clerkenwell Design Week , B&T is also showcasing new designs by Design Director Alp Nuhoğlu and Japanese designer Jin Kuramoto , explored through the lens of ‘3 Days of Discovery’ in Istanbul.

‘London is a global meeting point, diverse, dynamic and constantly evolving, which makes it the perfect setting for sharing our perspective. What happens in this space is not just about showcasing furniture. It is about sharing perspective, exchanging ideas and sparking inspiration,’ explains B&T Design Director Alp Nuhoğlu.

Expanding and nourishing networks

While the anniversary certainly represents a moment of celebration and reflection. Rather than looking back or even relishing in the present, for B&T, this moment is about the future potential of strengthening their global network with new collaborations and innovations. ‘We value the journey that brought us here, but we are even more excited about where we are headed,’ says Nuhoğlu.

‘We value the journey that brought us here, but we are even more excited about where we are headed’

Opening during Clerkenwell Design Week (20-22 May, 2025), the new London showroom offers architects and designers the opportunity to experience B&T products in a space that has been designed to encourage multi-disciplinary interactivity. The brand’s furniture, crafted for commercial spaces, blends minimalist, geometric forms with comfortable upholstery, seeking to define characterful and dynamic interiors that inspire emotional energy and social conversation.

These qualities are captured in two of B&T’s latest launches that can be experienced in London: the Tri and Quad seating islands designed by Japanese designer Jin Kuramoto. Both seating islands express simple, strong aesthetics through shapes that feature contrasting fabric colours. They are both members of the ‘Pod’ family, a seating collection based on cylindrical, voluminous silhouettes.

Furniture that forges connections

The bold, playful forms are ideal for both spacious and compact interiors, either in arrangements of multiples or as a captivating, singular focal point. The same can be said for Metric modular seating system, another new launch, designed this time by Nuhoğlu as a sculptural response to shared space. The seating does not sit quietly, but creates rhythm and presence, with vertical elements in various colours.

‘What can we do today that will inspire people? This daily pursuit defines our identity. Our work goes beyond creating physical objects’

Nuhoğlu explains the approach that grounds each product: ‘At B&T Design, we begin each day with a question: ‘What can we do today that will inspire people?’ This daily pursuit defines our identity. Our work goes beyond creating physical objects. We design with the intention to shape experiences, evoke emotion and elevate spaces. We believe in creating with intention, always guided by a spirit of discovery.’

Embracing discovery

This spirit can be seen in ‘3 Days of Discovery’, a campaign that documents Kuramoto’s visit to Istanbul, which informed the designs of Tri and Quad. Cinematic shots capture conversations, reflections, textures, feelings and encounters. ‘His way of observing, feeling and translating impressions into design resonates deeply with our way of thinking,’ says Nuhoğlu. ‘This collaboration was never just about the final product. It was about shared values.’

The experience of visiting a new city is often a meaningful one for architects and designers; an opportunity to observe different ways of living, methods of practice and social cultures. For B&T, the new London showroom opens up a new chapter for discovery, collaboration and exchange.

B&T at Clerkenwell Design Week
Dates: May 20-22, 2025
Location B&T Showroom: 116-120 Goswell Rd. London EC1V 7DP

Guest Feature by Harriet Thorpe / Architonic