Palace Quad Becomes Design Showcase

Palace Quad Becomes Design Showcase
The quadrangle at Buckingham Palace was transformed today into a museum of Great British design.

Concorde’s unmistakable “droop nose” and a Routemaster bus headed a Palace Avenue of Design through which VIPs will walk when they arrive for a royal reception this evening.

Also lined up were a familiar London black cab, a redesigned Mini Cooper S with Union Jack roof, a 1935 telephone box, a Royal Mail pillar box, a vintage Penny Farthing and its modern descendant, and Catseye reflective road markers guiding guests into the Palace.

The reception, hosted by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, marks the contribution made by the British design industry.

Design Council director David Kester said: “These are all wonderful examples of British design mainly from the past, but I don’t think there is any one particular style that epitomises modern British design.

“It’s all about being eclectic in the design climate of today.

“The design industry in the UK is worth �5 billion a year – we are a consulting arena for good design.”

Leading designers invited to the Palace were asked to nominate an item which would represent their contribution to British design and these are being displayed at the reception.

Architect Lord Foster, winner of this year’s Prince Philip Designers Prize, nominated a model of 30