Heatherwick beats Droog at its own game

The interactive principles of seminal Dutch design group Droog were sorely challenged when it opened its Do Create show at London’s Architectural Association last week.

While revellers at the private view were goaded into bashing hell out of a massive metal cube in a bid to transform it into a chair, they were discouraged from interfering with other exhibits, despite the show’s premise that design is for all.

A distraught compere demanded of a Dutchman who inadvertently overturned a chair if he treated his own work that way. ‘Yes,’ came the reply. ‘It’s the way I also treat my women.’ So much for The Netherlands’ liberal positioning.

Meanwhile, superhero of the night was Thomas Heatherwick, who wielded the mallet on the cube like a good’un, proving yet again his mastery with materials.