Design

Meet Me in the Gap: the Orlando Chair

In this short film presented by Port and GAP, Sheridan Coakley, the founder of design company SCP, and ceramicist Reiko Kaneko discuss their first furniture collaboration

When Sheridan Coakley – the founder of the long-standing east-London design store SCP – noticed their range was missing a lounge chair, the British-Japanese ceramics designer Reiko Kaneko might not have been the most obvious choice. Though well established in her own practice and having already collaborated with SCP on a series of ceramics in the past, this project – Kaneko’s first furniture design – would be a considerable learning curve.

Named after the androgynous hero of Virginia Wolf’s 1928 novel, the Orlando chair is a testament to Kaneko’s skill as a designer – in being able to turn her hand to anything – as well as Coakley’s extensive experience in commissioning and working with designers. Light, simple and, above all, comfortable (Kaneko wanted a reading chair that she could move about herself), the chair is echoes the clean, uncomplicated forms of Kaneko’s ceramics while developing her work in a completely new direction – something that would not have been possible without her collaboration with Coakley and SCP.

To promote GAP’s new cashmere range, Port headed to Kaneko’s studio in Stoke-on-Trent to produce a film that continues the brand’s ‘Meet Me in the Gap’ campaign, examining what can be created when people with distinct talents and skills work together.

Wardrobe All clothing by GAP
Cinematographer Beatriz Sastre
Camera Assistant Max Quinton
Production Andrew Chidgey-Nakazono
Interviews George Upton
Styling Will Johns
Hair & Makeup Ditte Lund Lassen using Redken, Skincare and Make-up provided by Dr.Hauschka
Sound Ben Metsers
Runner Charlotte Smith
Grader Marty McMullan
Music See-Roary