COLLECTORS' LOUNGE, SOMERSET HOUSE

Commissioned by Trimble, Tola Ojuolape Studio designed the Collectors’ Lounge for the 2026 edition of Collect Art Fair in collaboration with the Craft Council, the UK’s national charity for craft. Collect sits at the forefront of the contemporary craft movement and is the only art fair on the UK and international circuit dedicated exclusively to museum-quality contemporary craft and design.

The Lounge was conceived as a modern maker’s library — a space to slow down, touch materials, and engage in meaningful conversations around craft and making.

The design is intentionally quiet yet expressive. Flexible forms, tactile surfaces and carefully considered details come together to create a space that feels grounded and human, with the project refined throughout the design process using SketchUp as a key tool. For collectors, designers and those drawn to material-led spaces, the Lounge was designed to feel welcoming, thoughtful and inspiring.

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