David Collins (interior designer)

David Collins
Born1 March 1955
Dublin, Ireland
Died17 July 2013
London, England
EducationBolton Street School of Architecture
OccupationInterior designer

David Collins (1 March 1955 – 17 July 2013) was an Irish architect who specialised in designing the interiors of bars and restaurants in London.[1]

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

David Collins was born in Dublin, Ireland on 1 March 1955.[2] He studied architecture at the Bolton Street School of Architecture in Dublin.[2][3]

Career[edit]

He established the David Collins Studio, an interior design firm based in London, in 1985.[3] One of his first interior designs was chef Pierre Koffmann's La Tante Claire in Chelsea.[2] He then designed chef Marco Pierre White's (now defunct) Harvey's Harveys (restaurant)[1] in 1988.[2] Later, he designed The Gilbert Scott, chef Marcus Wareing's restaurant at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel.[2] Another Wareing restaurant that he designed was the Blue Bar in Belgravia.[2] He went on to design The Wolseley, the Delaunay Hotel, J Sheekey, Brasserie Zédel, Colbert, Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road, and Nobu Berkeley St.[2][3] He also designed retail interiors for Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen and Harrods.[3]

Additionally, he designed The Charles, an apartment building on the Upper East Side in New York City.[4] He was a close friend of Madonna: he designed her London and New York apartments and she used a poem that he wrote as the basis of her 1998 song "Drowned World/Substitute for Love", for which he received a co-writing credit.[5][6]

Influence[edit]

David Collins's design and aesthetic has had a huge impact, which was part of what led him to be named to the 2012 AD100 list.[7] Simon Mills of Wallpaper* magazine said that "It is no exaggeration to say that the restaurant and hotel revolution in London of the last two decades would not have been the same without him."[8]

Death[edit]

Collins died in London on 17 July 2013 from melanoma only three weeks after being diagnosed.[2][3][1]

Legacy[edit]

A book that Collins had been working on was published posthumously in May 2014 and the Studio celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2020.[9][10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Owens, Mitchell (30 June 2013). "David Collins's Architecture and Design". Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Williamson, Marcus (18 July 2013), "David Collins: Designer of some of London's finest bars and restaurants", The Independent
  3. ^ a b c d e Alexander, Ella (17 July 2013), "London's Great Interior Designer David Collins Dies", Vogue
  4. ^ Satow, Julie (7 March 2014). "Higher Prices Migrate to Far Upper East Side". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  5. ^ Ciccone, Madonna (27 May 2014). "The Tribute: Madonna on Mr David Collins". MrPorter.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Obituary: David Collins". TheTelegraph.co.uk. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  7. ^ "2012 AD100: David Collins Studio". 1 January 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  8. ^ Magazine, Wallpaper*. "David Collins Studio | Wallpaper* Magazine". Wallpaper*. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  9. ^ Collins, David (10 June 2014). ABCDCS: David Collins Studio. Perseus Distribution Services. ISBN 978-1-61428-229-7.
  10. ^ "David Collins Studio celebrates 35 years in the business". 12 October 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2022.

External links[edit]

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