Contemporary Design News
News of Contemporary Design, Architecture and Interiors
14 December 2023 to 26 May 2024 | Rome, ITALY.
The exhibition, ‘AALTO – Aino Alvar Elissa. The Human Dimension of Design’ is curated by architecture and research studio Space Caviar, and hosted at the MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome, Italy. Studio Aalto was founded in Finland in 1923 during a time of rapid change as Finland was establishing itself as a free nation.
[Read more…] about AALTO – Aino Alvar Elissa. The Human Dimension of Design, at the MAXXI museum in Rome14 December 2023.
This year marks the 187th year of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) President’s Medals, which are presented to architecture students for outstanding design projects and dissertations. The winning projects focus on the needs of people and their communities.
The RIBA Silver Medal was awarded to Ellie Harding at the London School of Architecture, for ‘Nobody Wants to Live in a Care Home’, which seeks to improve the lives of people living with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
[Read more…] about RIBA President’s Medals 2023 announced1 December 2023 | Marina Bay Sands, SINGAPORE.
Awards have been announced at the 2023 World Architecture Festival (WAF), the annual international architectural event organised by EMAP.
Landscape of the Year went to Benjakitti Forest Park: Transforming a Brownfield into an Urban Ecological Sanctuary by TURENSCAPE, Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect in Thailand. The project transforms a former tobacco factory into downtown Bangkok’s largest public recreational space.
[Read more…] about World Architecture Festival 2023 awards20 May – 26 November 2023, VENICE.
The 6th edition of the Time Space Existence biennale architecture exhibition in 2023 takes place in parallel with the Venice Biennale and is hosted by the European Culture Centre. This year, the exhibition focuses on sustainability, showcasing projects that investigate new technologies and construction methods aimed at reducing energy consumption through circular design, as well as projects that explore organic and recycled building materials.
[Read more…] about Time Space Existence biennale architecture exhibition 202311-15 October 2023, REGENTS PARK, LONDON.
Contemporary art fair Frieze London returns to Regents Park to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2023. Frieze London focuses on contemporary art and living artists, featuring emerging to iconic artists. Over the past few years, it has attracted around 60,000 visitors annually.
[Read more…] about Frieze London 2023 marks its 20th anniversary30 September – 1 October 2023, ZURICH.
This is the 8th year of Open House Zurich and over 130 buildings and outdoor spaces, that are normally closed to the public, will be accessible with guided tours by architects, curators, building users and volunteers. Buildings include the extension to the Landesmuseum Zurich by architects Christ and Gantenbein, Casa Zentner by Italian architects Carlo Alberto Scarpa and the apartment building on Forsterstrasse by architects Christian Kerez.
[Read more…] about Open House Zurich 202315-24 September 2023, Sydney, AUSTRALIA.
Powerhouse, the largest museum group in Australia, launches the 27th edition of Sydney Design Week with over 60 events including tours, workshops and public architecture across the city. With reference to the work of French philosopher Bruno Latour, the theme this year is Amodern. This is explored via six ‘fields of enquiry’, namely Eco-Systems, Material Cultures, Communal Cities, Micro Cycles, Connected Threads and Photofields. Powerhouse / Sydney Design Week 2023
The RIBA Stirling Prize awards have been presented since 1996 to ‘the architect of the building thought to be the most significant of the year for the evolution of architecture and the built environment’. The award is ‘judged on a range of criteria including design vision, innovation and originality, capacity to stimulate engage and delight occupants and visitors, accessibility and sustainability, how fit the building is for its purpose and the level of client satisfaction’. The winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2023 will be announced live in Manchester at the Stirling Prize ceremony on 19 October 2023.
[Read more…] about RIBA Stirling Prize 2023 shortlist announced6-17 September 2023, LONDON.
Open City organises Open House Festival 2023 which is a two-week event in London where the public can visit buildings that are not accessible to the public. Note that booking may be necessary. Last year the festival included over 800 buildings in London. Internationally, almost 60 Open House festivals attract around 750,000 visitors per year. Buildings open in London this year include the BT Tower, 10 Downing Street and the former home of architects Richard Paxton and Heidi Locher. Photo of a low-energy house in Halliwick Road, Muswell Hill. Open House Festival
31 August – 19 September 2023, ZURICH.
In 2023, Zurich Design Weeks returns for its second edition centred around ‘TRANSITION’, exploring ‘a world undergoing complex changes’. There are over 60 programs comprising exhibitions, events, talks, and walks around the city. Additionally, this year’s focus on the Circular Circuit highlights Zurich’s role as the first Swiss city to establish a legally recognized circular economy. The information hub for Zurich Design Week is the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich.
[Read more…] about Zurich Design Weeks and Design Biennale Zurich 202316-24 September 2023, LONDON
The 21st edition of the London Design Festival provides a platform for designers to present their work at events, exhibitions and installations at various Design Districts throughout London. Last year 360,000 UK and international visitors attended the festival.
[Read more…] about London Design Festival 2023, the 21st edition25 March – 3 October 2023, WEIL AM RHEIN, GERMANY.
The Garden Futures exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum explores the history and future of modern gardens. The exhibition explores various gardens including vertical urban farms, contemporary community gardens and gardens by designers and artists. After the show closes at the Vitra Design Museum it is expected to move to other European venues. Photo of Oudolf Garten on the Vitra Campus by Piet Oudolf, Weil am Rhein, 2020 © Vitra, photo by Dejan Jovanovic. Vitra Design Museum
7-28 September 2023, FRANCE.
France Design Week 2023 with the theme ‘vivant,vivants’ (living, alive) takes place in two stages, 7-16 September for the Paris Design Week events and from 14-28 September there will be events throughout the regions. The theme for the Maison & Objet 2023 trade fair is ‘In Quest of Pleasures’ and it takes place from 7-11 September at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Parc des Expositions.
[Read more…] about France Design Week, Paris Design Week and Maison & Objet 20238-17 September 2023, HELSINKI, FINLAND
This year, Helsinki Design Week is hosted on the 6th floor of the entire Merikortteli block and the surrounding areas. The industrial inter-war building, which has been converted to studios, will host exhibitions, discussions and workshops. The festival also includes the Children’s Design Week event and the ‘Design Diplomacy’ event at the Uruguay, Netherlands, UK and Latvia ambassadors’ residences. Photo of Merlikortteli block © Antilooppi. Helsinki Design Week
The Architecture Drawing Prize was established in 2017 to celebrate and showcase the art and skill of architectural drawing. Entries are invited for the 7th edition of the Architectural Drawing Prize in three categories, hand drawn, digital and hybrid. The awards are curated by the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in partnership with Make Architects and Sir John Soane’s Museum, and sponsored by Iris Ceramica Group. Image of Digital winner 2022. Anton Markus Pasing, The Wall, 150cm x 73.8 cm. WAF, Make Architects, Sir John Soane’s Museum
10 May – 7 August 2023, PARIS
The Centre Pompidou in Paris will host the largest retrospective of Norman Foster’s contribution to architecture spanning six decades. The exhibition, covering almost 2,200 square meters, reveals how the architect ‘sought to challenge conventions, reinvent building types and demonstrate an architecture of light and lightness, inspired by nature, which can be about joy as well as being eco-friendly’. Photo © Daniel Jamme / Eiffage. Norman Foster, Centre Pompidou
14 July – 15 October 2023, LONDON
The Royal Academy of Arts in London presents an exhibition of Herzog & de Meuron (H&dM), the Swiss architectural practice founded in Basel in 1978, known for projects such as Tate Modern, Laban Dance Centre, Elbphilharmonie and M+. The exhibition will be in three spaces. The first space displays 400 objects, including models, materials, prints and photographs, covering a range of projects. The second space screens two films exploring people’s observations of H&dM projects. The final space focuses on a single project, the Kinderspital Zürich, Switzerland, featuring a 1:1 model of a hospital patent room. Photo © Iwan Baan. Royal Academy
29 November – 1 December 2023, SINGAPORE
The shortlist of completed buildings, landscapes and architectural concepts has been announced for the 16th edition of the World Architecture Festival (WAF), which returns to Singapore in 2023. Finalists include Foster + Partners, UNStudio, Grimshaw Architects, MAD Architects, WilkinsonEyre, Safdie Architects and Nikken Sekkei, together with smaller practices, with projects ranging from residential and cultural to creative re-use. Photo of Santa Maria Goretti Church by Mario Cucinella Architects © Duccio Malagamba. World Architecture Festival
19 February – 29 July 2023, NEW YORK
The Museum of Modern Art features a new exhibition, Architecture Now: New York, New Publics. The exhibition features 12 recently completed projects and is the first in a series that showcases emerging talent and groundbreaking projects in contemporary architecture. Photo SO – IL. Amant. 2021 by Iwan Baan. MoMA
28 June – 1 July 2023 & 5 July – 8 July 2023, LONDON
The New Designers exhibition showcases the work of over 3,000 design graduates at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. Works include ceramics, fashion, furniture design, graphic design, jewellery design, product design, textiles, illustration and animation. The exhibition also features selected new businesses in the design industry. New Designers
13-18 June 2023. Preview 12 June 2023, BASEL
Design Miami/Basel’s 17th edition will showcase 26 galleries on the ground floor of Basel Messeplatz. The fair will exhibit a diverse collection of furniture, lighting, and objets d’art from renowned international galleries. Notable exhibits include works by Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, and Le Corbusier presented by gallery Patrick Sequin from Paris, as well as a range of designers from Ron Arad and Ettori Sottsass to Paul Cocksedge and Faye Toogood, displayed by gallery Friedman Benda from New York. Design Miami/Basel
9 June 2023 – 29 October 2023
The 22nd Serpentine Pavilion was designed by French-Lebanese Paris-based architect Lina Ghotmeh. The title ‘À Table’ is a French call to sit at a table and engage and participate while sharing a meal. The pavilion’s lightweight timber structure is built predominately of bio-sourced and low-carbon materials, and designed to be lightweight and demountable, allowing it to be reused.
[Read more…] about Serpentine Pavillon 2023: À Table designed by Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture7-9 June 2023, COPENHAGEN
The theme of the 3daysofdesign 2023 festival in Copenhagen is ‘Where Would We Be Without You’. This year, over 290 emerging and established design brands from Denmark will showcase their furniture, lighting, accessories and materials. Venues include showrooms, shops, workshops and the streets of 13 Design Districts around Copenhagen. Photo – Festival identity created by Rasmus Hjorshøj. 3daysofdesign
20 May – 26 November 2023, VENICE.
The 18th International Architecture Exhibition themed ‘The Laboratory of the Future’ is curated by academic, educator and best selling novelist Lesley Lokko and organised by the La Biennale of Venice. The spotlight this year is on Africa, with over half of the 89 contributors of the main show from Africa or the African Diaspora. Photo of Padiglione Centrale Giardini by Francesco Galli. Venice Biennale
1-25 June 2023, LONDON
The forth edition of the London Design Biennale takes place at Somerset house and its artistic director is the Nieuwe Instituut, the Netherlands national museum and institute for architecture, design and digital culture, led by General and Artistic Director, Aric Chen. The Biennale’s theme is collaboration and it brings together design participants from around the world. London Design Biennale
18 March – 1 October 2023, DERBYSHIRE, UK.
Stately Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, England, continues the Devonshire family’s tradition of supporting creativity by commissioning contemporary designers. ‘Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chartworth’, places works by 16 international artists and designers into the historical context of the house, creating unexpected connections. Photo of Maker benches in the Painted Hall Joris Laarman, courtesy Chatsworth House Trust. Chatsworth
23 – 25 May 2023
The 12th edition of Clerkenwell Design Week hosts more than 600 events and showcases thousands of cutting-edge design projects from both leading international designers and new talent. The festival covers furniture, lighting, textiles, surfaces and accessories and takes place over a number of venues across London’s creative hub, Clerkenwell. Photo BAUX Installation with Feature Wall by Morag-Myerscough at St John’s Square EC1. Clerkenwell Design Week
17 – 21 May 2023, NEW YORK
The 11th edition of Frieze New York brings together over 60 contemporary art galleries from 27 countries. Established and emerging galleries, along with non-profit organisations, are represented at the Shed in Manhattan, with additional events taking place across the city. Photo Alex Staniloff / CKA. Courtesy of Frieze. Frieze
18 March – 16 September 2023
An exhibition about ‘architecture born of craftsmanship’ is to exhibit architecture models from the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The models are working models that counter the abstraction of computer-assisted drafting by their solidity and texture. The venue, which was designed by Zumthor, is the Werkraum Bregenzerwald in the Bregenz Forest, Austria. Photo Peter Loewy for Werkraum Bregenzerwald. Werkraum Bregenzerwald
8 May – 17 May 2023
This year’s theme for Berlin Design Week 2023 is Resilience, emphasising the need not only to deal with crisis but also to remain adaptable and resilient in a climate of change. Berlin Design Week brings together exhibitions, talk and events across the city. Berlin Design Week
8 May – 14 May 2023
The 9th edition of London Craft Week utilises workshops, pop-up shops and exhibitions to showcase the work of celebrated and emerging artists, makers and designers from across the world. Locations for the events include the Pimlico Road, Chelsea, Mayfair and the newly established Park Royal Design District. Photo Maria Bell. London Craft Week
19 June 2022 – 31 December 2024, Denmark.
An exhibition about the design of the future takes place at the Design Museum Danmark. ‘The Future is Present’ exhibition aims to show examples of designers working to shape a better future by exploring different approaches to challenges such as climate crisis, refugee flows, surveillance and pandemics. Photo Luka Hesselberg. Design Museum Danmark
27 May 2023 – 14 January 2024, CORNWALL, UK.
The Tate St Ives presents an exhibition of the revolutionary approach of The Casablanca Art School, which proposed a bold new visual culture following Morocco’s independence in 1956. The School explored the combination of traditional Berber skills with modernist influences from Europe and North Africa, creating a new perspective for the post-colonial era. Photo © Mohammed Chabâa Estate. Tate St Ives
21 – 23 May 2023
The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and WantedDesign Manhattan, the show featuring high end North American studios and emerging international designers, return with new leadership and a new vision. The show in New York City will feature more than 300 designers from over 20 countries and will host the 43rd Annual ICFF Interiors Awards. ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan
February – 1 April 2023
The gallery S94 Design has moved to the Rafael Viñoly designed New York landmark 3 East 89th Street. S94D currently hosts exhibits including ‘Aluminium Furniture’ by Donald Judd, Kwangho Lee’s first solo exhibition in New York, ‘Infinite Expansion’ and Ernst Gamperl’s ‘The Houghton Oak Project’. S94 Design
Architect Sir David Chipperfield has been awarded the 2023 Laureate of The Pritzker Architecture Prize. Accepting the prize, David Chipperfield remarked that as architects we have a ‘role in creating not only a more beautiful world but a fairer and more sustainable one too’. The significant contribution to world architecture spans over four decades and includes over a hundred works including civic, cultural, academic, housing and urban master planning. Photo Richard Bryant / Arcaid. Pritzker Prize, David Chipperfield Architects.
22 & 23 March 2023 at the Truman Brewery, London UK
The 10th edition of the trade show for the British architecture and design community features talks by guest speakers including architect Amin Taha and focuses on Energy and Ecosystems. Photo Marek Sikora Photography. Architect@Work
The National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne commissioned Adam Newman and Kevin Tsang, both of NWMN architects, to create the 2022 NGV Architecture Commission. The commission named ‘The Temple of Boom’ reimagines the Parthenon in Athens, and over the coming months, it will be painted over by local street and urban artists to reflect the unstoppable process of change. Photo Sean Fennessy. NGV
19 – 23 April 2023
The 61st Salon del Mobile, Milan returns after delays and cancellations in recent years. There will be 1,962 exhibitors and the 31st edition of the lighting biannual, Euroluce will take place in parallel. Salon del Mobile. Milano