As the architectural and design communities look toward the spring season, RECORD presents its monthly curation of upcoming and ongoing exhibitions, major industry events, and competitive opportunities from around the globe. This month’s lineup highlights the rich interplay between historic preservation and contemporary design, examines pressing issues in urban housing and sustainability, and celebrates the innovative practices reshaping the built environment.
Exhibitions
The intersection of historic interiors and contemporary design takes center stage at the stately home of Chatsworth. Built in the late 16th century, the historic English estate has served as the home of 16 generations of the Devonshire family. Over the centuries, the family has amassed an expanding art collection that spans Greco-Roman art and sculpture, masterpieces by Rembrandt and Reynolds, and works by modern masters such as Lucian Freud and David Nash. Now on view throughout the historic house and its sprawling garden is a site-specific exhibition featuring work from 16 contemporary artists and designers. These installations engage in a direct, thoughtful dialogue with the house’s centuries-old architecture, interiors, furniture, and materials. More information can be found at chatsworth.org.
In Boston, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston is presenting the first comprehensive survey exhibition dedicated to the work of acclaimed New York-based artist and sculptor Simone Leigh. Spanning two decades of artistic production, the expansive exhibition showcases Leigh’s powerful multidisciplinary practice, encompassing sculpture, ceramics, video, and immersive installation. Notably, the presentation includes key works from Leigh’s celebrated 2022 Venice Biennale presentation, marking their first time being shown together in the United States. Visitors can learn more at icaboston.org.
Ongoing Exhibitions
Across Europe and the United States, several notable museum exhibitions continue to draw visitors and provoke critical discussions on design history and urban futures.
In Zurich, the Museum of Design Zurich recently presented an insightful exploration of the life and work of influential Swiss designer Willy Guhl. Best known for his iconic "Loop Chair"—an innovative piece crafted from a durable cement-asbestos mixture known as Eternit—Guhl studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich before establishing himself as a central figure in the mid-20th-century European neo-functional design movement. Further details are available through museum-gestaltung.ch/en.
Urban housing and future municipal strategies are the focus of a timely exhibition in Prague. Presented by the Center for Architecture and Metropolitan Planning, the comprehensive display titled Prague Tomorrow? Houses and Apartments explores the current housing landscape in the Czech capital and outlines potential pathways for future success through targeted policy reform and thoughtful design interventions. The exhibition’s core findings are grounded in the official Housing Development Strategy for the city of Prague, which was formally approved by the city council in 2021. Additional insights can be accessed at praha.camp/en.
At the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum in New York, visitors can experience a powerful historical exhibition titled Deconstructing Power: W.E.B. Du Bois at the 1900 World’s Fair. Originally created as part of The American Negro Exhibit for the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris, W.E.B. Du Bois and his students at Atlanta University developed a groundbreaking series of data visualizations detailing the social and economic conditions of African Americans following emancipation. This exhibition brings Du Bois’s long-overlooked contributions into direct dialogue with the broader history of the Paris exposition, illuminating the stark disparities between the official historical record and the event’s celebrated spectacle of Western progress. More information is available at cooperhewitt.org.
London’s Design Museum is currently celebrating the vibrant creative output of British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori in an exhibition titled Parables for Happiness. Known internationally for his colorful public art installations, Ilori is the subject of a major retrospective featuring 100 works. The display spans diverse mediums, including artworks, photographs, custom furniture, textiles, books, and personal possessions, all of which reflect the profound dual influence of his North London upbringing and his rich Nigerian heritage. Further information can be found at designmuseum.org.
In New York, the Museum of Modern Art has launched a new ongoing exhibition series titled Architecture Now: New York, New Publics, designed to highlight innovative work from emerging architects who are pushing the boundaries of the field. The inaugural exhibition showcases 12 recently completed projects across New York City, featuring contributions from prominent firms such as Adjaye Associates, nArchitects, SO – IL, and RECORD‘s 2022 Design Vanguard winners CO Adaptive and Only If. Each architectural project is presented alongside a newly commissioned short video produced specially for the exhibition by Brooklyn-based filmmaker Hudson Lines. Visitors can check moma.org for schedules and details.
Also in New York, the Center for Architecture has hosted New Practices New York, an exhibition showcasing the winners of AIA New York’s 2020 competition of the same name. The showcase highlights six emerging practices that represent the cutting edge of urban design in the city: BRANDT: HAFERD, Byrony Roberts Studio, City-group, GRT Architects, New Affiliates, and ANY. Each of these firms has demonstrated a deep, ongoing engagement with New York City and its residents. Additional information is available at centerforarchitecture.org.
Events
The spring calendar brings a robust lineup of conferences, festivals, and industry gatherings designed to foster collaboration and professional development across the built environment.
In Palm Springs, California, the annual celebration of Modernist design and architecture, Modernism Week 2023, features more than 350 distinct events spread across various iconic locations throughout the desert city. The comprehensive program includes exclusive home and garden tours, curated film screenings, and expert-led lectures. This year’s keynote presentation is delivered by Thom Mayne, principal of the renowned architectural firm Morphosis. Details and ticketing can be found at modernismweek.com.
In Orlando, Florida, the city prepares to host Coverings, the largest international tile and stone exhibition and conference in the United States. The upcoming conference is set to welcome approximately 800 exhibitors representing over 30 countries. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore expansive product displays, participate in specialized industry learning sessions, and engage in high-level networking. Further information is available at coverings.com.
Addressing the critical challenge of climate change, the Getting to Zero forum will convene in Minneapolis as a hybrid event, welcoming over 500 leading policymakers, architects, engineers, and industry professionals. The forum serves as a collaborative platform to share perspectives, discuss emerging technologies, and develop zero-energy and zero-carbon solutions aimed at decarbonizing the built environment. More details can be found at gettingtozeroforum.org.
In Spain, the architecture and design festival Concéntrico 09 returns to the city of Logroño for its ninth consecutive edition. Over the course of six days, the festival animates the urban fabric with a diverse roster of events, temporary installations, and exhibitions situated throughout the city. The featured design proposals and conceptual interventions are specifically chosen to celebrate the vitality of the public realm and civic life. Additional information is available at concentrico.es/en.
Competitions
For professionals and students looking to gain international recognition, several notable competitions have announced submission deadlines for the spring season.
The Copper Development Association is currently accepting submissions for the North American Copper in Architecture Awards. The annual program recognizes and promotes outstanding applications of architectural copper and copper alloys in contemporary design. Eligible projects must be located within the United States or Canada and must have been completed within the past three years. Submission guidelines can be reviewed at copper.org.
AIA St. Louis has opened submissions for its annual AIA National Photography Competition, inviting entries from licensed architects and currently enrolled architecture students alike. The competition celebrates excellence in the photographic interpretation and documentation of the built environment. Winning entries will be published in RECORD and exhibited at the 2023 AIA conference in April. Further details and submission portals are accessible via aia-stlouis.org.
Finally, the global Holcim Awards 2023, hosted by the Holcim Foundation, continue to seek projects that successfully combine sustainable design and construction with architectural excellence. Submitted projects are rigorously evaluated against the Foundation’s established benchmarks for sustainable construction. Gold, Silver, and Bronze prizes will be awarded across five distinct geographic regions: Europe, North America, Latin America, Middle East Africa, and Asia Pacific. Regional winners will receive cash prizes and an invitation to the official prize announcement ceremony held at the 2023 Venice Biennale of Architecture. Complete details are available at holcimfoundation.org.
