As the architectural world continues to navigate shifting cultural, technological, and social landscapes, institutions around the globe are rolling out an ambitious slate of exhibitions, public art installations, and design competitions. From historical retrospectives honoring mid-century modernism and avant-garde manifestos to cutting-edge explorations of virtual reality and the metaverse, contemporary design discourse is bridging deep historical roots with futuristic ambitions.
RECORD presents its curated monthly overview of notable upcoming and ongoing exhibitions, major public events, and critical international design competitions shaping the conversation in the architecture and design communities.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Pamphlet Architecture 37: Visions and Experiments in Architecture
Rhinebeck, NY
September 4 – October 17, 2022
Founded in 1978 by visionary architect Steven Holl, Pamphlet Architecture has long served as an influential experimental publication championing the bold, unbuilt work of emerging designers—historically launching the early careers of luminaries such as Zaha Hadid, Lars Lerup, and Mark Mack. In celebration of its 37th issue and more than four decades of continuous production, T Space Gallery is hosting a major exhibition showcasing the work of the five finalists from Pamphlet’s 2021 open call.
The open call, themed “Visions and Experiments in Architecture,” challenged applicants to imagine entirely new architectural paradigms suited for a modern social and political consciousness. Beyond displaying the finalists’ forward-thinking proposals, the exhibition will offer a comprehensive overview of Pamphlet Architecture’s rich history. This portion of the showcase serves as a special tribute to publisher Kevin Lippert, a pillar of architectural publishing who passed away earlier this spring. Visitors interested in attending or learning more can find further details at tspacerhinebeck.org.
Ongoing Exhibitions
Chairs. Dieckmann!
Berlin
Through August 14, 2022
In Berlin, the Kunstgewerbemuseum is currently presenting a long-overdue retrospective celebrating the pioneering work of furniture designer Erich Dieckmann (1896–1944). Dieckmann left an indelible mark on 20th-century design through his teaching roles at both the Bauhaus and the esteemed arts-and-crafts school at Burg Giebichenstein in Halle (Saale). Marking the first major solo exhibition dedicated to Dieckmann’s career in more than thirty years, the showcase features a meticulous selection of historical designs, original drawings, and 120 physical furniture pieces pulled directly from the archives of the influential designer. Further information can be accessed via smb.museum/en.
Meta-Horizons: The Future Now
Seoul
Through September 18, 2022
Following their high-profile unveiling of Liberland, a fully realized metaverse city, Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) is cementing its presence in virtual and digital realms with a major new exhibition hosted at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) museum in Seoul—a striking landmark structure originally designed by the firm in 2014.
The exhibition explores the vast, untapped potential of advanced architectural technologies, ranging from immersive virtual reality environments to artificial intelligence-based design methodologies, all vividly expressed through ZHA’s expansive portfolio. Complementing the firm’s architectural explorations are site-specific digital installations by acclaimed media artist Refik Anadol. Additional details and visitor information are available at ddp.or.kr.
Justice is Beauty: The Work of MASS Design Group
Washington, DC
Through September 30, 2022
At the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, visitors have the opportunity to engage with the impactful portfolio of MASS Design Group. The exhibition highlights the firm’s rigorous research, visionary proposals, and built projects that collectively redefine the architecture of health and social justice.
Running concurrently in the space is The Gun Violence Memorial Project, a powerful collaborative installation by artist Hank Willis Thomas, created in partnership with the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. The poignant memorial consists of four translucent glass-brick “houses” that encapsulate intimate mementos and personal belongings honoring lives tragically cut short by gun violence. More information can be found at nbm.org.
Missing Link: Strategies of a Viennese Architecture Group (1970–1980)
Vienna
Through October 2, 2022
Offering the first truly comprehensive public view of their trailblazing body of work, the MAK Exhibition Hall in Vienna is currently spotlighting the avant-garde architecture collective Missing Link. Founded in 1970 by Angela Hareiter, Otto Kapfinger, and Adolf Krischanitz, the group actively sought to explore the discipline of architecture entirely outside traditional academic and professional constraints. Their diverse output ranged from provocative utopian proposals for collective communal living to meticulous research studies mapping out complex urban networks across Vienna. Further details are hosted on mak.at/en.
The Garden of Privatised Delights
London
Through October 15, 2022
Originally commissioned by the British Council and first showcased at the prestigious Venice Architecture Biennale, The Garden of Privatised Delights has found a home in London under the curation of Unscene Architecture. The exhibition critically examines the proliferation of privately owned public spaces (POPS) throughout the United Kingdom, issuing a timely call for new design approaches that reconcile the inherent conflicts between private commercial interests and the public good. To address these challenges, several prominent British architecture practices—including the Decorators, Studio Polpo, and vPPR Architects—have contributed seven distinct, highly inclusive design interventions reimagining privatized urban spaces. Additional resources are available via buildingcentre.co.uk.
Black Atlantic
New York City
Through November 27, 2022
Spanning the sprawling landscape of Brooklyn Bridge Park—a waterfront site that historically served as a vital maritime harbor linking the Americas to Europe and Africa—the Public Art Fund has mounted Black Atlantic. Inspired by cultural theorist Paul Gilroy’s seminal 1993 book of the same name, the exhibition explores the profound, enduring impacts of transatlantic networks on the African diaspora.
Curated site-specific installations by contemporary artists Hugh Hayden, Leilah Babirye, Dozie Kanu, Tau Lewis, and Kiyan Williams anchor the park, with each creator utilizing large-scale fabrications to weave together sweeping global histories and deeply personal identities. Visitors can plan their trip by visiting publicartfund.org.
Events
Concéntrico 08
Logroño, Spain
September 1–6, 2022
Also widely known as the Logroño International Festival of Architecture and Design, this annual event returns to northern Spain to focus intense critical attention on the urban environment and the civic value of public space. A series of large-scale, temporary architectural installations created by winning design teams—including AAA, Ander López, and Collective X—will be strategically positioned throughout the city.
The installations are paired with a dynamic schedule of public exhibitions, workshops, and panel discussions designed to investigate contemporary community life, with a strong emphasis on sustainable construction materials and circular fabrication processes. Further details can be found at concentrico.es/en.
Competitions
Miami Floating Housing
Deadline: November 9, 2022
Hosted by the University of Kent, an upcoming conference builds directly upon the foundational work of the school’s Architecture Visualization program by addressing the vital material and social values tied to architectural heritage. Academic presentations and competitions centered around the initiative will highlight innovative preservation strategies and new methodologies for sensitively engaging with historic sites and vulnerable coastal environments. Additional information regarding submission guidelines and event schedules can be found at archoutloud.com.
