As the architectural and design communities look toward the spring season, a vibrant international roster of exhibitions, major events, and prominent industry competitions is taking shape across the globe. From historic stately homes in England engaging with contemporary design to major retrospectives in Boston and Zurich, the cultural landscape offers a rich array of programming for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Among the standout current offerings is a unique site-specific exhibition at Chatsworth, the stately home in Derbyshire, England, built in the late 16th century. For 16 generations, the grand estate has served as the ancestral seat of the Devonshire family while steadily accumulating an expansive art collection. This holdings encompass ancient Greco-Roman sculptures, masterworks by Rembrandt and Reynolds, and modern pieces by luminaries such as Lucian Freud and David Nash. Expanding upon this rich legacy, the estate has unveiled a new exhibition featuring works by 16 contemporary artists and designers. These creators have developed pieces in direct, thoughtful conversation with the house’s historic architecture, intricate interiors, period furniture, and diverse material palette, offering visitors a fresh lens through which to view centuries of design history.
The spring calendar is equally robust for museum retrospectives and specialized architectural showcases spanning multiple continents. In Boston, the Institute of Contemporary Art is presenting the first comprehensive survey exhibition dedicated to the celebrated New York-based artist and sculptor Simone Leigh. Spanning two decades of production, the landmark exhibition features a diverse collection of sculpture, ceramics, video, and immersive installations. Notably, the presentation includes works from Leigh’s acclaimed 2022 Venice Biennale presentation, marking their first time on view to the public in the United States.
Across the Atlantic, institutional programming continues to highlight influential figures who shaped the built environment. In Zurich, the Museum of Design is currently running an exhibition dedicated to the pioneering Swiss designer Willy Guhl, titled "Thinking with Your Hands." Widely recognized for his iconic "Loop Chair"—an innovative and enduring furniture piece constructed from a durable cement-asbestos mixture known as Eternit—Guhl studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich before emerging as a leading voice in Europe’s mid-century neo-functional design movement.
Urban planning and housing strategies are also taking center stage in civic exhibition spaces. In Prague, the Center for Architecture and Metropolitan Planning has organized a comprehensive exhibition titled "Prague Tomorrow? Houses and Apartments." This timely showcase explores the complex realities of contemporary housing availability and affordability in the city, outlining pragmatic pathways toward success through targeted policy reform and innovative design strategies. The exhibition draws its core findings primarily from the Housing Development Strategy for the city of Prague, an official municipal plan approved by the city council.
Meanwhile, historical perspectives are being reframed in New York through critical examinations of past world’s fairs. At the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, an eye-opening exhibition titled "Deconstructing Power: W.E.B. Du Bois at the 1900 World’s Fair" reevaluates a monumental historical display. As part of "The American Negro Exhibit" at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair, W.E.B. Du Bois and his students at Atlanta University produced a groundbreaking series of data visualizations detailing the social and economic conditions of African Americans following emancipation. Long overlooked in mainstream historical accounts, Du Bois’s contributions are now brought into direct dialogue with the broader fair, shedding light on the historical disparities and selective memories surrounding international expositions that once celebrated industrial progress while marginalizing foundational human narratives.
Material culture and personal heritage are explored through a vibrant lens in London, where the Design Museum is hosting "Parables for Happiness," a major exhibition celebrating the work of British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori. Renowned internationally for his exuberant, color-drenched public art installations, Ilori is the subject of a retrospective featuring 100 works. Ranging from standalone art pieces, photographs, and custom furniture to textiles, books, and intimate personal possessions, the exhibition traces how his formative North London upbringing intertwines with his profound connection to Nigerian heritage.
New York’s vibrant contemporary architecture scene is currently celebrated through multiple concurrent exhibitions. The Museum of Modern Art has launched a new exhibition series titled "Architecture Now: New York, New Publics," designed to spotlight emerging architects who are pushing the boundaries of innovation in the field. The inaugural showcase highlights 12 recently completed projects across the five boroughs, featuring work from prominent firms such as Adjaye Associates, nArchitects, SO – IL, alongside recent design vanguard firms CO Adaptive and Only If. Each architectural project is accompanied by a newly commissioned video produced specifically for the exhibition by Brooklyn-based filmmaker Hudson Lines.
Complementing this exploration of contemporary practice, the Center for Architecture in New York is currently exhibiting the results of AIA New York’s "New Practices New York" competition. The showcase highlights six architecture practices recognized as representative of the city’s most inventive and forward-thinking young firms: BRANDT: HAFERD, Bryony Roberts Studio, City-group, GRT Architects, New Affiliates, and ANY. Each of these practices has demonstrated a deep, ongoing engagement with the physical fabric of New York City and its diverse citizenry.
Beyond permanent and temporary museum exhibitions, the architectural calendar features a series of prominent annual events, festivals, and conferences designed to foster professional collaboration and public engagement. In Palm Springs, California, the annual celebration of modernist design known as Modernism Week returns with more than 350 distinct events spread across the desert city. Including signature home and garden tours, specialized architectural films, and educational lectures, the event features a keynote presentation by Thom Mayne, principal of the renowned architecture firm Morphosis.
In Orlando, Florida, the industry prepares for Coverings, the largest international tile and stone exhibition and conference in the United States. The upcoming conference is projected to draw 800 exhibitors representing over 30 countries, offering attendees expansive trade displays alongside a comprehensive series of industry learning sessions and professional networking events.
Sustainability and decarbonization remain central themes for spring gatherings, notably at the upcoming "Getting to Zero" forum in Minneapolis. Operating in a hybrid format with both virtual and in-person components, the conference will convene more than 500 leading policymakers, architects, and industry professionals. Together, participants will share critical perspectives and collaborate on zero-energy and zero-carbon solutions aimed at aggressively decarbonizing the built environment.
In Europe, the architectural festival calendar highlights community-focused urban interventions. In Logroño, Spain, the annual architecture and design festival Concentrélico 09 returns for its ninth consecutive edition. Over six days, the city will host a dynamic roster of events, temporary architectural installations, and exhibitions designed to celebrate the public realm and elevate everyday civic life through creative spatial design interventions.
Alongside these exhibitions and events, several major architectural competitions have announced impending submission deadlines for the spring season. The Copper Development Association is currently accepting entries for the North American Copper in Architecture Awards, an annual program that honors excellence in the application of architectural copper and copper alloys. Eligible projects must be completed within the past three years and located within the United States or Canada.
The architectural community is also invited to participate in the AIA National Photography Competition, hosted annually by AIA St. Louis. The competition welcomes photographic interpretations of the built environment from licensed architects and current architecture students, with winning entries slated for publication and exhibition during the national AIA conference.
Finally, the Holcim Foundation has established a March deadline for the prestigious Holcim Awards 2023. This global competition recognizes projects that successfully merge sustainable construction and design excellence. Submitted entries are evaluated against the foundation’s comprehensive benchmarks for sustainable building, with Gold, Silver, and Bronze prizes awarded across five major geographic regions: Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Regional winners receive cash prizes and an invitation to attend the official award announcement ceremony at the upcoming Venice Biennale of Architecture.
