What happens when contemporary design is taken out of its usual setting and placed inside the raw, utilitarian architecture of a bygone era? This is the central question explored by Dislocated Utility_Objects out of Place, a striking site-specific group exhibition curated by Paulina Reséndiz and Natascha Madeiski. Presented as part of the vibrant lineup of Zurich Design Weeks 2026, the exhibition transforms a former SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) workers’ washroom in Zurich, Switzerland, into an unconventional cultural gallery.
Running from September 17 to September 27, 2026, the collective showcase brings together 25 artists, designers, and craft-oriented practitioners. Rather than hiding the gritty, industrial heritage of the venue inside a neutral white-cube gallery, the curators have deliberately chosen to embrace the space’s past. The original washroom’s private cabins, communal washing areas, weathered tiles, and vintage plumbing fixtures form an integral, unshakeable part of the exhibition experience. By positioning contemporary furniture, ceramics, glass, lighting, and textiles directly within this historic architectural framework, the exhibition blurs the boundaries between design, art, and craft, inviting visitors to reconsider how everyday objects interact with the spaces they inhabit.
A Historic SBB Facility as an Unconventional Canvas
The venue itself carries a rich social history that deeply informs the conceptual weight of the exhibition. Originally built to serve SBB workers and their families during a time when private residential bathrooms were far from standard, the washroom was a vital hub of daily domestic and industrial life. It was a space designed strictly for utility, hygiene, and communal routine.
Today, the remnants of that utilitarian past remain fully visible. The timeworn tiles, individual changing cabins, and rugged washing infrastructure have not been scrubbed away or masked with drywall. Instead, they serve as the backdrop and dialogue partner for cutting-edge contemporary design.
By removing objects from their expected contexts—such as pristine showrooms, sleek galleries, or domestic living rooms—Dislocated Utility_Objects out of Place examines how physical settings fundamentally influence our perception of utility, material, and form. The former washroom operates simultaneously as the exhibition venue and as a core component of its visual and material framework. Contemporary creations are placed in direct, unmediated relation to an interior architecture that was originally shaped entirely by the rigorous demands of everyday working-class life.
Furniture, Ceramics, Glass, and Textiles Shape Dislocated Utility
The breadth of material practices on display reflects the diverse perspectives of the 25 participating creators. Spanning multiple disciplines, the exhibition features an eclectic mix of furniture, innovative lighting solutions, delicate ceramics, blown glass, and expressive textiles. Placed side-by-side within the narrow corridors, washing bays, and tiled cabins, these works challenge traditional categorizations. Objects that lean heavily toward industrial production rub shoulders with singular, highly crafted art pieces, creating unexpected dialogues across established design boundaries.
Among the participants contributing to this immersive spatial experiment are Alejandra Perini, Ana Drucker, Anna Zimmermann, Andrea Roman, Arché Studio, Arjan Van Dal, Attua Aparicio, Confectdissect, Celia Längle, Charles O. Job, Dimitri Bähler, Frédéric Dedelley, Gabi Deutsch, Georg Foster, Gini Moynier, Hanya Leo, Iris Schwarz, Jochen Holz, Laurin Schaub, Monika Schori, Pierre Bögli, Rita Zurbrügg, Robert Wettstein, and the collaborative duo Thea Kuta & GRRR.
Each contributor engages with the peculiar geometry and atmosphere of the washroom in distinct ways. For instance, textile works by Thea Kuta and GRRR interact directly with the damp, tiled floor topography, acting almost as conceptual bathroom carpets that soften the harsh industrial surfaces. Pierre Bögli’s porcelain lamp, titled Glühen, casts a warm, deliberate glow against the aged walls, highlighting the textural degradation of the decades-old tiles. Andrea Roman presents a delicate arrangement of goblets, plinths, and boxes that contrast sharply with the heavy, institutional scale of the washing area, while Hanya Leo introduces floor lamps that redefine the shadowy corners of the former changing rooms.
Collaborative Support and Public Engagement
The ambitious staging of Dislocated Utility_Objects out of Place has been made possible through the backing of key cultural and commercial partners. The project received vital institutional support from the Vitra Design Stiftung, reinforcing its significance within the broader European design discourse. Furthermore, the exhibition collaborated with prominent local and international brands, including FREITAG, Deux Frères, ViCAFE, VIVI, and L’Eau Water, helping to anchor the temporary cultural intervention within the contemporary lifestyle and urban fabric of Zurich.
Through the sharp photographic documentation of Lorenz Cugini, the ephemeral nature of the exhibition—captured dynamically through his lens—extends far beyond its physical run in late September. By bridging the gap between historical industrial utility and contemporary creative expression, Dislocated Utility_Objects out of Place successfully challenges viewers to look past the surface function of everyday objects and the spaces built to house them.
