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| Dec 3, 2012 |
What to expect at this winter’s Design Miami/
By Staff

Design Miami/ celebrates its eighth edition this year, with a roster of 29 international gallery participants and seven emerging galleries as a part of the Design/OnSite program. The fair, which runs from Dec. 5 – Dec. 9 in Miami Beach, FL, will continue its tradition of cultural programming with a series of creative partnerships and new design collaborations.

Design Miami/ is part of Art Week Miami, which includes Art Basel Miami Beach and a myriad of smaller art fairs. Below are some exhibitions, galleries and events of note.

Design Pioneers

The Design Pioneers talks series is dedicated to innovators who have worked at the forefront of prominent movements in design history in conversation with peers and collaborators. These Pioneers have crossed the boundaries of design, art, fashion and architecture to transform the way we view the designed object. The talks will take place: Wednesday Dec. 5, Featuring: Diane von Furstenberg in conversation with Stefano Tonchi; Thursday, Dec. 6, Featuring: Vito Acconci in conversation with Mitchell Joachim and Friday Dec. 7, Featuring: Wendell Castle in conversation with Alastair Gordon.

Acconci Studio, "HERE/THERE, NOW/LATER"

In honor of the Design Miami/ Designer of the Year award winner 2012, the Miami Design District hosts a temporary, site-specific installation by Acconci Studio entitled "HERE/THERE, NOW/LATER," which explores the boundaries between the virtual and the tangible. Acconci Studio has invaded and transformed two spaces in the District's Buena Vista Building, creating an ephemeral, experiential glimpse into the thinking processes and influences that have shaped Vito Acconci's creative output from the 1960s until today.

Also on view is a model of Acconci Studio's Klein-Bottle Playground, representing the Designer of the Year commissioned project that is to be permanently installed in the Miami Design District by 2014.

Architecture for Dogs

Architecture for Dogs is a new concept and commercial company founded by Imprint Lab in conjunction with Kenya Hara, Tokyo-based designer, curator, educator, and Artistic Director for MUJI. For his latest project, Hara has assigned 12 world-renowned architects and designers each a breed of dog for which to design an architectural structure.

Making its worldwide debut in Miami as part of the Design Satellite program, the exhibition, designed and curated by Hara, will feature 12 designs: Hara (Teacup Poodle); Atelier Bow-Wow (Dachshund); Shigeru Ban (Papillion); Sou Fujimoto (Boston Terrier); Konstantin Grcic (Toy Poodle); Haruka Misawa / Hara Design Institute (Japanese Terrier); Toyo Ito (Shiba); Kengo Kuma (Pug); MVRDV (Beagle); Hiroshi Naito (Spitz); Reiser + Umemoto (Chihuahua); Kazuyo Sejima (Bichon Frise); and Torafu Architects (Jack Russell Terrier).

Drift

An entrance pavilion for Design Miami/, Snarkitecture's Drift creates an unexpected moment within the context of the familiar white vinyl tent, reformulating the material to create a floating environment. Inflated tubes are bundled together to create a topographical landscape in suspension: an ascending mountain above and an excavated cavern below. These long cylinders are arranged vertically to infill the area of the entrance courtyard, and then lifted to create areas of circulation and rest for the visitors entering and exiting the structure.

Le Corbusier: The Interior of the Cabanon

Le Corbusier 1952 - Cassina Reconstruction 2006 Cassina, in collaboration with the Le Corbusier Foundation, presents the first U.S. exhibition. This exhibit will take place at the Cassina Miami showroom featuring the authentic reconstruction of the actual interior of the Cabanon, which Le Corbusier planned and built in 1952 for his holidays in Cap-Martin, France.

Pierre Guariche

Demisch Danant will present Pierre Guariche, the first U.S. exhibition devoted exclusively to the work of a landmark French mid-20th century designer. The showcase will be on view at the gallery's stand (G12). Pierre Guariche will feature rare and significant works in two sections—one will focus upon the years 1952-55, and another upon the period of 1958-62—to highlight breakthrough periods of the designer's illustrious career.

Mestizo City

Created by Henry R. Muñoz III, a San Antonio-based designer and social activist, Mestizo City, a 6,700 square-foot site-specific installation, is a playful interactive public space, created to represent the vibrant and varied Latino culture and its growing influence in the United States.

Wendell Castle, Joaquim Tenreiro and David Wiseman

R 20th Century will present a selection of works by Castle, Tenreiro and Wiseman at Booth G20. Castle's iconic work will coincide with a conversation between Castle and author Alastair Gordon as part of Design Miami's “Design Pioneers” panel discussion on Dec. 7. A book signing with Castle will take place at the Artbook|D.A.P. booth following the conversation.

Wiseman’s work at Design Miami will include a range of his objects inspired by flora, fauna and patterns influenced by natural phenomenon. A selection of works from the 1940's, 50's and 60's by Brazilian designer Tenreiro will also be presented at R 20th Century's booth. Noted for his hand-carved details and unique curves, Tenreiro is considered one of the leading figures in 20th century design.

Audi’s R18 Ultra Chair

Clemens Weisshaar and Reed Kram have developed a chair using methods borrowed from the future of automotive manufacturing in collaboration with Audi's Lightweight Design Center. The chair's multi-material space-frame is made from carbon composites, carbon micro-sandwich and high strength aluminum and weighs only 2.2 kg or 77 ounces. The chair embodies Audi's ultra lightweight design credo completely by following strict guidelines to shave off every ounce of excess weight. The chair's designers and engineers will give visitors an intimate insight into their studios and laboratories, displaying drawings, samples, models, mock-ups, moulds and prototypes from the various stages in the development process.

Swarovski Crystal Palace’s PARHELIA

Swarovski will welcome architect Asif Khan as this year's designer for Swarovski Crystal Palace. Khan will present Parhelia, an immersive installation that explores the relationship between crystal, light, nature, and architecture.

Transformations presented by FENDI

For the next edition of the ongoing Design Performance program, Fendi invited Belgian designer Maarten de Ceulaer to develop a project that responds to Fendi's visual identity and the brand's legacy of Modernist-inspired patterns and emblems. The designer found particular inspiration in Fendi's signature Pequin motif, creating "Transformations" in celebration of Fendi's long heritage of abstract rectilinear and geometric imagery.

BE OPEN Forum

Design Miami/ partners with BE OPEN, a global initiative to foster innovation and creativity, to launch the BE OPEN Forum. This series of profile talks acts as a portal to the future of design practice, and reveals the intellectual curiosity and creative vision of today’s most innovative design minds. Each designer featured in the Forum practices outside the boundaries of traditional product design, utilizing food, scent, biochemistry and haptic technology to make research accessible to the global community and imagine the possibilities of design through sensory exploration. The forum will take place Saturday, Dec. 8, Featuring: Carter Cleveland, founder Art.sy; Dawn Goldworm, founder 12.29; Zigelbaum+Coelho; Designers, Tuur van Balen, interaction designer and Marije Vogelzang, eating designer; moderated by Jeffrey Miller.

AD Oasis @ The Raleigh

Architectural Digest will open the AD Oasis for the second year, open from Dec. 6-8. Created by AD100 designer Mark Cunnigham, the exclusive retreat will serve as a chic, relaxing haven amidst the madness and features a daily menu of cafe fare and cocktails, live art, culinary demos, guest DJs, complimentary Wi-Fi and pampering beauty treatments.

Book Singings

Anthony Petrillose, Managing Editor, Rizzoli, gave his personal "must see" list of events and book signings at the fair: The new Freehand Miami hotel designed by Roman & Williams (above); Kenny Scharf's new wall in Wynwood (below); David Lynch's Club Silencio pop-up at The Delano (Dec 6-9th); The Webster for Kelly Klein's new book, Pools: Reflections (Dec 6, 6-8pm); The Standard Hotel for Bruce Weber's new book (Dec 6, 6:00-8:00pm); The Webster for the launch of Maripol's new jewelry line, Atomic Glamour 
(Dec 7, 4:00-6:00pm); Eric B. and Rakim at The Stage (Dec 7, 8:00pm); and Moncler's new store opening in Bal Harbour with Pharrell Williams signing his new book, Pharrell: Places and Space I've Seen (Dec 8, 6:00-8:00pm).

For a complete listing of events and for more information on the exhibits and galleries, click here. Take a look back at our previous post, which details the 2012 Design Miami/ Designer of the Year Award.

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