Minding the Digital / MVRDV. Image © Zhang Chao
Thinking broadly of architecture, the masterpieces of the past inevitably come to mind; buildings constructed to withstand the passage of time, that have found an ally in age, cementing themselves in the history of humanity. Permanence, however, is a hefty weight to bear and architecture that is, due to its program, ephemeral should not be cast aside as “lesser-than.”
The ephemeral character of museography—architecture for exhibitions—allows for experimentation and a more dynamic approach to design.
Below, we present 12 exhibition design projects from recent years, designed by architecture practices around the world.
Minding the Digital / MVRDV
Minding the Digital / MVRDV. Image © Zhang Chao
Architects: MVRDV
Exhibition: Minding the Digital
Location and Date: The Sea World Culture and Arts Center, Shenzhen, China, December 12th, 2017 – June 3rd, 2018
Fear and Love – Sam Jacob Studio
Fear and Love / Sam Jacob Studio. Image Courtesy of Sam Jacob Studio
Architects: Sam Jacob Studio
Exhibition: Fear and Love
Location and Date: London Design Museum, November 24th, 2016 – April 23, 2017
A Search for Living Architecture / Bestor Architecture
A Search for Living Architecture / Bestor Architects. Image © Lance Gerber
Architects: Bestor Architecture
Exhibition: A Search for Living Architecture
Location and Date: Palm Springs Art Museum, September 9th, 2017 – January 7th, 2018
Pierre Chareau: Modern Architecture and Design – Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Pierre Chareau: Modern Architecture and Design / Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Image via Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Architects: Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Exhibition: Pierre Chareau: Modern Architecture and Design
Location and Date: Jewish Museum in New York, November 4th, 2016 – March 26, 2017
‘Gerzso, Gerzso, Gerzso’ – LANZA Atelier
Gerzso, Gerzso, Gerzso / LANZA Atelier. Image Courtesy of LANZA Atelier
Architects: LANZA Atelier
Design team: Alejandro Márquez, Celina Bonadeo, Jéssica Hernández, Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo
Construction: Factor Eficiencia and Arquitectura Básica
Location and Date: Centro Cultural Tlatelolco, Mexico City, 2015
Frei Otto. Thinking in Models – FAR frohn&rojas
Frei Otto. Thinking in Models / FAR frohn&rojas. Image Courtesy of FAR frohn&rojas
Architects: FAR frohn&rojas
Exhibition: Frei Otto. Thinking in Models
Location and Date: ZKM Center for Art and Media, Karlsruhe, Germany, November 5th, 2016 – March 12th, 2017
‘MXCD01’ – PALMA
MXCD01 / PALMA. Image Courtesy of PALMA
Architects: PALMA (Ilse Cárdenas, Regina de Hoyos, Diego Escamilla, Juan Luis Rivera)
Design Team: Eugenio Rebolleda
Curator: Mario Ballesteros
Location and Date: Archivo Diseño y Arquitectura
Sao Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) Display / Lina Bo Bardi reviewed by METRO Arquitetos
Sao Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) / Lina Bo Bardi reviewed by METRO Arquitetos. Image © Romullo Baratto
Architects: Lina Bo Bardi reviewed by METRO Arquitetos
Exhibition: Rotating works from the Sao Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) collection
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Under the Same Sun / Frida Escobedo
Under the Same Sun / Frida Escobedo. Image Courtesy of Museo Jumex
Architects: Frida Escobedo
Design Team: Frida Escobedo, Olivier Bellflamme, Natalia Gálvez, Federica Lombardi, Mariana Ríos
Curator: Pablo León de la Barra
Location: Museo Jumex, Mexico City
Kurt Schwitters: Merz / Zaha Hadid Architects
Kurt Schwitters: Merz / Zaha Hadid Architects. Image Courtesy of Galerie Gmurzynska
Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
Exhibition: Kurt Schwitters: Merz
Location and Date: Galerie Gmurzynska, Zurich, June 12th – October 8th, 2016
El Viaje de los Objetos / Germen Estudio
El Viaje de los Objetos / Germen Estudio. Image Courtesy of Germen Estudio
Architects: Germen Estudio
Exhibition: El Viaje de los Objetos
Location and Date: Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco CCUT, Mexico City, 2016
Chamber of Wonders / PRODUCTORA
Chamber of Wonders / PRODUCTORA. Image Courtesy of PRODUCTORA
Architects: PRODUCTORA
Exhibition: Chamber of Wonders
Curator: Jens Hoffman
Location and Date: Mexico City, Medellín, Rio de Janeiro, 2016