London's SW1 Gallery
To showcase the work of the practices in the Wallpaper* Architects Directory 2012, we have commandeered London's SW1 Gallery
(Image credit: Press)

For our Wallpaper* Architects Directory 2012, we have woven together 20 up-and-coming architects from six continents to create a showcase of emerging global talent. From dashing dachas to svelte suburban structures and elegant lakeside villas, '20 for 2012' offers up the very best in contemporary architectural innovation.

Wallpaper's annual Architects Directory, a highlight of the magazine's July Design Directory issue - and now showcased at London's SWI Gallery - is the ultimate little black book of young architectural stars, bringing new work to global prominence.

To illustrate this year's directory, Peter Crawley, the artist behind the cover for Wallpaper's August 2011 Handmade issue, was commissioned to create 20 beautifully hand-stitched art pieces, each representing one of the works of the different architecture practices.

The show's launch party was a blast. The wine flowed, courtesy of our trusty event partners Wines from Spain and the artwork was elegantly presented in a minimal installation created by designer Robert Storey that allowed visitors not only to admire the pieces but also to examine close up their masterful handiwork at the back of each piece of architectural needlework.

The exhibition is kindly supported by Land Securities, the UK's largest commercial property company. Land Securities successfully developed Cardinal Place in 2006 and is currently proceeding with ambitious plans to transform Victoria into one of London's most desirable districts, with a rich mix of cutting-edge working environments, bold new housing and cultural and commercial facilities. 

Hand-stitched illustrations

Artist Peter Crawley's hand-stitched illustrations of the architects' work are suspended in an installation designed by Robert Storey

(Image credit: Designed by Robert Storey)

A private house

A private house by Ivory Coast-based Koffi & Diabaté

(Image credit: Press)

house near Zurich

H47°18' house near Zurich, by Ilia, based in Switzerland

(Image credit: Press)

Reverse of the illustrations

The installation at SW1 Gallery also makes a feature of the reverse of the illustrations

(Image credit: Press)

Dual Court House

Dual Court House by Black Line One X Architects, Australia

(Image credit: Press)

Stitch treatment

Even the names of the practices get the stitch treatment

(Image credit: Press)

House in Antony

House in Antony, in the suburbs of Paris, by Djuric Tardio Architectes

(Image credit: Press)

BCH House in Megara

BCH House in Megara, by K-Studio, based in Greece

(Image credit: Press)

BCH House in Megara

BCH House in Megara, by K-Studio, based in Greece

(Image credit: Press)

A private house in Suffolk

A private house in Suffolk by Ström Architects, United Kingdom

(Image credit: Press)

A private house in Suffolk

A private house in Suffolk by Ström Architects, United Kingdom

(Image credit: Press)

Exhibition introduction, seen here in reverse

The stitching also stretches to the exhibition introduction, seen here in reverse

(Image credit: Press)

A terraced house in Dublin

A terraced house in Dublin by Donal Colfer Architects, based in Ireland

(Image credit: Press)

Amida House

Amida House, Shizuoka, by Kochi Architect's Studio, Japan

(Image credit: Press)

Double-Ex House

Double-Ex House concept by N Architects

(Image credit: Press)

Double-Ex House

Double-Ex House concept by N Architects

(Image credit: Press)

July Design Directory issue

Visitors to the show can flick through the iPad version of our July Design Directory issue

(Image credit: Press)

A prefab house

A prefab house by MYCC, based in Spain

(Image credit: Press)

Entry for the Fundecor HQ Competition

Entry for the Fundecor HQ Competition in Costa Rica, by MAST, based in Denmark

(Image credit: Press)

Entry for the Fundecor HQ Competition

Entry for the Fundecor HQ Competition in Costa Rica, by MAST, based in Denmark

(Image credit: Press)

CLF house complex in Nuequén

CLF house complex in Nuequén, by Estudio Babo, based in Argentina

(Image credit: Press)

Project based in Sweden

Åre Solbringen project in Björnänge, by Waldemarson Berglund, based in Sweden

(Image credit: Press)

Wood Patchwork house

Wood Patchwork house by Peter Kostelov, based in Russia

(Image credit: Press)

Wood Patchwork house

Wood Patchwork house by Peter Kostelov, based in Russia

(Image credit: Press)

Pick up a poster

Visitors to the launch party could pick up a poster of the stiched illustrations

(Image credit: Press)

Project based in Portugal

Casa MB, in Óbidos, by Brito.Rodriguez Arquitectura, based in Portugal

(Image credit: Press)

Gelukstraat house

Gelukstraat house, in Ghent, by Dierendonckblancke Architecten, based in Belgium

(Image credit: Press)

Mirante do Horto house

Mirante do Horto house, in São Paulo, by Flávio Castro Arquiteto, based in Brazil

(Image credit: Press)

Family house in Austria

Family house in Austria, by Kuehn Malvezzi, based in Germany

(Image credit: Press)

Runkelsteiner Villa

Runkelsteiner Villa, in Bolzano, by JM Architecture, based in Italy

(Image credit: Press)

House WE

House WE, by Eriksen Skajaa, based in Norway

(Image credit: Press)

ADDRESS

SW1 Gallery
12 Cardinal Walk
Roof Garden Level
Cardinal Place (off Victoria Street)
London SW1E 5JE 

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Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).