Alcova Miami will take place in two historic Biscayne Boulevard locations

Alcova Miami was announced as the first international edition of annual design exhibition Alcova, set to make its debut between 6-10 December 2023 to coincide with Design Miami and Art Basel Miami Beach.

Based on a concept of highlighting and transforming historically rich, abandoned spaces, Alcova was launched as a curated exhibition by curators Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima, and locations in Milan so far have included a former military hospital, a slaughterhouse and panettone factory.

For this inaugural edition in Miami, the event will take over two spaces at the Biscayne Boulevard Historic District locations, namely the Selina Gold Dust Motel and the former Emancipator Boatyard.

Alcova Miami: the locations

The first Miami edition of Alcova marks a new era for the design event, which aims to connect with a new international audience and highlight the city's unique architectural heritage.

The event will take place in two locations, including the Selina Gold Dust Motel, dating back to the 1950s and a fine example of Biscayne Boulevard motel, a typology, the organisers explain, that is deeply ingrained in Miami's cultural fabric.

The Emancipator Boatyard, meanwhile, was set up in the 1940s by Samuel Mortimer Auerbach, and it is here that legendary 'Emancipator' wooden racing boats were made.

Alcova Miami: what to expect

'We are excited to bring Alcova to Miami, a city renowned as one of the most important international platforms for art and design,' said Ciuffi and Grima in a note introducing the new edition. 'We are convinced that Miami’s unique urban fabric, rich in traces of a vibrant architectural history, is the perfect place to create a dynamic platform that fosters meaningful connections and interactions between exhibitors and visitors.'

As with the Milan editions of the show, Alcova Miami will offer a panoramic view over emerging creatives and new design thinking, with experimental manufacturing approaches and imaginative solutions to today's pressing issues. The exhibition will showcase emerging and established designers and brands, serving as a platform for collaboration and engagement.

Conclude the curators: 'Alcova Miami will offer a fresh perspective and an opportunity to present new forms of practice in a city that has always embraced a freethinking approach to design.'

Alcova Miami will take place from 6-10 December 2023

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