Design Miami 2014 preview: the top 15 exhibits and satellite events

The world’s design galleries and designers

(Image credit: press)

Celebrating its 10-year anniversary this December, Design Miami has affirmed its position as the go-to event for the international design community. Consistently relevant, the fair not only includes the best from the world’s design galleries and designers, but also attracts a plethora of brands, installations and collateral fairs. As the art and design worlds prepare to collide this week, we map out this year’s must-see events...

Two dormitory rooms


(Image credit: Charlotte Perriand and Le Corbusier)

Dormitory room for House of Brazil at Cité Internationale Universitaire, by Charlotte Perriand and Le Corbusier, 1959

Galerie Patrick Seguin
Marking the gallery’s tenth participation at the fair, Galerie Patrick Seguin presents works by Jean Prouvè, Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand created for the dormitories of French universities. Two dormitory rooms by Prouvè (for the Cité Universitaires in Nancy and Anthony near Paris) and one by Le Corbusier and Perriand (the House of Brazil at the Cité Internationale Universitaire) are displayed for the first time in this retrospective of the three iconic designers’ no-fuss approach to economical, solid design.

Design Miami, Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach
3-7 December,
www.patrickseguin.com

he design sensibility of Italian architect


(Image credit: Vincenzo De Cotiis)

'Déchaînements' by Vincenzo De Cotiis

Carwan Gallery
The design sensibility of Italian architect Vincenzo De Cotiis is fused with the inspiring scenery of Beirut in this collection presented by the Lebanese Carwan Gallery. Created following De Cotiis’ trip to the city, the collection includes tables, rugs and lights, the designs of which reference Beirut’s many architectural layers.

Design Miami, Meridian Avenue & 19th Street, adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach
3-7 December, www.carwangallery.com

Extensive design patronage


(Image credit: Thomas Albdorf)

Left: a model of the exhibition, which will comprise a table, two mires and wall-mounted displays. Right: plants and flowers adorn the table.

Perrier-Jouët
Continuing its extensive design patronage, champagne house Perrier-Jouët has commissioned Austrian design studio Mischer’traxler to create its installation at Design Miami. Titled ‘Ephemera’, the design duo have created a museum-like display featuring a table, display boxes and a mirror inspired by human interactions with the natural world - a theme that fits in with Perrier Jouët’s Art Nouveau roots. Following on from the house’s previous collaborations with Studio Glithero and Simon Hejdens, this third collaboration will expand into a year-long project that will see the designers work on new pieces and packaging, to be unveiled next spring.

Design Miami, Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach
3-7 December,
www.perrier-jouet.com

The tireless Design Miami team


(Image credit: design studio Ro Lu)

Patrick Parrish Gallery will feature a new work from design studio Ro Lu

Design Curio
The tireless Design Miami team this year presents ‘Design Curio’, a new platform within the fair featuring four cabinets of curiosities focused on scientific and technological research. The inaugural edition features Miami-based science initiative Coral Morphologic's ‘Coral Therapy,’ an installation of incredible reef images, while New York galleries Joe Sheftel and Koenig & Clinton get together to showcase the best of Ettore Sottsass’ Memphis-era lighting. Also hailing from New York, Patrick Parrish Gallery features new work from design studio Ro Lu, while Los Angeles/Beijing-based Gallery All proposes a humorous take on design with a Brazilian rosewood cabinet by Naihan Li that doubles as a 1:100 scale model of OMA’s CCTV building in the Chinese capital.

Design Miami, Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center
3-7 December,
www.designmiami.com

A sketch


(Image credit: Massimo Uberti)

A sketch by Massimo Uberti of his light installation 'Elements'

Bentley
Expanding its reach beyond the automotive world, Bentley participates in Design Miami with a striking installation by light artist Massimo Uberti and visual consultancy Campbell Rey. The installation, entitled 'Elements', is the first in a series of art and design commissions - to be developed further throughout 2015 - and plays on the concrete and abstract elements of car construction. The work was inspired by Uberti’s recent visit to Bentley's factory in Crewe, England, and celebrates the British manufacturer’s commitment to craftsmanship.

Design Miami, Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach
3-7 December,
www.bentleymotors.com

Aluminium furniture


(Image credit: Alex Rasmussen)

'Suzuri' table and 'Salver' tray/plate by Alex Rasmussen

Edward Cella Art + Architecture Gallery
Experimental ceramic works by Adam Silverman are on display alongside plans by 21st century architects, in Edward Cella’s overview that includes contemporary structures by Tadao Ando, Frank Gehry, Rem Koolhaas, Daniel Libeskind and Frank Lloyd Wright. Complement these works will be a series of stark aluminium furniture by designer Alex Rasmussen.

Design Miami, Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach
3-7 December,
www.designmiami.com, www.edwardcella.com

Thinning Ice


(Image credit: Jeanne Gang and James Balog)

Render of 'Thinning Ice' by Jeanne Gang and James Balog

Swarovski Crystal
Swarovski’s crystal savoir-faire is coupled with concern for the environment in this installation by architect Jeanne Gang in collaboration with American nature photographer and filmmaker James Balog. Over the course of a year, the photographer documented the shrinking of the Stubai Glacier in Austria, the reportage of which was then used by Gang to create the walls of this immersive installation along with ‘frozen’ Swarovski crystals that create the illusion of melting ice. The resulting effect is both visually arresting and emotionally touching and is a fitting example of the Austrian crystal brand’s commitment to initiatives aimed at water conservation and preservation.

Design Miami, Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach
3-7 December,
www.designmiami.com, www.swarovski.com

Playing with Shapes


(Image credit: Pierre Paulin © Louis Vuitton)

Render of 'Playing with Shapes' by Pierre Paulin. © Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton
Elswhere in Miami, French fashion house Louis Vuitton has a special sensibility when it comes to safeguarding iconic design. After last year’s project - which saw Charlotte Perriand's 1923 beach house built for the first time - the brand now presents 18 furniture pieces by revered French designer Pierre Paulin, developed by creative director Nicolas Ghesquière in close collaboration with Maïa and Benjamin Paulin, the late designer’s wife and son. Designed in 1972 for American office maker Herman Miller, the previously unrealised collection will now be available for purchase. The modular designs each feature Paulin’s signature striking curves and bold colours.

Louis Vuitton, 140 NE 39th Street, Miami
3-7 December,
www.louisvuitton.com, www.hermanmiller.com

Stool marked with a special silver stamp


(Image credit: Claudia Moreira Salles)

'Concreto' bench by Claudia Moreira Salles

Espasso
New York gallery Espasso celebrates Brazilian design and its influence on the wider international scene with a display of the country’s finest furniture design. The exhibition unveils never-seen-before works by the leading names such as Sérgio Rodrigues, Carlos Motta, Oscar Niemeyer and Claudia Moreira Salles. The exhibition features the 60th anniversary edition of Rodriques’ 'Mocho' stool marked with a special silver stamp, and poignantly the 'Benjamin chair' - the last piece created by the designer before he passed away in September this year, aged 86.

The Shore Club, 1901 Collins Ave, Miami Beach
4 December 2014 - 4 January 2015,
espasso.com

A Roman Lounge


(Image credit: Dimore Studio)

Render of 'Roman Lounge' by Dimore Studio

Fendi
Masters of combining luxury craftsmanship with the best of contemporary design, Fendi unveils its latest collaboration with Milanese designers Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci of Dimore Studio. A visual tribute to the Italian brand, the designers have created a ‘Roman Lounge’, which features colours and materials inspired by Fendi’s rich heritage, updated with the duo’s aesthetic touch. 

Fendi Casa, 90 NE 39th St, Miami
3-7 December,
www.fendi.com, www.dimorestudio.eu

Designers to create bespoke cakes


(Image credit: press)

A sketch of Alessandro Mendini's cake for Chamber

Chamber and Pin-Up
New York-based concept store Chamber has commissioned a group of world-renowned designers to create bespoke cakes. Contributions come courtesy of luminaries such as Viktor & Rolf and Alessandro Mendini to Studio Job and Formafantasma. The designers’ cakes, produced by Laila Gohar of Sunday Supper and Antonella Tignanelli, are an edible microcosm of each designer’s signature work.

Casa Claridge, 3500 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
1 December,
chambernyc.com

Contemporary design meets bazaar


(Image credit: John Paul Thomas)

Montage featuring artwork by Heidi Chisolm and Sharon Lombard; fashion from Bernhard Willhelm S/S 2015 collection; and beaded watches by Walter Van Beirendonck.

The World of Mr Somebody & Mr Nobody
An all-star cast of creatives come together for The World of Mr Somebody & Mr Nobody', a group installation curated by Heidi Chisholm, Cathy Leff, and Sharon Lombard, and hosted by Craig Robins at Miami Design District. Featuring fashion designers Walter Van Beirendonck and Bernhard Willhelm, the 'contemporary design meets bazaar' extravaganza also includes photography by Miles Ladin, a graphic treatment by Peet Pienaar and clothes by Superella bazaar.

Miami Design District, 91 NE 40 Street, Miami
1-15 December,
www.mrsomebodyandmrnobody.com

Art Basel returns to the city


(Image credit: Lena Herzog)

‘StrandBeest’ by Theo Jansen.

Art Basel Miami Beach
Adjacent to Design Miami, Art Basel returns to the city with a rich programme including film, public installations and artist talks. Film highlights include a new feature by Tim Burton on the life of Walter Keane (played by Christoph Waltz), while Collins Park is transformed by the work of 26 international artists working on the theme of experimentation. Swiss watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet also returns to the fair with ‘StrandBeest: the Dream Machines of Theo Jansen’, presenting the Dutch artist’s structures through works by photographer Lena Herzog.

Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach
4-7 December,
www.artbasel.com/miami-beach

Travelling modernist exhibition


(Image credit: Jean Prouvé and Pierre Jeanneret, 1945)

La Maison des Sinistrés by Jean Prouvé and Pierre Jeanneret, 1945

Bally
Miami's cross-pollination of art and design continues with Bally’s travelling modernist exhibition ‘Function and Modernity’, (its first stop was in Basel earlier this year), which is set to pop up for its second instalment in the Floridian city. Here, the Swiss accessories brand will present the next stage of its restoration of La Maison des Sinistrés - the iconic house designed in 1945 by Jean Prouvé and Pierre Jeanneret. Also returning are French duo Kolkoz, joined by American artist Zak Kitnick, who will each present new work in Miami.

Delano South Beach’s Orchard, 1685 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
4-7 December,
www.bally.com

Bronze Boxes


(Image credit: Maggie Nimkin)

'Bronze Boxes' in silvered and blackened bronze by Peter Marino.


Bass Museum of Art: 'One Way' by Peter Marino
Architect Peter Marino’s multifaceted ouevre is explored through art at the Jerôme Sans-curated Bass Museum retrospective. Presenting the architect’s work alongside pieces from his personal art collection and a series of cast-bronze objects, the exhibition also includes new work commissioned by Marino from artists Gregor Hildebrandt, Guy Limone, Farhad Moshiri, Jean-Michel Othoniel and Erwin Wurm.

Bass Museum of Art, 2100 Collins Ave, Miami Beach
4 December 2014 - 3 May 2015,
www.bassmuseum.org

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.