STYLE 1 MEDIA >>> DESIGN MIAMI/ 2011
Design Miami/ 2011
Meridian Avenue at 19th Street, Miami Beach, FL | 11.29-12.4.2011 | by Merry Esparza & Alan Horowitz
The pre-eminent international design show, Design Miami/, experienced a significant increase in sales and attendance
at its 2011 edition which took place from November 29 to December 4th, 2011. The show attracted a record number of 29,000 visitors, bringing in its strongest
sales figures to date. Now in its seventh year, Design Miami/ provides a showcase for limited-edition work from top international designers
and presents cultural programming that highlights significant ideas, trends, and directions in the design field.
In its prime location adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center and Art Basel Miami Beach,
Design Miami/ attracts collectors, gallerists, designers, and curators from around the world.
(left: "Genesis," by 2011 Designer of the Year, David Adjaye)
This year Design Miami/ exhibited historic and contemporary design from 28 participating galleries,
including Pierre Marie Giraud, Mark McDonald, Galerie Maria Wettergren, Didier Ltd, Modernity, Hostler Burrows, Magen H Gallery, Galerie VIVID,
Dansk Møbelkunst, Galerie Patrick Seguin, Galerie kreo, Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Demisch Danant, Jousse Entreprise, Johnson Trading Gallery, R 20th Century,
Gallery SEOMI, Cristina Grajales Gallery, and Todd Merrill Twentieth Century.
The Design On/Site Galleries sector, which showcases installation-driven exhibits by talented new designers,
featured Industry Gallery presenting Tom Price; Priveekollektie Contemporary Art|Design showing
Christien Meindertsma; Established & Sons presenting BarberOsgerb; Southern Guild showing
Gregor Jenkin; and Venice Projects presenting Patricia Urquiola.
W Magazine Editor-in-Chief Stefano Tonchi moderated Design Talks,
a series of discussions about art, architecture, design, and fashion as seen from the perspective of renowned design figures and industry leaders.
This year's participants included Lord Norman Foster, David Adjaye, Peter Adjaye, Teresita Fernandez, Joseph Altuzarra, Rafael de Cardenas,
and Patricia Urquiola.
The Design Satellites sector included off-site installations, museum exhibits, and showhouses.
In Miami's Design District stood Architecting The Future: Buckminster Fuller & Norman Foster, a restored 24-foot
Fly's Eye Dome by Buckminster Fuller and a reconstructed Dymaxion 4 car by Lord Norman Foster.
The dome belongs to the Craig Robins Collection and will soon be a permanent fixture in the Miami Design District.
The Wolfsonian-FIU presented Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, an exhibition of French design from the 1940’s to the present.
The Elle Decor Showhouse at Paramount Bay featured 10,000 square feet of rooms designed and decorated
by well-known American interior designers
2011 Designer of the Year Award recipient, David Adjaye, was commissioned to design
Genesis, a site-specific structure built outside the entrance to the Design Miami/ pavilion. This gazebo-like creation served as a unique lounge
area that attendees could explore.
Mr. Adjaye is Principal Architect of the London-based Adjaye Associates, with offices in Berlin and New York City
An internationally renowned architect, he is known for creating projects that dissolve the boundaries between architecture, sculpture, and design.
Sponsors and partners brought intriguing installations this year to Design Miami/ 2011.
Audi showcased its new Audi A2 concept car, in Urban Future, an interactive,
three-dimensional LED installation created by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels.
The installation shows a street that can continuously change its function from a highway to a pedestrian zone or recreational area.
Swarovski Crystal Palace, in collaboration with artist
Erwin Redl, presented Crystal Matrix II, a maze of 16 kinetic modules rotating on a disk
suspended from the ceiling. Illuminated by continuously changing, multi-colored LEDs and accompanied by sound sequences, the installation created an "other-worldly"
atmosphere in which visitors could linger.
Fendi hosted the Design Miami/ Collectors Lounge, and collaborated
with designer Elisa Strozyk and artist Sebastian Neeb to create
Craft Alchemy, a design performance using discarded leather materials from Fendi.
Design lovers, collectors, and others involved in the design field, owe it to themselves to visit Design Miami. Looking forward,
Design Miami/ Basel 2012 will take place from June 12th through 17th, with a preview day on June 11th.
Design Miami/ 2012 will be held from December 4th through 9th, with a preview day on December 4th.
For more information, please visit: www.designmiami.com
