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  1. Production & Strategy
  2. Programming & Entertainment

At Design Miami, Sponsors Fendi, Audi, and Swarovski Showcase High-Tech, Textural Installations

Ashley Marco
December 2, 2011

Design Miami opened to the public Wednesday with work by 170 designers and gallery owners from four continents on display. The event, now in its seventh year, merged historic design with cutting-edge contemporary work, highlighting important pieces of furniture, lighting, and objets d'art from the 20th and 21st centuries.

“Design is the creative discipline that most strongly shapes and impacts the world that surrounds us," said Marianne Goebl, director of Design Miami. "Design is also a discipline that embraces many facets and shapes from the unique, hand-made piece to the machine-made mass production. Design Miami is dedicated to representing the most relevant perspective in the field of collectible design.”

For the second year, the international design forum is at home in a 49,000-square-foot custom exhibition venue in a parking lot adjacent to the Art Basel Miami Beach fair, which runs through Sunday at the Miami Beach Convention Center. According to Gobel, this year’s Design Miami show grew by 40 percent and 9,000 square feet. First-time participants include Belgium artist Pierre Marie Giraud and Parisian gallery owner Maria Wettergren.

This year’s sponsors, Fendi, Audi, and Swarovski, all created striking installations that highlighted light, architecture, and, of course, design. Automotive sponsor Audi teamed up with Danish architect Bjarke Ingels to bring his vision of a “digital street” to life in an interactive, three-dimensional LED installation titled “Urban Future.” The display also functioned as the U.S. debut of the A2 e-tron concept car. Swarovski presented "Crystal Matrix II" by Erwin Redl, pairing light and music with solo pedestal displays of illuminated crystals, and Fendi even featured a V.I.P. Collector’s Lounge, which mirrored its "Craft Alchemy" design performance gallery. Contemporary artist Sebastian Neeb and designer Elisa Strozyk developed leather furniture sculptures inspired by the brand's Rome headquarters.

London-based architect and designer David Adjaye received the designer of the year award and showcased a larger-than-life wooden installation called "Genesis" at the entrance of the Design Miami pavilion. The wooden structure, made of hundreds of vertical pine planks, created a meditative space at the entrance and introduced visitors to Adjaye’s vision.

The event also welcomed back Stefano Tonchi, W magazine's editor in chief. He moderated Design Talks, a series of panel discussions that featured Lord Norman and Lady Elena Foster, designer of the year winner Adjaye, architect Rafael de Cardenas, and Spanish designer and architect Patricia Urquiola.

The Design Miami and Art Basel fairs run through Sunday. 

Sadesign Miami 2011 Schreiter 8088
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Outside of the custom-built pavilion, Design Miami logos covered the doors on the cars of exclusive automotive sponsor Audi.
Outside of the custom-built pavilion, Design Miami logos covered the doors on the cars of exclusive automotive sponsor Audi.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
London-based architect David Adjaye, this year's Design Miami designer of the year, mixed with guests in front of his installation 'Genesis.'
London-based architect David Adjaye, this year's Design Miami designer of the year, mixed with guests in front of his installation "Genesis."
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Adjaye described 'Genesis' as a 'giant piece of architectural furniture.' Hundreds of vertical pine planks formed the structure.
Adjaye described "Genesis" as a "giant piece of architectural furniture." Hundreds of vertical pine planks formed the structure.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Event sponsor Swarovski unveiled a dream-like crystal palace created by LED artist Erwin Redl. The installation included a maze of 16 kinetic modules that rotated on a disk suspending from the ceiling, all illuminated by floating, multicolored LEDs and backed by changing colors and sound sequences.
Event sponsor Swarovski unveiled a dream-like crystal palace created by LED artist Erwin Redl. The installation included a maze of 16 kinetic modules that rotated on a disk suspending from the ceiling, all illuminated by floating, multicolored LEDs and backed by changing colors and sound sequences.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Copenhagen-based design firm Big developed Audi's Urban Future as part of the firm's entry for the 2010 Audi Urban Future Award. The installation featured the A2 e-tron concept car and an interactive LED surface where light follows the feet of those who walk on it.
Copenhagen-based design firm Big developed Audi's Urban Future as part of the firm's entry for the 2010 Audi Urban Future Award. The installation featured the A2 e-tron concept car and an interactive LED surface where light follows the feet of those who walk on it.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Fendi commissioned designers Elisa Strozyk and Sebastian Neeb to create an installation with antique furniture pieces from the 18th century. The furnishings were transformed from solid wood to leather and other pliable textiles, using Fendi's discarded leather materials.
Fendi commissioned designers Elisa Strozyk and Sebastian Neeb to create an installation with antique furniture pieces from the 18th century. The furnishings were transformed from solid wood to leather and other pliable textiles, using Fendi's discarded leather materials.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Fendi's Design Performance piece 'Craft Alchemy' took place in a gallery room inspired by Palazzo Fendi, the grand Neo-Classical building that houses Fendi's international headquarters.
Fendi's Design Performance piece "Craft Alchemy" took place in a gallery room inspired by Palazzo Fendi, the grand Neo-Classical building that houses Fendi's international headquarters.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Stefano Tonchi, W magazine's editor in chief, moderated a three-day panel series, Design Talks.
Stefano Tonchi, W magazine's editor in chief, moderated a three-day panel series, Design Talks.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Large crowds turned out for Design Talks, held in the Design Miami pavilion.
Large crowds turned out for Design Talks, held in the Design Miami pavilion.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
The latest chandelier in Frederik Molenschot’s CityLight series was showcased at the Carpenters Workshop Gallery. Shanghai's cityscape inspired the design.
The latest chandelier in Frederik Molenschot’s CityLight series was showcased at the Carpenters Workshop Gallery. Shanghai's cityscape inspired the design.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Gallery Seoul displayed contemporary pieces by Korean designers that focused on the aesthetics of craftsmanship through a modern perspective.
Gallery Seoul displayed contemporary pieces by Korean designers that focused on the aesthetics of craftsmanship through a modern perspective.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Todd Merrill presented decorative arts by select designers, including the Dandelion by Harry Bertoia.
Todd Merrill presented decorative arts by select designers, including the Dandelion by Harry Bertoia.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Designer Michael Young presented pieces from his series 'Works in China,' including the coveted silver hex chair.
Designer Michael Young presented pieces from his series "Works in China," including the coveted silver hex chair.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Gallery Vivid presented five 100-year-old hand-blown crystal pieces titled 'Containers II' by Studio Job.
Gallery Vivid presented five 100-year-old hand-blown crystal pieces titled "Containers II" by Studio Job.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
Demisch Danant’s solo exhibition of Pierre Paulin’s designs showcased a selection of rare chairs in an environment inspired by his architecture.
Demisch Danant’s solo exhibition of Pierre Paulin’s designs showcased a selection of rare chairs in an environment inspired by his architecture.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
The Moss Gallery highlighted a solo exhibition of work by Dr. Haresh Lalvani titled 'Mass Customization of Emergent Designs,' featuring his work with decoding the morphological genome.
The Moss Gallery highlighted a solo exhibition of work by Dr. Haresh Lalvani titled "Mass Customization of Emergent Designs," featuring his work with decoding the morphological genome.
Photo: Juerg Schreiter for BizBash
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