The eighth edition of Design Miami/, the global forum for design, will see a significant increase in exhibiting galleries specializing in 20th and 21st century collectible design. Held December 5-9, 2012 in Miami Beach, Florida, this year’s program will see a 25% increase in galleries, representing both emerging and iconic design works from around the globe. The fair’s rigorous selection process ensures Design Miami’s ability to track and showcase the world’s most significant and groundbreaking furniture, lighting and objets d’art year after year.
Visitors to Design Miami/ will be welcomed by Drift, a pavilion created by New York-based collaborative studio Snarkitecture. A floating environment comprised of massive inflatable tubes, Drift resembles a topographical landscape in suspension: an ascending mountain above and an excavated cavern below. The lightness of the floating tubes underscores the mass of the enormous installation, visible from a distance of several blocks. The cascading cylinders of Drift lift to create paths of circulation around hanging stalactite forms, providing visitors with a meandering gateway to the fair. Apertures in the canopy above frame views of the Miami sky and allow sunlight into the shaded pavilion. Filtered light passes between the tubes of the excavated cavern, creating a space at the confluence of interaction, conversation and contemplation.
Approached by inflatable structure manufacturer Inflate, Snarkitecture was inspired to reimagine the material of the familiar white vinyl tent, via a large-scale tubular landscape. Incorporating their reductive design methodology, the studio sought to create an unexpected moment of exploration for visitors entering and exiting the fair. Their final design will also feature a courtyard seating installation, which will serve as a place for visitors to relax, socialize and enjoy the view. Snarkitecture is a collaborative practice operating in territories between the disciplines of art and architecture and was established by Daniel Arsham and Alex Mustonen.
