A format of exhibition where architecture is used as an active curatorial tool. It is architecture that selects the pieces to be commissioned, whether a chair or a lamp is necessary to communicate a certain message. It is also architecture that displays the pieces as to form a coherent narrative that they adopt when arranged to form a specific composition.
The narrative of the exhibition was based on the blueprint of an Auction Room: a few rows of chairs, lighting, a gavel, a rug, the ordinary light switches like in every space and a few decorative features to make the room feel more authentic. Fifteen designers were invited to design those components. Since they were staging a fake auction room, created entirely to serve the purpose of disintegrating itself across bids, they too were challenged to work around the theme of fake. They were asked to interpret the theme freely in its variations: fallacy, subversion, copy… and the results were surprising. Different perspectives originated a rich variation of ideas and designs.
In the context of London Design Week it seemed urgent to make a comment on the economic purpose of many of the exhibitions that happen during its course. To do so, creating an auction room seemed rather effective, showing the pieces already serving their ultimate purpose: to be sold. Or the pieces pretending like they’re going to be sold. But actually they’re almost free. Swapping services is a common practice amongst designers, architects and artists, so swapping became the adopted currency. Anyone can join in and leave with a fantastic design piece.
