As the summer winds down, Toronto’s venerable Design Exchange gears up for an action-packed autumn.
On Sept. 13, two exhibitions that focus on international structural design make their debut. Curated by architectural historian and critic Nina Rappaport, Vertical Urban Factory surveys historical and contemporary factories around the world, highlighting innovative architecture and design. First presented at New York City’s Skyscraper Museum, the exhibition considers boundary-pushing factories in Modern and Contemporary sections, with sub-themes of New York, Detroit and Asia; the addition of Toronto will be included for the exhibit’s stay at the DX. Vertical Urban Factory presents over 200 photographs, drawings and diagrams of 30+ projects; a timeline of industry, architecture and labour, designed by Brooklyn-based MGMT Design; nine architectural models created using state-of-the-art computer fabrication; and six films, including historical and contemporary footage, by documentary filmmaker Eric Breitbart. The accompanying exhibition is Considering the Quake: Seismic Design on the Edge. It features structures that surpass conventional approaches to seismic design. Including full-scale seismic technology, models, renderings, animation and other multimedia platforms, the exhibition goes behind a building’s skin through its response to natural catastrophes.
On Sept. 21, the Sons of Architecture Speakers Series opens with Tomas Koolhaas, whose father is the renowned architect Rem Koolhaas. The talk will focus on Tomas’s upcoming tribute to his father, a feature documentary titled REM – which uses an unconventional approach by focusing on the experience and effect of the architecture rather than biographical information about the architect.
On Nov. 12, the series continues with Dion Neutra, son of Richard Neutra, one of Modernism’s most significant architects. Taking over Richard’s practice in 1970, Dion has been instrumental in furthering his father‘s legacy and countless preservation efforts in California.
On Nov. 16, the DX holds its annual fundraising gala – always a hot ticket in Toronto. Intersection DX occupies all three floors of the historic Design Exchange building, bringing design to life through a mash-up of design disciplines and creative cultures. Honoured at the gala will be an internationally acclaimed trailblazer who effortlessly moves between creative disciplines. Live entertainment, excellent food and always-surprising decor round out the evening. Auctions of oddities and unprecedented raffles provide guests with ample opportunity to walk away with a symbolic memory of Intersection DX.
See you at the DX this autumn.