NOT NOT: An Office, An Exhibition

Join Van Alen Institute to celebrate the launch of NOT NOT and the opening of a space that is not quite an exhibition, not quite an office, and definitely not not a party.

Founded by Celia Chaussabel and Ekin Bilal, NOT NOT is a design practice working across architecture, objects, and stories. The office explores the overlooked spaces, materials, and systems that shape the built environment, from maintenance routines and demolition debris to regulatory gray zones and infrastructures that sustain buildings over time.

The eponymous exhibition NOT NOT features a mix of recent work by Chaussabel and Bilal alongside new designs, commissions, and proposals. Side-by-side with architectural drawings and models, the exhibition includes animations, video games, comics, furniture, and other formats that expand how architecture can be made and shared.

Supported by NYSCA and the Architectural League of New York, this exhibition turns Van Alen Institute’s Urban Room into something between a show and a working office. 

Ekin Bilal and Celia Chaussabel are members of the Van Alen Vanguard, a network of 21 emerging design leaders. Activating Van Alen’s space at 303 Bond Street, the Vanguard develops public programs and exhibitions that reimagine designers’ roles in civic life. NOT NOT is the first exhibition presented as part of the Van Alen Vanguard.