11 must-see architecture and design events to check out this October

With the Fall season well underway, are you curious about exciting architecture and design events that are taking place in October? Bustler has you covered with a curated list of recommendations that are worth checking out!

This month's event picks include a lineup of design festivals in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Tokyo. Not to mention the ever-popular Modernism Week in Palm Springs, the inaugural Design Miami/Paris in France, and some important professional gatherings like this year's ACADIA and the CTBUH International Conference. 

Must-see exhibitions on display through October include Refik Anadol's mesmerizing "Unsupervised" installation at MoMA, among others. We also highlight two promising Biennales taking place in Seoul and Chicago that began in September and are worth marking on your calendars to visit.

Explore all current and upcoming events featured on Bustler here.

Archtober | October 1–31, New York

Don't miss New York City's renowned architecture and design festival that highlights its famed built environment through events, exhibitions, activities, and much more across all five boroughs. Stay tuned for Archtober's latest Building of the Day highlights and other event announcements. If you're in the NYC area, be sure to check it out!

Open House Chicago | October 14–15, Chicago

The city's public festival celebrating the history and impact of Chicago architecture welcomes the community to participate in exciting self-guiding trails, offering "behind the scenes access to architecturally, historically and culturally significant sites," in addition to talks and other programming. Led by the Chicago Architecture Center, this is a weekend event you should attend.

Modernism Week | October 19–22, Palm Springs

Don't miss Palm Springs Modernism Week's fall program! This year, there will be over 50 events consisting of talks, tours, parties, and unique spots that highlight the beauty of modern architecture in the California desert. Not to mention the opening night of the Palm Springs Modernism Fall Show that takes place on October 20. 

Atlanta Design Festival | October 14–22, Atlanta

The Atlanta Design Festival is a week-long celebration that brings together creative industries in the Atlanta metro area and beyond. It features installations, exhibitions, design tours, film screenings, and conferences to showcase the city's global influence and innovative ideas in fields like architecture, product design, digital tech, and marketing. The festival, organized by MA! Design is Human, welcomes diverse audiences to engage with and enhance Atlanta's cultural and creative communities.

Design Miami/ Paris | October 17–22, Paris

Design Miami/ Paris is the inaugural satellite fair of Design Miami/ in France, showcasing leading galleries and design studios with 20th and 21st-century collectible design. A must-attend for architecture, design, and art enthusiasts, it offers a chance to source innovative creations. The event includes talks and workshops and emphasizes sustainability to reduce environmental impact.

DESIGNART TOKYO | October 20–29, Tokyo

DESIGNART TOKYO is an annual festival that showcases a diverse array of art and design in the Japanese capital, including architecture, fashion, and technology. The 2023 theme, "Sparks: Freeing Your Thoughts," focuses on the creative potential of computational design technology. The event offers exhibitions, workshops, and talks by global artists and designers. Highlights include a show by emerging computational designers, a workshop on design software, and a talk on the future of computational design in society.

CTBUH International Conference | October 16–21, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's international conference under the 2023 theme of "Humanizing High Density—People, Nature & the Urban Realm" creates a platform for urban planners, architects, and design professionals to help envision, debate, and facilitate a better understanding of "transportation, public and cultural institutions, open space, commercial enterprises, and other integral infrastructure needs."

ACADIA | October 21–28, Denver

This year's ACADIA (The Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture) conference asks participants to "explore suppressed voices, indigenous, feminist, and queer perspectives that challenge utopianism, capitalism, and consumerism." Scholars, researchers, practitioners, and technologists working within the architecture space will come together to engage and discuss this year's theme, "Habits of the Anthropocene," through presentations, panel discussions, and workshops (both online and in-person).

ONGOING EVENTS CONTINUING THROUGH OCTOBER

Refik Anadol: Unsupervised | Until October 29, New York

"Unsupervised" on display at MoMA is another innovative art installation by media artist Refik Anadol that uses artificial intelligence to interpret and transform over two centuries of the museum's art. This immersive experience continuously generates new and surreal digital artworks based on MoMA's collection. Anadol's team trained a machine-learning model to interpret the data and incorporate real-time environmental factors, resulting in a dynamic exploration of modern art, fantasy, and creativity. Open through the end of October, this is an exhibition one shouldn't miss.

Read more about the exhibition in our previous Archinect editorial coverage here and in our exclusive interview with Anadol.

Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism | Until October 29, Seoul

The Seoul Biennale is currently on display as it continues its fourth edition through the end of October. Showcasing the Korean capital's 100-year Masterplan exhibition, the event this year follows the theme of "Multi-Layered Land Use and Green Network," establishing "long-term plans for the city, including eco-friendly solutions and new infrastructure." 

Chicago Architecture Biennial | Until February 11, 2024, Chicago

The Chicago Architecture Biennial is a prominent platform highlighting the global influence of creativity and innovation in architecture and design. Currently in its fifth edition, this year's theme and focus, "This is a Rehearsal," promises an extensive program comprised of exhibitions and events with more than 100 cultural collaborators. Covering diverse themes pertinent to the architecture and design realm, this event is essential for both industry experts and passionate enthusiasts. CAB5 will continue through February 2024.

Read more about the Biennial in our previous Archinect editorial coverage here.

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