10 must-see architecture and design events to check out this May

If you're looking for exciting architecture and design events to add to your calendar this May, check out our curated selection of recommendations, including exhibitions, festivals, conferences, and symposia taking place across the U.S. and abroad. 

For the complete roster of ongoing and upcoming happenings listed on Bustler, head to our Events section.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Constructing Hope: Ukraine | May 2 – September 30, New York

"Constructing Hope: Ukraine presents the work of over a dozen participants currently applying architectural thinking to support Ukraine’s short- and long-term reconstruction efforts. In the face of Russia’s unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine — a war that has destroyed and existentially threatened Ukrainians’ lives, ecology, culture, and infrastructure — these multidisciplinary creatives regain agency over their environment by employing architectural strategies and practices as a form of resistance."

Biophilia: Nature Reimagined | May 5 – August 11, Denver

"Biophilia: Nature Reimagined brings together more than 80 imaginative works, including architectural models and photographs, objects, fashion, digital installations, and immersive art experiences that collectively highlight the transformative power of nature. [...] The exhibition features works by an international roster of designers and artists, including Iris van Herpen, Studio Gang, teamLab, Joris Laarman, and DRIFT, among others."

Australian Architecture Conference | May 8–11, Melbourne

"Discover how architects are changing the game and shaping the future of architecture, pushing boundaries and redefining norms. Delve into circular and sustainable architecture, to learn more on innovative design approaches in a climate-constrained world. Listen to local and international experts cover the vexed issue of the global housing crisis, where we will explore how architects are stepping up to the challenge. Join the conversation as we discuss how to communicate the value of architecture and amplify our impact in the community."

The World Around Annual Summit | May 11, New York

"The World Around’s flagship Annual Summit, convening global architecture’s now, near and next will take place at the Guggenheim Museum in NYC on Saturday May 11th, 2024. This all-day program curated by Beatrice Galilee will be a year of architecture and design in a day, introducing the best of contemporary buildings, initiatives across landscape, technology and design today."

RAIC Conference On Architecture | May 14–18, Vancouver

"The 2024 Conference Program features high-quality learning opportunities that include interactive content, innovative ideas, and engaging discussions. Participants at all career levels will take away insights, inspiration, and ideas for practical application."

NYCxDESIGN Festival | May 16–23, New York

"At the heart of NYCxDESIGN’s mission lies the NYCxDESIGN Festival, an annual citywide celebration featuring hundreds of design events, from exhibits and trade shows to talks and tours, drawing hundreds of thousands attendees from near and far, making it a must-attend for design enthusiasts worldwide."

Docomomo US National Symposium, May 29 – June 1, Miami and Coral Gables

"Entitled Streams of Modernity: Postwar to Postmodern, the 2024 National Symposium is a collaboration of Docomomo US and the Docomomo US/Florida chapter. The symposium seeks to promote a broader understanding of the accomplishments of postwar to Postmodern architecture and culture in regionally specific contexts such as South Florida, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Themes to be explored include: Tropical Brutalism, Postwar campus planning in the (sub)tropics, LGBTQ+Modernism, Postwar tourism, urban renewal and Interstate infrastructure, Modern architecture and popular culture in south Florida, polychrome Modern & the integration of the arts, and more."

ONGOING EVENTS

Wood’s Up! The Rise of Timber Buildings | Until May 22, Berlin

"The Wood's Up! exhibition at Aedes presents 16 realised and planned timber buildings of different typologies. Local structures, alternative financing models and ecological aspects play an important role in the selection of the international projects. The focus on sustainable hybrid timber construction also opens up perspectives for further new strategies and concepts for the future of this building material."

Loop as Lab: Reshaping Downtowns | Now open, Chicago

"Chicago’s Loop is an inflection point, emerging from the pandemic on shaky footing but also with abundant opportunity to transition to something more vibrant, resilient, and livable. Loop as Lab: Reshaping Downtowns holds our central business district up to the light, exploring ways to keep our economic engine humming while diversifying uses and making the Loop more welcoming for everyone. The exhibition frames Chicago’s Loop as a 'lab' for examining the shared challenges American downtowns face today. It prompts visitors’ reflection on their own experiences and aspirations and ventures design and policy solutions for reshaping downtowns and our relationship to them."

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania | Until March 17, 2025, Washington D.C.

"Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania presents both realized and unrealized projects Frank Lloyd Wright designed for the region from the 1930s through the 1950s. The exhibition examines how his vision of the future might have impacted urban, suburban, and rural landscapes."

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