By enlisting seven emergent firms to display their trade’s “measurable means,” the Trade project functions as an act of architectural exhibition curation that demystifies the specialized tools of the profession for a wider public audience. Stemming from the concept of the trade show itself, the exhibit focuses on the items—drawings, models, and documents—that define the “stuff” of architecture, revealing the critical work that happens between a project’s first meeting and its completion.
The installation, commissioned by AIA New Practices New York and The Architect’s Newspaper, consists of a series of tilted plywood forms that recall the drafting tables of a traditional office or a temporary table on a construction site. These pavilions act as distinct stations where firms present the means of their practice in their most elemental form: the drawing. Elevated by the architectural forms that support them, the drawings are displayed in a neat, organized manner that speaks to the rigor of the profession.
The exhibit engages the specific audience of BKLYN Designs by highlighting the process of making, encouraging interaction from showgoers who may be embarking on a renovation or working with an architect for the first time. By elevating technical artifacts to a sculptural scale, the installation acts as a vehicle for introducing the architect’s tools to a larger audience, inviting a deeper public appreciation for the craft and intentionality of design excellence in NYC.
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