Thematic articles

Made in China

Designed in China

1, 2, 3... 52... 86, 87, 100... 115 - numbers that mark a series of events, exhibitions and interactive installations during the Beijing Design Week 2011(http://www.bjdw.org/en/) and the First Beijing International Design Triennial, which took place from September 26 to October 17, 2011. The guide to these three weeks contains detailed descriptions of all the events that together initiate a movement, a process that has as its main goal the transformation of Made in China into Designed in China.

751 is the site of a former gas power plant which, through conversion, has become the main forum for the development of new creative ideas in the city. On the occasion of 2011BJDW, it hosted a series of exhibitions along with conferences, seminars and workshops (activities 1, 2, 3... 32) covering topics ranging from architecture, interior and furniture design to graphics, media and fashion. From SPUN chairs by Heathterwick Studio to sensory lighting systems by Studio Roosegaarde, visitors had the opportunity to interact with a range of innovative objects to understand what Good Design means.

The 33, 34... 54 events took place in Hutong, in the Dashilar Alley area, around the historic city center of Beijing. The exhibitions, lectures, workshops and installations had a common goal to raise awareness of the issues of this neighborhood, "so that it can be transformed in a sensitive and organic way" (2011 Beijing Design Week Guidebook). By introducing different points, Design Week-related spaces into the hidden locations of Hutong, visitors had the opportunity to more easily experience this mysterious, dense and complex system of spaces. Among others, the exhibition in this area called Hutopolis, organized by Arquitectos AQSO, marks the starting point of an experimentation program that will in the future explore "the new frontiers of urban development in China" (2011BJDW Guide).

Read the full text in issue 5 / 2011 of Architecture Magazine.

1, 2, 3... 52 ... 86, 87, 100... 115 - numbers indexing a series of events, exhibitions and - mostly - interactive, design related activities all around Beijing under the umbrella of the 2011 Beijing Design Week(http://www.bjdw.org/en/) and The First Beijing International Design Triennial (September the 26th and October the 17th 2011). The guidebook of these 3 weeks is a detailed description of all the events that initiate a movement, a long process that has as its ultimate goal the transformation of Made in China into Designed in China.

751, a former gas power plant, now converted for use as a driver for the city's creative renaissance, showcased installations, exhibitions, alongside talks, seminars, workshops and activities no 1, 2, 3... 32 covering topics spanning from architecture, furniture, industrial and interior design to graphics, new media and fashion. From Heatherwick Studio's SPUN chair to the sensorial lighting system created by Studio Roosegaarde one could interact with a whole array of innovative design objects, and consequently understand the meaning of "good design".

Events no 33, 34 ... 54 took place in the Hutong, around the Dashilar Alley, in the heart of Old Beijing. The exhibitions featured in this district, the talks, workshops, installations were all part of an effort "to bring a renewed public awareness to Dashilar that, it is hoped, will help transform the area in a more sensitive, organic way"( 2011 Beijing Design Week Guidebook). By inserting Design Week-related spots into the Hutong's hidden locations, one could more easily experience the mysterious and organic cluster of spaces of this historical part of Beijing. Among the others, the exhibition called Hutopolis was organized by the AQSO Arquitectos, and it's a starting point of an experimental research program that will investigate in the future the "new boundaries for urban development in China" (2011BJDW Guidebook).