Sydney Design Week 2024: Our Top Picks

September 2nd, 2024
Architecture & Design Things We Love

Sydney Design Week returns for 2024, with this year’s theme, In Between Worlds, inviting us to reimagine our cities through the lens of sustainability and inclusivity.

Over the course of seven days, the festival will unfold across a wide range of venues, immersing us in thought-provoking exhibitions, talks, workshops, and tours. The program offers an opportunity to explore alternative futures for our urban environments, reflecting on how design can bridge the gap between the world we know and the one we’re striving to create.

From innovative approaches to sustainability to forward-thinking installations, see our top picks from the line-up below.

Pictured

Above: Program feature image, courtesy of Powerhouse.

Below: 40 Social Housing Units Building in Sant Feliu de Llobregat by MAIO, Barcelona, Spain (2018–ongoing)

Collective Care | Anna Puigjaner
Talk at Parramatta Town Hall (Free)
18 September 2024

Professor Anna Puigjaner, co-founder of Barcelona’s architecture studio MAIO, will present her innovative approach to rethinking how we live together. Her work explores new architectural models for collective living, focusing on shared spaces such as kitchens, social areas, and service zones.

Puigjaner believes that collective living is a powerful tool for social transformation, and her designs show how reimagining domestic spaces can foster more connected communities. She will be joined at Sydney Design Week by the Powerhouse’s Xinyi Lim to discuss their shared dedication to creating inclusive, communal ways of living.

For tickets and more info, click here.

a table and chair in a room with a window

Pictured

Below: MPavilion by OMA, Melbourne, Australia (2017)

Below: WA Museum Boola Bardip by Hassell and OMA, Perth, Australia (2021)

Beyond Architecture | David Gianotten
Talk at UTS Great Hall (Free)
13 September 2024

David Gianotten, Managing Partner of OMA, will shed light on the firm’s approach to community-driven projects and the evolving role of architects today. Known for iconic designs like the CCTV Headquarters and Fondazione Prada, OMA focuses on creating spaces that deeply engage with culture and community.

Gianotten’s Australian projects include the WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth and the innovative 2017 MPavilion in Melbourne, both reflecting his dedication to creating spaces that are both culturally significant and environmentally responsible.

For tickets and more info, click here.

a group of people playing football outside of a building

Pictured

Below: 20th Serpentine Pavilion by Sumayya Valley for Counterspace, London, UK (2021)

Below: Program feature image, courtesy of Powerhouse.

Places of Belonging | Sumayya Vally and Sara Mansour
Talk at UTS Great Hall
15 September 2024

Architect Sumayya Vally and poet Sara Mansour, co-founder of Bankstown Poetry Slam, will explore how design can bring communities together. Vally, who served as the artistic director of the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in 2023, has pioneered new approaches to creating cultural public spaces. Her practice is deeply rooted in placemaking that honours the cultural needs of communities, including ritual, faith, and tradition.

Vally and Mansour will discuss their shared vision for how spaces can be thoughtfully designed to foster connection and inclusivity.

For tickets and more info, click here.