BMW Guggenheim Lab, New York
Studying the challenges of urban life in the world's most high profile cities is a serious endeavor, too often taken-on in the ivory towers of academia, far removed from the communities that these exercises are meant to improve.
But a new, innovative mobile 'laboratory' is bringing this dialogue to the street level, first in New York City, where it is providing an invaluable platform for interaction and discussion between citizens, design and planning professionals, educators, and administrators on the theme of Confronting Comfort, which explores how a city can be more responsive to people's needs.
It's one part think-tank, one part community centre, one part public forum, launched by two of the world's most recognizable and credible brands and cultural benefactors, BMW and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, who hope that the information gathered and lessons learned at the lab will eventually benefit cities across the globe.
The BMW Guggenheim Lab covers a lot of ground. Berlin and Mumbai are the next stops on the lab's nine-city world tour, with subsequent destinations to be determined. The incredible facility itself is a study in innovative architecture, designed by Japanese firm Atelier Bow Wow as a completely self-contained, collapsible environment that can be shipped anywhere in the world and reassembled. But more ambitious than its itinerary, is the lab's planned program in each of its destinations.
In just over 10 weeks in New York's East Village, the space will host over 100 free events, 'designed to spark curiosity and interaction'. Everything from public discussions on 'finding the balance between notions of individual and collective comfort' to public talks by leading architects, innovators and entrepreneurs to 'Urbanology' a live role-play game that enlists locals as catalysts for change in education, housing and health care institutions to meet the specific needs of their communities. The breadth and depth of the program is impressive, and available in it's entirety on the BMW Guggenheim Lab website, and will be covered on its dedicated blog and on major social networks as the laboratory travels around the world.
Somehow the entire schedule works perfectly within Atelier Bow Wow's elegant metal box, which occupies a narrow, block-through parcel and a beautiful public garden space along bustling Houston Street. Sharing the site is a decidedly less innovative, though welcome wooden structure, where beloved Brooklyn restaurant Roberta's serves the lab's visitors their famous fare -- and without the schlep to Bushwick.
ADDRESS
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
The BMW Guggenheim Lab
Houston Street at 2nd Avenue
New York City
Scott Mitchem is one of the longest-tenured Wallpaper* contributors, joining the team in 1999 after attending Purdue University and moving to New York City from his hometown of Chicago. He started as an editorial associate, later served as Brazil Editor-at-Large while living in São Paulo, and is currently a contributing editor based in Miami. Scott covers design, architecture, travel, and all things Brazil while working as an executive in design and real estate development and working towards a Master’s Degree at Georgetown University. He has written for many other publications and was one of several authors who recently contributed to The Architecture of Studio MK27, a book by Rizzoli chronicling the history of the acclaimed Brazilian architecture studio founded by Marcio Kogan.
-
10 books culture editor Hannah Silver recommends this winter
Lacking inspiration over what to read next? Wallpaper* culture editor, Hannah Silver, shares her favourite books
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Midtown Manhattan restaurant Ánimo! takes its cues from Mexican morning rituals
Designer Jordana Maisie creates a minimalistic yet referential setting for Ánimo!
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
First look: Leica Cine Play 1 brings premium style and tech to the world of home cinema
Leica compresses its meticulous optic know-how into the ultra-compact Cine Play 1 4K projector
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
BMW’s limited-edition Skytop roadster draws on the past. Could it also predict the future?
Just 50 examples of the BMW Skytop are being built, and they’ve all been spoken for. We examine whether this classically styled machine is a harbinger of aesthetic change
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed hosted a wealth of auto innovation, from hypercars to hot hatches
The best new SUVs, EVs, hatchbacks and supercars to emerge from the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed and BMW Concept Skytop offer drop-top dreams
BMW and Mercedes-AMG open up with two new convertible concepts, one pitched at performance, the other at the spirit of the good life
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
BMW launches its latest supermodel, the BMW XM Mystique Allure
The haute couture-inspired BMW XM Mystique Allure, dedicated to Naomi Campbell and with a soundtrack by composer Hans Zimmer, makes its debut at Cannes International Film Festival 2024
By Simon Mills Published
-
BMW Vision Neue Klasse X reveals the shape of tomorrow’s electric SUV
New concept the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X previews the next-generation ‘X’ models
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA brings Esther Mahlangu’s art to life at Frieze LA
BMW’s Art Car Project has rarely impacted on the company’s everyday business of building cars. With the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, could all that be about to change?
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Electric BMW CE 02 is an eParkourer for the urban jungle
The BMW CE 02 – BMW Motorrad’s second all-electric scooter –is aimed squarely at the urban rider, offering style and power in a bold new package
By George Chapman Published
-
CES 2024 was a showcase for how to shoehorn AI into next-generation cars
CES 2024 in Las Vegas underlined that future mobility will be shaped by AI, like it or not, as intelligent assistants emerge to guide, plan and converse with their human cargo
By Jonathan Bell Published