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OMA and Maison Margiela Collaborate on Multi-City "Folders" Exhibition in China

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A groundbreaking collaboration between OMA/AMO and Maison Margiela introduces "MaisonMargiela/Folders," a multi-city exhibition that transforms urban landscapes into immersive showcases of avant-garde fashion. This ambitious project, spanning Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, and Shenzhen until April 13th, 2026, marks a significant partnership between the renowned fashion label and the architectural studio led by Rem Koolhaas. The exhibition reimagines the brand's core design principles as spatial narratives, integrating them into the fabric of each city.

In Shanghai, the exhibition ingeniously utilizes a series of shipping containers strategically placed throughout the city. This design choice extends the innovative scenography initially developed by OMA for Maison Margiela's Fall/Winter 2026 runway show, where stacked containers created a navigable environment. These containers now serve a triple purpose, functioning as archives, architectural elements, and interactive urban interfaces. The broader curatorial strategy of "MaisonMargiela/Folders" deviates from conventional single-venue exhibitions, opting instead for a fragmented approach. Each participating city acts as a "folder" dedicated to a specific theme, forming a dynamic, loosely structured archive that encourages visitors to explore across different geographical and typological settings. Public spaces such as streets, theaters, galleries, and sports facilities are repurposed to house these installations, while digital content circulates via the brand's online platforms, expanding the project's reach beyond its physical presence. This methodology reflects OMA's long-standing interest in exhibition design as a form of narrative construction, echoing Maison Margiela's own practice of deconstructing and reassembling meaning through its garments.

The exhibition delves into various thematic elements across its Chinese locations. In Shanghai, the "Artisanal: Our Creative Laboratory" display on Yan Dang Road presents 58 couture looks from 1989 to 2026, highlighting the evolution of Maison Margiela's artisanal line and emphasizing the design process over the final product. Beijing's Zhengyici Peking Opera Theatre hosts "Anonymity: Our History of Masks," showcasing 48 masks from the brand's history, drawing parallels between theatrical identity and Margiela's distinctive rejection of visible authorship. In Chengdu, the Third Avenue Art Museum features "Tabi: Collectors Exhibition," which reconstructs the wardrobes of nine collectors to offer an intimate look at the iconic Tabi silhouette's life beyond the runway. Shenzhen's Hairun Badminton Courts are transformed into a collective workspace for "Bianchetto: Atelier Experience," focusing on the house's signature overpaint technique and showcasing the atelier as an ongoing process rather than a finished outcome. Through these diverse installations, "MaisonMargiela/Folders" positions exhibition-making as a form of indexing, where each "folder" isolates a specific design code while contributing to a larger, decentralized system that eschews hierarchy and promotes movement between fragments. This collaborative endeavor by OMA/AMO and Maison Margiela extends the logic of deconstruction from individual garments to the urban scale, demonstrating how meaning can be dynamically assembled through circulation.

This innovative exhibition challenges conventional notions of fashion and architecture, illustrating how creative disciplines can converge to redefine public engagement. By transforming urban environments into interactive galleries, the project fosters a deeper appreciation for both design and the cities that host it. It serves as a testament to the power of artistic collaboration in pushing boundaries and creating meaningful cultural experiences for a global audience.

The Evolution of Cinematic Narrative: From Logic to Dream-States
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The Evolution of Cinematic Narrative: From Logic to Dream-States

Dual Steel Structures Transform Xiangshan Coastline into Dynamic Observation Decks
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Dual Steel Structures Transform Xiangshan Coastline into Dynamic Observation Decks

Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026: Engaging Art Transforms Riyadh's Urban Landscape
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Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026: Engaging Art Transforms Riyadh's Urban Landscape

Building materials

H&P Architects Unveils 'Flying Vegetation' House in Vietnam

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H&P Architects has introduced a groundbreaking residential concept, the 'Flying Vegetation' house, in Vietnam's bustling Thai Binh city. This innovative dwelling challenges conventional urban living by seamlessly integrating lush greenery into its very structure, offering a refreshing and sustainable approach to modern architecture. The project stands out in the dense urban landscape, creating a harmonious balance between nature and the built environment. It represents a forward-thinking solution for city residents seeking a closer connection to nature while enjoying the conveniences of urban life.

The 'Flying Vegetation' house is a testament to the firm's commitment to creating spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally conscious. The design aims to enhance the quality of life for its occupants by providing a healthier and more serene living environment, while also contributing to the ecological well-being of the surrounding urban fabric. Through its thoughtful integration of natural elements, the house serves as a model for future urban developments, inspiring a shift towards more sustainable and green architectural practices.

The Dynamic Green Facade: A Living Screen

The facade of the 'Flying Vegetation' house is its most striking feature, envisioned as a living, breathing green screen that elegantly mediates between the private interior and the public street. Rows of meticulously arranged terracotta pots, supported by a lightweight steel framework, ascend the entire height of the structure. This verdant arrangement is not merely decorative; it serves a crucial functional purpose by softening the influx of natural light, diminishing airborne dust, and introducing a vibrant, shifting layer of green that evolves with the seasons. From the urban streetscape, the building presents itself as a continuous botanical tapestry, while from within, it acts as a finely tuned filter, artfully framing views of the outside world and fostering a deep connection with nature.

H&P Architects' design for the planting system prioritizes adaptability and dynamism, moving beyond a static facade to create an evolving, interactive element of the home. Each pot is housed within a circular metal holder, ingeniously designed to open for easy maintenance, allowing residents to effortlessly refresh soil, modify plant species, and adjust to the changing demands of each season. This hands-on approach transforms the facade into a living canvas, continually shaped and personalized through the direct involvement of its inhabitants. The thoughtful selection of materials further reinforces this vision; the terracotta pots and brick walls, with their harmonious tonal qualities, root the building in traditional construction while simultaneously elevating it into a vertical, flourishing landscape. This innovative integration of soil and vegetation into the architectural framework aligns perfectly with H&P Architects' pioneering 'agritecture' philosophy, which seeks to seamlessly blend food production with urban living spaces.

Interiors Bathed in Nature's Glow and Urban Cultivation

Upon entering the 'Flying Vegetation' house by H&P Architects, one is immediately enveloped by the subtle yet profound influence of the planted facade. Sunlight, filtered through the intricate layers of leaves and ceramic, casts ephemeral, soft patterns across the interior surfaces, creating an ever-changing interplay of light and shadow. Balconies and circulation paths are thoughtfully positioned along the facade, crafting fluid zones where botanical elements, movement, and moments of repose harmoniously intertwine. On the ground floor, a charming courtyard extends the outdoor garden inward, introducing the soothing presence of water features and additional flora, further blurring the lines between inside and out. The interior aesthetic is defined by textured brickwork and warm timber floors, complemented by minimalist furnishings, allowing the architectural design to recede and emphasize the natural growth of plants and the gentle passage of light, which collectively define the tranquil atmosphere.

The 'Flying Vegetation' house transcends conventional residential design, serving as an urban blueprint for integrating agricultural practices into city life. It ingeniously combines private living quarters with spaces designated for tenants, thoughtfully distributed across multiple floors, with communal areas located on the upper levels. This innovative residence also functions as a small-scale, self-sustaining model for urban farming. Residents actively participate in cultivating and tending to plants directly on the facade, seamlessly merging daily routines with food production and horticultural care. In an era marked by the continuous reduction of agricultural land, this architectural paradigm offers a vital pathway to reintroduce cultivation into dense urban environments. By connecting inhabitants with the fundamental elements of soil, clay, and vegetation, the project fosters a renewed appreciation for familiar practices, enriching urban living with a touch of nature and sustainability.

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Milan's Design Archives Unveiled for a Single Night
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Milan's Design Archives Unveiled for a Single Night

Wiki World's "Red Bridge Cabin" Blends Architecture with Nature in Zhengzhou
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Wiki World's "Red Bridge Cabin" Blends Architecture with Nature in Zhengzhou

Exploring the Unbuilt: A Journey into Imaginary Architecture
Building materials

Exploring the Unbuilt: A Journey into Imaginary Architecture

Building materials

MC Bar in Xi'an: A Lunar-Inspired Urban Oasis

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MC Bar in Xi'an redefines urban leisure by offering a serene sanctuary, thoughtfully designed to detach visitors from the city's relentless pace. Inspired by the poetic vision of 'tasting malt between cliffs under the moonlight,' the establishment harmoniously fuses elements of space, illumination, and texture. This creates an immersive environment where the boundaries between reality and imagination subtly blur. The bar's interior is characterized by a distinctive arrangement of circular pendant lights, each varying in thickness and reflectivity, which cast a soft, layered glow reminiscent of crescent moons. These fixtures gently sway, imparting a dynamic sense of fluidity to the space. Complementing these are circular mirrors on the walls, designed to evoke the imagery of a full moon. This intricate interplay of lunar phases orchestrates a disruption of linear time, transforming the bar into a profound sensory journey rather than merely a physical location.

The design journey continues with the bar's unique structural elements, which further enhance its tranquil and engaging atmosphere. The core of the space is defined by continuously curved walls, echoing the organic contours of mountainous landscapes. These undulating surfaces are not merely aesthetic; they play a crucial role in sculpting the light and shadow within the interior, creating a rich visual tapestry. The carefully planned spatial sequence guides visitors, both visually and physically, through distinct zones. Notably, the entrance features intricately folded walls that lead guests away from the urban environment, ushering them into a private and introspective world within the bar. At the heart of this design lies the bar counter, a focal point that, while maintaining the curvilinear aesthetic, introduces a higher degree of geometric sophistication. Its construction from a 3D-printed composite made of recycled wheat straw not only reinforces the thematic narrative but also exemplifies a commitment to sustainable architecture, transforming agricultural waste into a refined and distinctive material. This innovative use of material imbues the bar with unique textures and lighting effects, establishing its individuality while seamlessly integrating with the overall design ethos. The designers at Xi'an School Studio thus demonstrate a holistic approach, where materials serve not just as building blocks but as integral components of a story about circularity and environmental stewardship.

Lunar-Inspired Ambiance and Flow

MC Bar in Xi'an offers an urban sanctuary, thoughtfully designed to provide a contemplative escape from the city's fast pace. Drawing inspiration from the romantic notion of 'tasting malt under moonlight,' the bar integrates unique lighting, spatial geometry, and material selections to craft an immersive, atmospheric experience that blurs the lines between the tangible and the imagined. The space features numerous circular pendant lights, each distinct in its thickness and reflective quality, which together produce a soft, layered illumination reminiscent of the various phases of the moon. As patrons move through the environment, these lights gently undulate, enhancing a sense of spatial fluidity. This dynamic lighting, coupled with circular mirrors on the walls that symbolize the full moon, creates an intriguing interplay that transcends conventional perceptions of time, allowing the space to be experienced as a rich sensory condition rather than a static setting.

The design of MC Bar intricately weaves together elements that evoke a lunar landscape, creating an interior that feels both ethereal and grounded. The choice of circular pendant lights, designed with varying thicknesses and reflectivity, ensures that the illumination is both functional and artful, casting a radiant yet gentle glow that transforms the perception of light within the space. These lights are more than just fixtures; they are interactive elements that subtly respond to movement, contributing to a flowing, almost dreamlike atmosphere. The integration of circular mirrors, strategically placed to mimic the full moon, serves to amplify this celestial theme, offering reflections that deepen the sense of immersion and expand the visual dimensions of the bar. This deliberate use of lunar motifs is central to the bar's identity, providing a unique narrative that informs every aspect of the visitor's experience, making each visit a journey into a realm where time and perception are fluid. This careful orchestration of light and reflection ensures that the bar is not just a place to drink, but a destination for introspection and sensory delight, a true oasis within the urban fabric of Xi'an.

Topographic Forms and Sustainable Design

The architectural foundation of MC Bar is characterized by continuous curved walls, an abstract interpretation of natural mountainous topographies. These undulating surfaces are instrumental in shaping the bar's interior, generating dynamic light and shadow play while organizing a layered sequence of spaces that engage both visual and physical exploration. Upon entering, visitors encounter deliberately folded walls that create a winding pathway, effectively distancing them from the urban surroundings and immersing them into a private, introspective world. The central bar counter, while adhering to the overall curvilinear aesthetic, showcases a refined geometric complexity. This key feature is crafted from a 3D-printed composite material derived from recycled wheat straw, a choice that not only reinforces the narrative of malt but also highlights a commitment to sustainable architecture by transforming agricultural waste into a sophisticated design element. This innovative reuse redefines the material's structural and aesthetic value, lending distinctive textures and lighting effects that elevate the bar while maintaining design coherence.

The interior's design philosophy extends to the strategic differentiation of tones and materials across the ceiling, walls, and floor, all contributing to an inward-focused attention. A dark grey ceiling creates a sense of compression overhead, while lighter walls enhance the feeling of enclosure and intimacy. The slightly darker terrazzo floor provides a stable and grounding base. This vertical gradation of brightness subtly draws light towards the center of the space, effectively guiding patrons' attention to the immediate experiences of drinking, conversation, and shared presence. Through the innovative metaphor of lunar phases, the abstract translation of topographic forms, and a material narrative deeply rooted in sustainability, MC Bar transcends conventional design. It crafts an experience that departs from the ordinary temporal order, transforming a simple moment within Xi'an City into a profound, immersive journey of perception, rhythm, and atmosphere. This holistic approach ensures that every detail contributes to a unique and memorable encounter, blending aesthetic appeal with ecological responsibility.

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