DIALOG has opened its doors to the public this week as part of the inaugural Edmonton Design Week, taking place until Sept. 30, 2017. The design firm will host two free installations; “City Blocks” and “Making of a Museum,” which will give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how the firm designs projects like Royal Alberta Museum and thinks about the city from a design perspective.
Hosted in the studio’s lobby, “City Blocks” is a playful, interactive installation featuring 16” cubes that each represents a specific area of the city. As the cubes turn, different information pertaining to that one area of the city – from transportation connections to natural spaces – will be displayed. Visitors can interact with the installation by rearranging cubes, piecing the city together in a new way, and contemplating the exhibit’s thought-provoking questions to gain an idea of the innovative, complex design-thinking behind building healthy and vibrant cities.
“Making of a Museum” will similarly explore the design process, specifically the process behind the development of the Royal Alberta Museum. A museum-style exhibit in the studio will showcase the story of the project which brought together each of DIALOG’s disciplines in a collaborative effort spanning over 10 years. After viewing the collection of “artifacts” from each discipline—including early sketches and models, material samples, and project milestones—visitors will leave with a better understanding of how the studio worked together on this milestone project.
The two exhibits will be complemented by an open house held on Friday, Sept. 29, where DIALOG designers will walk visitors through the installations and host guided tours of the working studio.
“Edmonton Design Week presents an opportunity for us to share an inside look at our process and projects with the community, and also spotlight the bright people who shape Edmonton’s urban landscape,” says Tai Ziola, principal at DIALOG. “Our design week team is a group of young leaders at the studio who are passionate about the city we all share, and put these exhibits together to resonate with Edmontonians and visitors of all ages.”
Located at 100, 10237-104 Street NW, “City Blocks” and “Making of a Museum” will be open to the public from Sept. 25 to Sept. 29, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit the official website here.