Our pick of what's happening at this year's DESIGN Canberra festival.
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1. Bubble up
DESIGN Canberra has teamed up with Berlin-based designers Plastique Fantastique to bring MEDUSA - a large inflatable bubble - to the festival. The 250 cubic metre bubble has already been seen in London, Valencia and Berlin, and is essentially, an inflatable venue. MEDUSA will be at Commonwealth Place from November 15 to 17 and will host numerous events including morning yoga and a discussion about whether plastic is actually fantastic. For the full list of events go to designcanberrafestival.com.au.
2. Raise your glass
Milan-based curators, Annalisa Rosso and Francesco Mainardi from design consulting studio, Mr.Lawrence, will present the Glass Utopia exhibition that compares Italian contemporary glasswork with Australian pieces. It celebrates traditional Venetian glass, which made itself at home in Canberra when architect Enrico Taglietti installed a Murano glass chandelier in the Italian embassy in the 1950s. The exhibition will be at Craft ACT from November 5 to 24. Free event.
3. Building identity
One of Australia's most internationally renowned architects, John Andrews will be recognised with multiple events. Tim Ross will be in conversation with John Andrews at ANU Kambri Cinema on November 13. Ross has also put together the free exhibition Depth of Field: John Andrews in Canberra, at East Space from November 13 to 24. On November 16 there will also be an architecture bus tour, showcasing Andrews' work. The conversation is $25 and bus tour is $80. Tickets from designcanberrafestival.com.au.
4. Let's talk about Bauhaus
The 100th anniversary of the iconic Bauhaus design movement will be celebrated with Harry Seidler, Canberra and the Bauhaus. The public conversation between Harriet Edquist (co-author Bauhaus Diaspora and Beyond), and Penelope and Polly Seidler will delve into the legacy of acclaimed architect Harry Seidler and his Bauhaus connection. The Bauhaus movement redefined what design could do for society and reflected the utopian ideas of its time. November 17 at the National Portrait Galleries. Tickets at $25 from designcanberrafestival.com.au.
5. Right at home
Explore the living rooms of acclaimed Canberra houses that employ this year's DESIGN Canberra theme Utopia. Holly Komorowski and her team from Home by Holly have come on board to share their passion for local design and real estate and to take you through spaces from a suite of local designers and makers. Week one of three features a New Acton apartment, an O'Connor loft house and a Hackett barestone house on November 10. Free event.