A Day in the 18th Century: Chronicle of a Private Mansion | Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD), Paris
An immersive reconstruction of daily life inside a Parisian aristocratic residence of the 1780s, the exhibition is rich with over 500 objects, combining sensory experience with historical narrative. Rooms unfold from morning rituals to evening salons through décor and soundscapes, revealing the aesthetics and lifestyle of the nobility while exposing the social hierarchies and hidden labor of the Ancien Régime.
Until July 5, 2026 – 107 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Fashion in the 18th Century: A Fantasized Legacy | Palais Galliera, Paris
Fashion is never “just clothes”… This major exhibition explores how 18th-century fashion continues to shape contemporary design. Historic garments are placed in dialogue with modern silhouettes and reinterpretations — hello Vivienne Westwood and Jean-Paul Gaultier. A refined, visually rich show that highlights clothing as a cultural language tied to identity and representation.
Until July 12, 2026 – 10 Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, 75116 Paris
Domaine du Champ de Bataille | Jacques Garcia, Normandy
Called the Versailles of Normandy, rumor has it that a 12-year-old Jacques Garcia visited the estate with his father and decided then and there to become an architect. More than sixty years later, he returned to buy it and transform it into a theatrical vision of the 18th century. The château’s lavish interiors and the gardens’ grand perspectives blend historical reconstruction with imaginative reinterpretation. A true must-see for design enthusiasts seeking the aesthetics of the Ancien Régime reimagined by a contemporary master.
Seasonal opening (1st April – 15th November)
www.chateauduchampdebataille.com
DASH, Cao Fei | Fondazione Prada, Milan
The space is cool — the Koolhaas touch — and the exhibitions are cerebral enough to counter any sign of brainrot. Dash by Cao Fei is a multimedia installation exploring the impact of technological change on rural environments. Film, virtual reality, and archival material create a layered, research-based narrative. As the project reflects on globalization, labor, and ecological transformation, it offers a sharp, contemporary counterpoint to historical perspectives on society.
From April 9, 2026 – Largo Isarco 2, 20139 Milan
Belongings: Affection as a Design Strategy | Designmuseum, Copenhagen
What would Marie Kondo say when confronted with an exhibition exploring emotional attachment to objects as a design strategy? Through fascinating interactive installations, we examine memory, care, and long-term use. We are reminded that alternative models to consumerism exist, and they are based on durability and relationships. Long live sustainable design.
Until May 31, 2026 – Bredgade 68 1260 Copenhagen
Noguchi’s New York | Noguchi Museum, New York
The great master Isamu Noguchi needs no introduction. However, by highlighting the influence of New York on his artistic vision, the exhibition offers a renewed perspective on modern design as a hybrid practice. Furniture, lighting, and archives reveal the interdisciplinary approach of a genius who declared: “I am not a designer” (a statement that also gives its title to an upcoming exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.)
Until September 13, 2026 – 901 33rd Rd, Astoria, NY 11106
Pritzker Prize 2026 | Smiljan Radić
Although we regret that the gender balance remains uneven, we can only salute the jury of the Pritzker Prize for awarding Chilean architect Smiljan Radić for his poetic and experimental approach to architecture. Often modest in scale, his projects challenge conventional monumentality, emphasizing fragility, materiality, and strong connections to landscape.
To know more, here are two books worth reading:
Smiljan Radić: Houses (2G No. 83)
In this focused study of Radić’s residential architecture over three decades, we discover fourteen houses that exemplify his relationship to landscape and materiality. A concise and insightful introduction to the foundations of his work.
El Croquis 232: Smiljan Radić 2019–2025
A comprehensive monograph covering Radić’s most recent projects and research. It presents buildings, pavilions, and experimental works alongside critical essays and conversations contextualizing his evolving practice.
Bonus Track
Circling back to the 18th-century theme, we are reminded of how Michael Hedges introduced Ragamuffin, one of his most famous compositions, saying: “this is probably what an 18th-century block party would sound like”… This piece of music, from the album Aerial Boundaries, is nothing short of mesmerizing. The playing technique — acoustic fingerstyle with tapping — is extraordinary.
Windham Hill Records (1984)
Listen here
