Alcova Miami 2024: design thrives in Miami’s oldest hotel

AnanasAnanas at Alcova Miami 2024 - Photo by Piergiorgio Sorgetti, courtesy of Alcova.

1033 Tangerines installation by AnanasAnanas at Alcova Miami 2024 – All photos are by Piergiorgio Sorgetti unless stated otherwise, courtesy of Alcova.

Design. Known for transforming historical venues into dynamic showcases for cutting-edge design, Alcova returns to Miami after its successful debut last year. Alcova Miami 2024 features 50 international exhibitors. Materials research, sustainability and time/memory-related projects are the emerging trends of this year’s edition. Check out what we liked the most.

RELATED STORIES: Read more about Miami 2024 on Archipanic.

Objects Of Common Interest at Alcova Miami 2024 - Photo by Piergiorgio Sorgetti, courtesy of Alcova.

Reflections of Now installation by Objects Of Common Interest.

Alcova Miami 2024 transforms Miami’s oldest hotel, the River Inn, in the historic Little Havana neighbourhood. Established in 1908 as a Victorian boarding house, this venue comprises a cluster of pastel-hued mansions set amidst vibrant, jungle-like greenery. Site-specific installations offer a fresh interpretation of the location, enhancing its indoor and outdoor areas.

[su_image_carousel source=”media: 41744,41743″ limit=”0″ slides_style=”minimal” crop=”none” columns=”2″ spacing=”no” captions=”yes” dots=”no” autoplay=”2″ speed=”immediate”]

Food art studio AnanasAnanas presents the 1033 Tangerines installation, featuring 200 pounds of tangerines installed on rotating stainless steel vessels and ready to be eaten during the fair. Producing the fruits requires 17,572.84 gallons of water, the same amount as the pool at The River Inn. “Through this installation, a tangible reflection is made about the respect for raw materials, natural resources and their future.”

1033 Tangerines installation by AnanasAnanas.

Spanish designer Lucas Muñoz Muñoz and his team collected industrial materials found in the Miami area to craft a speaker set up and a collection of seating and lounging elements in this year’s central Plaza space. Titled Factotum, the installation brings in a material and territorial awareness that continues with the studio ethos of Working with Available Sources, W.A.S.

Lucas Muñoz Muñoz at Alcova Miami 2024 - Photo by Piergiorgio Sorgetti, courtesy of Alcova.

Factotum installation by Lucas Muñoz Muñoz.

NYC-based artist and designer Kevin Quale presents Nice Cock…, a collection of surrealist ceramics that reimagines 17th-century classic Delftware forms through a gay lens. Penis-shaped tulip vases, candelabras, and chandeliers reign on a table set that, at first sight, recalls a Dutch still-life painting style. Look closer and notice that classic elements like fruit and lobsters are replaced with contemporary symbols of gay culture, such as poppers and chicken nuggets.

Nice Cock… installation by Kevin Quale.

Rotterdam-based Studio LoopLoop develops sustainable and innovative production techniques to craft bespoke and para-industrial designs. The Dye Dye, My Darling collection of vases, a coffee table, and a set of mirrors is made from plant-dyed anodised aluminium. The series features delicate hues and patterns obtained through their experimental techniques.

Dye Dye, My Darling by Studio LoopLoop.

Crafting Plastics! is a Slovakian design studio exploring circular design materials. At Alcova Miami 2024, they present an installation featuring towers of stackable bioplastic stools which release subtle, earthy scents as visitors approach. The showcase is part of multisensorial research to find an organic scent for odourless synthetic biomaterials.

Feel the Matter installation by Crafting Plastics!

Ukrainian furniture and decor brand Furn Objects presents Sanctuary, an installation “inviting you to discover inner peace amidst external chaos—to slow down and connect with the quiet strength within.” The Echo screen, marked with openings resembling bullet holes, is a testament to resilience, showing that scars become part of our experience and help us build a better future.

Sanctuary installation Furn Object.

Sculptor and furniture designer Richard Aybar, the creative force behind RA Workshop, presents a series of rubber wares for daily domestic use. Materiality is a cornerstone of his work, as he expertly navigates the delicate balance between natural and synthetic elements, their tactile qualities and historical context.

Rubberworks by RA WORKSHOP.

Eleni Petaloti and Leonidas Trampoukis, the duo behind Athens-based studio Objects of Common Interest, present Reflections of Now, a furniture collection of semi-transparent, coloured resin objects resembling prismatic gems. The project draws inspiration from childhood memories shaped by close family, viewed through a kaleidoscopic lens.

Reflections of Now installation by Objects Of Common Interest.

Brazilian designer Leo Lague introduces the Silver Dreams furniture collection, which transcends mere functionality to delve into perceptions of time and its fluid nature. Each piece reimagines memory as a form of artistic expression. Reflective elements like silver leaves encourage self-reflection.

Solver Dreams installation by Leo Lague.

The ocean enters a room of the River Inn. Luc Druez and LcD Textile Edition fill the space with a semi-precious and memory-formed metal mesh. For 30 years, they propose textile artworks and metal meshes handmade in Belgium for interior designers.