December may herald the return of Art Basel for those in art circles, but the design affiliated are far more interested in the re-appearance of its sister event of Design Miami/.

A self-proclaimed “global forum for design” the event is a meeting of the design minds, welcoming collectors, gallerists, designers, curators and critics from around the globe.

Just some of the outstanding designs present from this year’s event included the following:

Yves Béhar’s surf shack

Yves Béhar– who received the Design Miami Design Visionary Award at the event – offered visitors and fans alike a glimpse into his private life with his beach shack. The slanted design integrated corrugated plastic and plywood, as well as dark wooden beams in a grid pattern. The design was not only statement making in its simplicity but practical, acting as a gallery within which housed Béhar’s own collection of custom surfboards and personal art collection.

Max Lamb’s man-made marble bathroom

The British contingent delivered a man-made marble bathroom suite for Dzek. Lamb crafted a striking modernist bathroom from speckled synthetic marble, with a toilet, bath, sink and storage units formed from the same flat stone. The synthetic marble was created from a combination of marble aggregate paired with a polyester binder.

UNBUILT Pavilion

The baby pink outdoor structure that sits outside the exhibition’s entrance is a collaboration with Harvard Graduate School of Design. A grid of poles stand connected by models of prior works from the school’s design programmes, presenting both past student projects to the public, as well as providing shade to exhibition attendees.

Atelier van Lieshout’s pool house

Resembling a blend between a cave and a pool house is the dwelling from Dutch studio Atelier van Lieshout. The fibreglass structure is a curvaceous space that measures ten by seven metres, integrating a bedroom, playroom, bar, lounge and dressing room within. A part of the studio’s New Tribal Labyrinth series, the piece was specifically designed to be reminiscent of a primitive space.

Elaine Yan Ling Ng’s sundew installation

Part of her commission as one of the 2015 Designers of the Future Award, Ng crafted this moving installation. Challenged to integrate Swarovski Crystal into her creation, Ng formed jellyfish like pieces, over which strands of textile fused with Swarovski Crystal fabric. Thanks to special hidden sensors, the designs contort and react to movement so as to mimic carnivorous plants.

Yinka Shonibare’s Windy Chair I

British-Nigerian Shonibare’s piece is both an exploration of furniture design and culture. The sculptor has formed a 2 metre tall chair inspired by the sails of artwork ‘Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle’ and decorated in a batik fabric that has become his trademark, representing his interest in the relationship between Europe and Africa.

Design Miami/
miami2015.designmiami.com