luiz albisser reuses honest materials for wall fixtures and furniture at art basel

redesign of the public areas of Basel’s unlimited art exhibition space

For Art Basel 2024 edition, Studio Luiz Albisser, in collaboration with Office Luis Bischoff, launches a collection of modular furniture and wall appliances made of reused materials and custom elements. This approach addresses the temporal nature of the event by experimenting with a new aesthetic of responsible material sourcing. The article critically changes the approach to public areas of Unlimited exhibition space in Hall 1 and for the first time presents a dedicated Art Basel Shop together with the Magazine Sector, the Talk Room, restaurant, cafe and lounge areas. Unlimited is Art Basel’s exhibition platform that provides a space for large-scale and event-based works, where Albisser and Bischoff have created a series of connected areas that flow between different fair sectors and experiences.

all photos © Dominik Hodel

reusing honest material for furniture, shelves and more

Through subtle thresholds, the design encourages visitors to flow and engage purposefully but spontaneously with the content on display. Taking advantage of the existing topography of the stage, the Talk Room is open on two sides, encouraging circulation and offering access to cafés or talks from different sides, with multimedia displays active outside of scheduled events. Luiz Albisser (see more Here) and Luis Bischoff Office (more Here) define your layout with a set of flexible design elements, each with a distinct function. Shelving, display systems, mirrors, seating, lighting and signage are anchored by repurposed wall structures from Unlimited’s extensive range, transforming existing white walls into versatile, customizable fixtures. Freestanding elements go beyond simple partitions; they become scenographic elements with varying degrees of permeability, contributing to the perception of public spaces as a coherent whole.

Ddsplay tables and public benches made of aluminum structural panels

Luiz Albisser and Office Luis Bischoff look at circularity

Modular recycled and recyclable furniture pieces fill spaces, sparking conversations about the potential of circularity and material reuse:Our ongoing collaboration with Art Basel continually encourages us to explore innovative and sustainable design approaches, especially in the context of temporary events” – says Luiz Albisser. He continues, ‘What items can be rented or reused? How can we minimize new production? These questions guide our search for materials, considering available options outside the architectural industry. In the port of Basel, where our office is located, we are surrounded by a rich range of industrial elements, each with a unique scale and aesthetic. This environment led us to re-contextualize some objects and explore their potential as furniture.’

scenographic elements with varying degrees of permeability

Exhibition tables and public benches are made of large-scale aluminum structural panels borrowed from the automotive and aerospace industries. Designed with multiple arrangements and functions in mind, their original scale and texture give the source material expressiveness and emphasize gestures of reuse and recontextualization. The unique pieces are assembled through a collage-like process of recombining excess and leftover materials collected at the fair with new pieces created from waste from nearby manufacturers. These pieces total on Art Basel serve as manifestos calling for the search for innovative design solutions inspired by the potential of resource management, especially in the context of temporary events.

shelving, display systems, mirrors and signage are anchored in rebuilt wall structures

brief critically rethought the public areas of the Unlimited exhibition space in Hall 1