Gubns teams up with Of Architecture for London Design Festival + Open House Festival

Open Call: Pop-up Exhibition, September 2024

Gubns is excited to announce the next evolution of our Living Room series—our event series for displaying art in an intimate setting. We’re on a mission to support architect-makers by providing a platform to showcase niche artworks, spark collaborations, connections and community. Our Living Room series have been core to this mission, and we’re thrilled to evolve this concept to help architect-makers gain more exposure by sharing their work with a wider audience.

We’ve teamed up with Of Architecture to host our next showcase, entitled Beyond Blueprints, in their office in Haggerston. We’ve also partnered with London Design Festival and Open House Festival to make this next pop-up exhibition accessible to design and architecture enthusiasts or anyone who appreciates meticulously crafted, well-designed and limited edition art pieces.

As such, we are inviting architect-makers internationally, from any background in the built environment, to submit their work with the chance of becoming part of Gubns’ online collection as well as a 3-day pop-up for two of the largest design festivals in London. Curated by Gubns and Of Architecture, we will be selecting a group of winning makers to have their work for sale in our upcoming collection, launching in mid-September 2024.

Background

During a dinner party, Andreas von Foerster was trying to explain to his guests about what it means for architects to use drawings to design. Using the spaghetti with meatballs on his plate for illustration, he explained the cross section drawing and its purpose. He thought, ‘wouldn’t that be a fun drawing…’. The next day, he asked if he could use a sheet of company letterhead for it, with the result that you see.

Inspired by von Foerster's whimsical yet insightful spaghetti drawing, we invite architect-makers to explore the enduring significance of drawing in the design process. Despite the rise of 3D modeling tools, the act of drawing remains a fundamental part of architectural practice, reflecting the methodical way architects approach their subject with precision and creativity.

Commonly called blueprints, the reproduction of technical drawings using a contact print process on a light-sensitive medium was widely used for over a century for the reproduction of specification drawings in construction and industry. It offers an image that is stable, on the same scale as the original and in dark Prussian blue. The blue background makes it difficult to alter, thus preserving the authority of an approved drawing during use and the history of revisions thereafter.

The Brief: Beyond Blueprints

We seek artworks that reveal how your architectural background informs your craft and more specifically, how the act of drawing in 2D has inspired or influenced your work in 3D. Artworks across all materials and mediums are welcomed, from furniture and ornaments to wearables, tools and other crafts.

If you are selected for the exhibition, we will ask you to also submit a line-drawing (50cm x 50cm) in plan, section, elevation, or axonometric projection to demonstrate the specificity in your craft. It can be a process, an exploded parts list, a taxonomy or even a storyboard. We will print them as a blueprint (cyanotype) to become part of the pop-up exhibition in Of Architecture’s studio windows which are open to the public, facing the canal-side courtyard.

The Opportunity

As a selected architect-maker, we will feature your artwork in Gubns’ inaugural online collection which will launch on our website on 20th September 2024. We will also work with you to exhibit some or all of your artwork for the 3 day, in-person festival at Of Architecture’s Open Studio from 20-22nd September 2024.

Gubns will provide marketing, social media and other promotional support in the lead up to the launch of the festivals. Of Architecture will provide the venue, signage and blueprint displays. Additionally, you will be invited to join Gubns’ private community of architect-makers to forge new connections, collaborations, and access creative support.

As a Gubns member you’ll also be offered a complimentary brand and marketing strategy session from WellWell - a creative marketing studio for entrepreneurs - to help you raise brand awareness, grow your business and reach new audiences.

Eligibility

  • Designers with a background in the built environment, eg. architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, urban design and interior design.

  • We accept all 3D and 2D crafts across all materials and mediums. Sizing will be determined on a case-by-case basis. No digital works at this time.

  • Artworks must be transportable to Haggerston for drop-off and collection from 20-22nd September 2024.

  • All artworks must be available for commissioned sale.

  • Architect-makers who are available to present their work in-person on Friday, September 20th will be highlighted.

Andreas von Foerster, 1972, Cyanotype on paper
Of Architecture studio, Haggerston

    • Applications open: 25th July 2024

    • Applications close: 16th August 2024

    • Winners announced: 19th August 2024

    • Opening reception: 20th September 2024

    • Pop-up exhibition: 20-22nd September 2024

  • Of Architecture

    Reliance Wharf, Hertford Road

    London N1 5EW

    • Of Architecture

    • Gubns Core Team

  • The Open Call is free to apply. Selected architect-makers will be asked to pay a £50 exhibition fee which will go towards Of Architecture for the venue set-up, vinyl and cyanotype printing, and other display costs to ensure your artwork is beautifully presented. Competitive commission rates for sales will apply to selected artworks and go towards promotional materials, launch campaigns and Gubns' operating costs.

Apps open 25.07.24
Apps close 18.08.24
Selections 23.08.24
Exhibition 20.09.24

Application

Please fill out this form to apply. We will be in touch if we need additional information. If you have any questions, send an email to hello@gubns.co.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You can submit artworks across all materials and mediums, from furniture and ornaments to wearables, tools and other crafts. You should be able to ship or transport the work for the pop-up in Haggerston from 20-22nd September. Digital works aren't accepted at this time.

    Accepted artworks will be made available for commissioned sale on Gubns website. The artwork must be an original design and sold exclusively on Gubns. You are also welcome to bring additional quantities to the pop-up for in-person sales.

  • Drawings are highly encouraged given the brief's focus around how this tool has shaped or influenced your work output or process. These drawings can be in any size, shape or stage, and will help inform the curators' decision-making.

    If you are selected to participate, we will ask you to submit a line-drawing (50cm x 50cm) in plan, section, elevation, or axonometric projection to demonstrate the specificity in your craft. It can be a process, an exploded parts list, a taxonomy or even a storyboard. We will print them as a blueprint (cyanotype) to become part of the pop-up exhibition in Of Architecture’s studio windows which are open to the public, facing the canal-side courtyard.

  • You can submit as many artworks as you'd like. Try to submit them all in one go with this form, or email hello@gubns.co if you have additional materials to share.

  • The curators will review all submissions and consider the thought process, design process and quality of the craftsmanship involved and shown throughout the application. We will carefully review your response to the question on drawing, as well as the thoroughness of the project descriptions. The artworks will not be judged by its price or quantity.

  • Absolutely. Just make a note at the end of the form that this is a joint submission and include details of the maker you are collaborating with.

  • Yes. We will have an opening reception on the evening of Friday, September 20th where we'll invite all exhibitors to attend and present their work. More details to register will follow soon; sign-up to our newsletter here to make sure you receive it.

    The pop-up exhibition is free to attend that weekend on Saturday, September 21st and Sunday, September 22nd. There will be additional ticketed programming on the evening of both days—more info to follow.