India At The London Design Biennale 2023

The Design Village (TDV) and Studio Archohm will design the India Pavilion at the London Design Biennale 2023. The fourth edition of London Design Biennale will take place from 1 to 25 June 2023, artistically directed by the Nieuwe Instituut—the Dutch national museum and institute for architecture, design and digital culture. Taking over the entirety of Somerset House, including the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court and River Terrace, participants from across the globe will be invited to imagine and enact new forms of international cooperation and participation—including with each other—through the medium of design.

The Theme This Year

The fourth edition will revolve around the theme of "The Global Game: Remapping Collaborations". The India Pavilion at the London Design Biennale 2023 will present "Chowk & Charpai: An Urban Living Room", a multi-sensory evocation of the essence of a contemporary Indian city curated by The Design Village and designed by Studio Archohm.

Speaking about the opportunity Mridu Sahai, co-founder at The Design Village expressed “we are delighted to represent India at this global design forum amongst 40 other countries and organizations. Somerset House is such an august cultural destination; we are excited to showcase the essence of contemporary India”. The exhibition not only highlights the vital role of design in addressing challenges and providing solutions but encourages international collaboration and forges future partnerships.

What To See At The The Indian Pavilion

The Indian pavilion is a multi-sensory evocation of the essence of a contemporary Indian city chowk – an open market at the junction of streets – through the visual metaphor of a charpai – a traditional woven daybed found across India. The charpai is a design icon that transcends time, and its weave is representative of Indian craft.

The pavilion will stand as a large urban charpai sculpture, gently shading Somerset House as it basks in the British sun. The weave of the charpai renders a play of light and shade to make a street square - a chowk, where chance encounters take place. The oversized web of the charpai represents India - modern in its outlook, rooted in its culture.

Through the elements of touch, sound, sight, smell, and taste, the chowk will represent Indian urbanity which adjusts and adapts through dense landscapes. The chowk is an epitome of resilience, endurance, and resurrection: juxtapositions that speak of democracy and autonomy, ego and humility, hope and pride, rapture, and rejuvenation – this plural paradox is its true eloquence.

About The London Design Biennale 

Established in 2016 by Sir John Sorrell CBE and Ben Evans CBE, London Design Biennale promotes international collaboration and the global role of design. Since its inception the Biennale welcomes the world’s most exciting and ambitious designers, innovators and cultural bodies to the capital.

London Design Biennale's International Advisory Committee and Jury includes: Paola Antonelli, Victoria Broackes, Aric Chen, Es Devlin OBE, Nipa Doshi, Ben Evans CBE, Marva Griffin Willshire, Suhair Khan, James Lingwood MBE, Prof. Jeremy Myerson, Tosin Oshinowo, Jonathan Reekie CBE, Rashid and Ahmed bin Shabib, Sir John Sorrell CBE, Dr. Christopher Turner.