Available to bid on at Paddle8, proceeds from the auction will go toward further “cross-disciplinary research, provocative public programs, and inventive design competitions.”
“Often, our work deals with serious urban design challenges, but there is a very fun side to design that we celebrate each year with this auction,” said David van der Leer, Van Alen Institute executive director .
“How often can someone have the chance to eat a homemade meal at the Libeskind’s, then challenge Philippe Vergne and Gerard O’Brien to a game of doubles, then take in aerial views of Mexico City with Fernando Romero as your guide?”
The experiences were put together cultural experts including: Iwan Baan, Hannah Byers (Sotheby’s), Alix Browne (W Magazine), Gonzalo Cruz (AECOM), Victoria Newhouse, Dung Ngo (August Editions), Alex Polier (DNA), and Dan Rubenstein (Departures).
Up for grabs are:
Brit Brutalism by Bike: Sam Jacob will lead you and four guests on a mobile exploration of London’s variety of housing types while giving rich commentary on British Brutalism.
A Jaunt Around Madrid: You and a guest will accompany Rafael Moneo for his daily walk around the Spanish capital while absorbing the architect’s philosophy on design and materiality.
Foot Fetish: Indulge in pedicures with a friend and artist Diana Al-Hadid at a Brooklyn salon. Later, head over to Diana’s studio where she’ll make a cast of your freshly-pedicured foot to be included in her next project.
Prime Your Palette with Richard Rogers: While you and a guest enjoy Ruth Rogers’ spectacular Italian food at London’s Michelin-starred River Cafe, Richard Rogers will join you to dish on design and cuisine.
Dinner at the Libeskind’s: Dine with Daniel Libeskind at the Libeskind’s apartment in Tribeca for one of Nina Libeskind’s famous home-cooked meals.
Game Set Match: Think you’ve got game? You and a friend will take on Philippe Vergne, Director of MOCA, and Gerard O’Brien, owner of Reform and The Landing galleries, in a USTA 4.0 doubles tennis match at a private court in Los Angeles.
Table for Four: Elaine Molinar and Craig Dykers of Snøhetta will join you and a guest for -Michelin star restaurant The French Laundry’s famous tasting menu. After the meal, they’ll show you their rm’s recent renovations on the restaurant.
FR-EE Flight Over DF: Take in over 2,000 years of Mexico City’s extraordinary architecture in an afternoon helicopter ride with Fernando Romero.
Go Remote: Unwind and unplug at Fogo Island – an island off an island off the coast of Newfoundland. For two nights, you and a guest will get to go remote here at the award-winning Fogo Island Inn.
Food for the Seoul: Visit conceptual artist Kimsooja’s new show at the National Museum of Korea, where she will give you a tour of her work and encourage you to make interventions within the space. en, you and ve friends will dine with a who’s who of the Korean art world.
The ‘Girlfriend’ of Your Dreams: Set sail with architect Greg Lynn on his 42′ trimaran named Girlfriend.
Journey to the Blue Planet: Travel the Øresund strait from 3XN’s offices in Copenhagen to the Blue Planet, a 3XN-designed aquarium, with rm co- founder and principal Kim Herforth Nielsen on his speedboat.
Where’d Amale Get That?: Spend an afternoon at Zero + Maria Cornejo with store designer and dean of Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation Amale Andraos and label designer Maria Cornejo for an indulgent personal shopping experience.
Inside Persia’s Imperial Past: An old Persian proverb describes Isfahan as half the world, and you’ll see why when you join architect Nader Tehrani for a two-day tour of this spectacular Iranian city.
Tripping in the Netherlands: You and nine guests will join MVRDV co-founder Winy Maas for a private tour of the wonderfully peculiar Rotterdam Markthal and one of its 228 apartment units.
Get Handsy in L.A: At The Haas Brothers studio in Los Angeles, learn how to create a nipple, a hand, and buttocks, all parts celebrated in the brothers’ sculptures and paintings.
Almuerzo con Bilbao y Barragán: Take an extended lunch break with Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao at Cuadra San Cristobal, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Luis Barragán and built in Atizapán de Zaragoza in 1960.
Inside Bon Appetit’s Test Kitchen: Try new recipes with the magazine’s executive editor Christine Muhlke before they hit newstands during one of the staff’s daily tastings.
Giorgio Vasari’s Last Supper Exclusive Viewing with Prada: Make an artist’s pilgrimage to Florence and feast your eyes upon “The Last Supper”, a wood panel painting restored by Prada in collaboration with FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano by 16th-century artist Giorgio Vasari.
Marfa y Mezcal: Go south by southwest to Donald Judd’s compound in Marfa, Texas. You and a guest will be given a private tour of La Mansana de Chinati/e Block, Judd’s home and studio, and get to see works as installed by the artist throughout the compound courtesy of Judd Foundation.
Bright Idea Factory: Get to know lighting designer Lindsey Adelman while constructing your own chandelier with her guidance at her Brooklyn workshop.
Going Once, Going Twice: Join Richard Wright, founder and president of Wright, for a behind-the-scenes tour of the storied Chicago auction house. Following the tour, head over to the SoHo House in Chicago’s West Loop for cocktails and a conversation with Richard.
The Lowline Theory: The Lowline Lab plays host to a number of horticultural experiments fueled by solar energy, and, now, to a private cocktail party for you and your friends.
Beijing Past/Present: Architect Ma Yansong of MAD leads you and a friend through the twists and turns of Beijing’s Jingshan Park and the adjacent Forbidden City, where you will explore courtyards and scale the arti cial Jingshan Mountain.
The Escape Office: Collaborate with artist and architect Shawn Maximo to create a fantasy office catered to your own needs and secret desires.
