lisbon architecture triennale's visual identity by R2

lisbon architecture triennale 2016: the triennial event (october 5th to december 11th, 2016) returns for its 4th edition, hosted under the heading ‘the form of form’. the gathering brings together multiple dialogues and explores the visual dimensions of architecture and its social and technical impact on a global scale.

‘the form of form’ MUPI billboard by R2
image © artur rebelo (main image © felipe braga)

porto-based graphic designers R2 were commissioned to develop the event’s visual identity, building the insignia around the main typographic elements of the lisbon architecture triennale‘s title. R2 has given prominence to the two square letter ‘O’s in each ‘FORM’; making them interact and using them to generate various spaces and formats. the visual translation of ‘the form of form’ thus adopts the same strategy of redundancy that characterizes the title when spoken.

the typesetting is austere, displaying an economical approach to available resources, while at the same time generating a great number of forms. the combination of the ‘O’ letters create flexible spaces, that are in some cases defined by their content.

‘the form of form’ MUPI billboard by R2
image © artur rebelo

R2 worked together with fellow graphic designer henrik kubel who, referencing the new rail alphabet, designed glyphs for the letters ‘F’, ‘R’ and ‘M’, resulting in ‘FORM’ being written in different forms of…well, ‘form’. some of the pictographs have been modified in order to subtly distinguish the repetition of the word through the structuring of the letters. in this way, the meaning of the identity can be interpreted and expanded in a variety of ways, depending on the contexts it is applied to.

‘the form of form’ banner by R2
image © artur rebelo

the resulting lisbon architecture triennale identity is flexible and is able to function on its own, but can also be expanded to work as a container for text or images. from the rubber stamp to the cartographic base, ‘the form of form’ reacts according to its circumstances and content, making the most of its elasticity, bringing together a panoply of events under a common identity that can easily be shared.

‘the form of form’ tote bag by R2
image © artur rebelo

‘the form of form’ rubber stamps by R2
image © lisbon architecture triennale

lisbon architecture triennale

since its creation in 2007, the lisbon architecture triennale (LAT) has fostered knowledge and exchange about contemporary architecture by creating a dialogue open to professionals and the general public alike.

‘the form of form’, LAT’s fourth edition curated by the late diogo seixas lopes and andré tavares, will take place from october 5th – december 11th, 2016. as the title suggests, ‘FORM’ itself will be a main object of exploration, understood both in its role as a universal means of communication within and outside the discipline of architecture, as well as in its power to radically influence the functioning and the development of cities. LAT will investigate interactions and struggles that materialize in the place where architecture is materially built, drawing attention to the role of technologies and rhetoric on the form architecture takes, and on the impact the built environment is able to have on society and in people’s lives.

between the participants, renowned practitioners coming from architecture, design and the visual arts contribute to a multidisciplinary and critical discourse. LAT’s programme – including 4 main exhibitions, 7 satellites, 3 awards, 1 competition, 1 international conference, 14 associated projects, and much more – will lead the audience in an in-depth exploration of lisbon’s urban landscape, allowing visitors to experience unexpected places, tracing new paths in the city and its surroundings.

designboom is an official media partner of the 2016 lisbon architecture triennale. see our ongoing coverage of the event here.

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