A Celebration of Architectural Heritage Through Wearable Design
The 2023 Uzbekistan National Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, "Unbuild Together," was a strikingly immersive and research-driven installation curated by the renowned French architectural studio Studio KO.
© Gerda Studio
This ambitious project explored the architectural and environmental heritage of Uzbekistan, with a focus on the Qalas, ancient pre-Islamic fortresses built from traditional bricks. Through workshops with architecture students from Ajou University in Tashkent, the project delved into the materiality of bricks, soil, and clay, leading to an exhibition that engaged visitors through touch, shadow, and historical reinterpretation.
© Studio KO
The Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation commissioned this pavilion as a tribute to the country’s rich heritage, and The Pin Prick was honoured to contribute to this vision through custom-designed architectural enamel pins, developed in collaboration with the esteemed French branding agency IZHAK.
Turning Architectural Plans into Wearable Souvenirs
To complement the pavilion’s theme, The Pin Prick transformed the Qalas fortress plans into elegant, collectible enamel pins. These polished black and white designs were crafted to reflect the intricate geometry of the fortress layout, distilling centuries of history into a compact, modern, and wearable form.
Each pin was presented on a gold foil-embossed backing card, featuring GPS coordinates that marked the historic site location, reinforcing the deep connection between object and place.
Bridging History and Contemporary Design
More than just souvenirs, these enamel pins encapsulated the spirit of the exhibition, offering visitors a tangible connection to the research-driven project.
While the pavilion reinterpreted Uzbekistan’s architectural heritage through salvaged bricks and innovative craftsmanship, The Pin Prick translated this legacy into wearable design. The result was a portable piece of history, allowing visitors to carry a fragment of the Qalas' rich architectural narrative beyond the Biennale.
A Grateful Collaboration
The Pin Prick extends heartfelt thanks to the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, Studio KO, and IZHAK for the opportunity to contribute to such a meaningful and immersive exhibition. This collaboration was a unique fusion of architectural storytelling and artisanal craftsmanship, celebrating history in an innovative, tactile format.
As a brand dedicated to custom accessories with an architectural twist, The Pin Prick continues to explore ways in which design, history, and craftsmanship intersect — turning blueprints into wearable art and architectural narratives into everyday objects.
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