What does it mean to "make home"? For many, home is more than just a physical space; it's a complex intersection of identity, history, culture and emotion. This overarching concept is central to the Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial, an exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Running through August 10, 2025, the exhibition explores how design plays an essential role in shaping homes across diverse American contexts. Through 25 newly commissioned works, the design exhibition considers home as a concept influenced by personal, cultural and political experiences, highlighting the ways that different communities, environments and histories impact the way we envision, construct and inhabit our living spaces.

The exhibition is housed in the Andrew and Louise Carnegie Mansion, which provides a fitting backdrop for the exploration of domestic spaces. Curated by Alexandra Cunningham Cameron, Christina L. De Leon and Michelle Joan Wilkinson, it is divided into three sections: Going Home, Seeking Home and Building Home, each of which reflects different aspects of how home is made, experienced and reimagined in contemporary life.

Going Home: shaping spaces, shaping lives

The first floor of the exhibition explores how domestic spaces have historically shaped and been shaped by the people who inhabit them. One of the many notable installations is by La Vaughn Belle, a performance artist from Saint Croix. Her project delves into the colonial narratives embedded in the traditional architecture of the Caribbean Island. Three structures allow visitors to walk through interpretations of the historical plantation homes that have both defined and limited the experiences of the enslaved ancestors who lived there.

In the mansion’s grand staircase, American artist Robert Earl Paige’s intervention draws from the rich history of West African textiles and the Black Arts Movement in Chicago. The installation uses vibrant patterns and shapes in a space of reflection and celebration. It offers a new interpretation of how architecture can tell the story of the African diaspora and the cultural exchanges that took place through art, design and community.

Another installation is by the Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG), who took over Carnegie’s personal library to create The Underground Library. This space honours the cultural contributions of Black Americans, with an emphasis on the importance of literacy. Historically, African Americans were denied the right to read, but this serves as a powerful reminder of how crucial access to education and information is to the Black experience in the United States.

Additionally, Liam Lee and Tommy Mishima's Game Room explores how Carnegie’s tactical grantmaking contributed to the shaping of modern domestic environments. The piece highlights the intricate relationship between wealth, power and the shaping of the home, using design to raise questions about how philanthropic efforts have influenced private and public spaces across the country.

In a powerful exploration of historical dislocation, the Lenape Center collaborates with Joe Baker to create an installation reflecting the displacement of the Lenape people. It is positioned near a fireplace on the first floor, symbolising the ongoing struggle for Indigenous communities to reclaim space and honour their history, which has been disrupted by centuries of colonisation.

Seeking Home: challenging definitions of home

The second floor challenges traditional definitions of home. Here, designers and artists explore themes such as displacement, refuge and the search for belonging. One of the standout pieces is the collaborative project by data journalist Mona Chalabi and SITU Research. This work takes a poignant approach to the concept of home by revisiting spaces destroyed by airstrikes in conflict zones, including Mosul, Iraq; Manbij, Syria; and Khan Yunis, Palestine. By using digital technologies to reimagine these homes in the wake of devastation, the artists provide a powerful commentary on the violence of domicide (the destruction of homes) and the emotional and physical toll it takes on individuals and communities.

Another installation by the independent media platform PIN–UP in collaboration with living collectives House of GG, Lupinewood and Ten of Cups Farm touches on themes of identity and belonging is Dream Homes, a documentary by interdisciplinary artists. The film chronicles the stories of LGBTQIA+ communal living structures, highlighting how these spaces offer a sense of safety and belonging for marginalised communities. By showcasing alternative models of home, the film challenges the traditional nuclear family structure and underscores the importance of solidarity in creating spaces of care and refuge.

In Birthing in Alabama: Designing Spaces for Reproduction, Dr Yashica Robinson, Trish Cafferky and Lori A. Brown explore the impact of laws and zoning codes on reproductive health care. This work critically examines how design can influence access to healthcare, particularly for marginalised communities in the southern United States. By focusing on the intersection of design, politics and personal health, this installation highlights the ongoing struggle for reproductive rights and the role of design in making spaces that support bodily autonomy and self-determination.

Puerto Rican heritage and preservation take centre stage in an expansive project by Natalia Lassalle-Morillo and Sofía Gallisá Muriente. This piece interrogates the Smithsonian’s role in preserving Puerto Rican cultural heritage in the context of colonialism and the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria. Through the lens of home, the artists challenge how communities survive and rebuild their cultural identity after trauma, reminding us of the resilience and strength of the Puerto Rican people in the face of disaster.

Additionally, Heather Dewey-Hagborg’s installation explores the hidden homes of DNA. Through a combination of biotechnology and art, Dewey-Hagborg examines the idea of surveillance and privacy and how these elements impact the concept of home in an increasingly monitored world. Her work raises questions about personal space and the ways in which technology encroaches on our intimate lives.

Building Home: new models for a collective future

Building Home moves beyond the idea of home as a personal or familial space, delving into its collective and ecological dimensions. This section looks at sustainable architecture and community-focused designs, presenting alternative approaches to homebuilding that challenge traditional methods and envision a more inclusive, regenerative future.

A collaboration by After Oceanic Built Environments Lab and Leong Leong Architecture, Hālau Kūkulu Hawaiʻi: A Home That Builds Multitudes is a project that draws on traditional building practices that utilise natural materials and techniques passed down through generations. The designers stress the importance of using Indigenous knowledge to build sustainable homes that reflect deep cultural and environmental values. The absence of metal fasteners and the use of traditional methods to create spaces that nurture community living speaks to the regenerative power of home.

Ronald Rael’s Casa Desenterrada explores the history of Indigenous peoples in Colorado, focusing on how their relationship with the land informs their building practices. Through this installation, the visual artist reflects on the deep connection between people and the earth, highlighting how the landscape shapes architecture and vice versa. By looking at how land has been used to create homes, he provides a perspective on how future homes can be designed in harmony with the environment.

In a forward-thinking proposal, Mobile Refuge Rooms by Designing Justice + Designing Spaces presents an innovative solution to the housing crisis. Their design for transitional housing for individuals returning from carceral spaces challenges the conventional notion of home as a static, permanent structure. Instead, it presents mobile, customisable homes that provide privacy and dignity, allowing individuals to rebuild their lives and regain a sense of security.

The design firm Hord Coplan Macht addresses the ageing population with their project Aging and The Meaning of Home, which explores how design can support seniors and individuals with mild cognitive impairments. Through adaptable and inclusive design, this installation examines how homes can be made to support independence, dignity and well-being for older adults.

The exhibition’s accompanying publication, Making Home: Belonging, Memory, and Utopia in the 21st Century, co-published with MIT Press, will be released in February 2025. It offers essays, photo essays and conversations that explore the themes of the exhibition in greater depth.

By bringing together these diverse perspectives on home, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the importance of design in shaping the spaces where we live, work and grow. It asks us to consider what home means in an increasingly complex world and how we can collectively build homes that are sustainable, inclusive and reflective of the communities they serve.

‘Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial’ is on view until August 10, 2025, at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.