Next week, Design Miami opens the doors to its first-ever Los Angeles fair. Joining the global roster of collectible design destinations in Basel, Paris, and Miami Beach, the newest iteration takes place May 16-20 at a private, 3-acre Holmby Hills estate designed by late architect Paul Revere Williams. DESIGN MIAMI.LA Curatorial Director Ashlee Harrison—a collectible design market advisor and former Director of the Americas for Carpenters Workshop Gallery—has curated a special Podium exhibition and Design Talks program that will spotlight local and international creative luminaries, while also reflecting on California’s rich legacy as a touchpoint to consider how the city continues to inspire and shape global design conversations. The Podium exhibition, titled Masterworks of Collectible Design, 1938–Present (1938 being the year the Holmby Hills estate was completed), highlights enduring and important design objects from the past eight decades.

Ahead of this very special occasion, we sat down with Harrison for a sneak peek of all that’s in store for the DESIGN MIAMI.LA debut.

Design Miami /What can visitors expect from the inaugural DESIGN MIAMI.LA fair?

Ashlee Harrison /Thanks to the residential context, from the moment they enter, guests can expect a very intimate and inspirational experience. Spread out over the entire estate, including the beautiful grounds and three buildings, the new fair brings a fresh approach to how we experience collectible design with Design Miami. We’re presenting 18 exhibitors from the local and international design community, including Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Moderne Gallery, Friedman Benda, Future Perfect, and Southern Guild, among others. Throughout, we’re exploring themes of nostalgia and cultural heritage, imagination and pop culture, and iconic moments of innovation. There’s also an emphasis on the vernacular of Los Angeles, a land of dreamers and risk takers. From the post-war mid-century design boom to car culture, the entertainment industry to space age engineering, Southern California has established itself as an international arbiter of taste. And our historic setting, a home designed by architect Paul Revere Williams, offers a touchpoint to consider both the city’s design history and Williams’ specific contribution to LA’s architectural legacy, while also presenting a beautiful backdrop.

Design Miami /Los Angeles has a rich design landscape—both historically and today. How would you describe the design culture in LA? What sets it apart?

Ashlee Harrison /LA has always been a place of innovation and risk taking, bohemian lifestyle and imagination. It’s the home of the entertainment world, the film industry, so there’s this kind of whimsical spirit that is part of the California DNA. In LA, there is this legacy of effortless, nonchalant living; nothing is too precious or formal, but there is a very sophisticated palette and a strong interest in design.

One thing I think is very particular to LA is that people have much more space here and really spend time in their homes. People also entertain quite a bit at home, and so their living rooms become their own show stages, in a way. They are willing to invest more in their homes, to take risks, and—probably because of the realities of the production and industry aspect of LA—people also want things immediately. When I think about how film sets are built overnight here, it makes a lot of sense. It creates an opportunity for people to think big because of the properties and the scale and the volumes—and also for designers to take on important and often daring work.

Design Miami /Tell us more about your curatorial theme, and some of the highlight pieces that will be on display.

Ashlee Harrison /Our Podium exhibition, Masterworks of Collectible Design, 1938–Present, will bring together a selection of important designs from the period when the house was erected all the way through to today. We’re also threading through narratives about innovation in materials and technology, noble materiality, as well as high level technique and craftsmanship. A number of works also have strong cinematic references, which ties back nicely to the history and culture of Los Angeles. The show is, above all though, a journey through the evolution of design excellence—offering an educational window onto how design has developed over the past several years.

Highlights include a pair of 1930s Alberto Giacometti bronze Lampe tête de femme; incredible Prouvé pieces courtesy ofLafannour—Galerie Downtown;  Lapo Binazzi's 1969 pink metal MGM Lamp; Wendy Maruyama's 1981 Mickey Mackintosh chair, which references both [Charles Rennie] Mackintosh's tall-back chair designs and Disneyland; Claude Lalanne’s 2007 Crocoseat; and Maarten Baas’s recent Childrens Clocks, which touch on cinema and performance and play. Together, these pieces—all of them exceptional, all museum-quality—embody the essence of what defines a work of enduring design significance.

We’ve also planned some beautiful outdoor Design At Large installations, which are an opportunity for people to really experience design as part of outdoor living. There’s even a film theater on the property, which we’re activating with our talks program, and with USM we’re creating a special listening room with Devon Turnball.  Along with Podium, these elements all touch on the themes of imagination and nostalgia, while focusing on an elevated sense of design and how it can be experienced. I think it’s going to inspire many people.

Design Miami /In addition to the exhibitions, you’re also overseeing the talks program. What can you share about that program already?

Ashlee Harrison /I’m thrilled to say we’ll be partnering with Architectural Digest to present the design talks program. In terms of content, I wanted to touch again on the spirit of Los Angeles, so we have talks that weave in the film and music industries, design collecting, and more.  I’m particularly looking forward to a talk on authenticity in design, which will be a fireside chat between Lee Mindel and Simon Andrews, two members of Design Miami’s vetting committee.

Then, what is perhaps my favorite talk, will take place on Sunday afternoon. It will be a fireside chat with Mayer Rus, the West Coast editor of Architectural Digest, and Emmy Award winning director, writer, and producer Ryan Murphy. Ryan is a dear friend who approaches the design of his homes similarly to how he approaches his film sets—developing strong narratives that are expressed through inspiring visuals. Mayer just covered his home in a recent issue of Architectural Digest, and I’m sure it’s going to be a very interesting conversation.

Plus so much more; you’ll have to stay tuned though!