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Washington, D.C. – Since the company began in 1971, Heller has worked with a select group of the world’s top designers to bring striking and high-quality design to market. Now, Heller is thrilled to announce a partnership with The Architects Foundation to create a powerful exhibition at The Octagon, a National Historic Landmark deeply rooted in the history of Washington, D.C., designed by William Thornton in 1799.

Design For Living: Heller at The Octagon was created by the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) in partnership with The Architects Foundation and The Octagon, to cultivate an exhibition that encourages contemporary living, restyling The Octagon while furthering its reputation of design excellence. Heller’s modern aesthetic — complemented by contemporary carpet tiles by FLOR — ushers in the future of the design industry, positioning this historic residence as a home for the next generation of great design and great designers.

The house, which has been home to enslaved laborers, wealthy Washingtonians, immigrants, factory workers, and even a U.S. President, was restored by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1898 as one of the country’s earliest preservation projects. The Octagon currently serves as the headquarters for the AIA’s philanthropic partner, the Architects Foundation.

Guests are invited to visit The Octagon and find inspiration in the juxtaposition of classical architecture and modern design. Design For Living: Heller at The Octagon is open now and will be up through the end of 2024. The exhibition is open to the public from 11AM – 4PM on Fridays and select Saturdays each month.

Photos by Kate Wichlinski, 2024.

 

Heller Press Contact:

Karen Brooking, bde&co., karen@bdeandco.com

The Octagon Contacts:

Celia Carnes, Sr. Manager for Development and Communications, celiacarnes@aia.org

Amanda Ferrario, Octagon Manager, amandaferrario@aia.org

About The Architects Foundation

As the official philanthropic partner of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Architects Foundation inspires, supports, and empowers the next generation of designers and the diverse communities they serve. From our historic headquarters, The Octagon, we fulfill this mission through our seven scholarship programs, which support architects at every career stage, and Communities by Design, a program which brings together volunteer teams of architects and allied professionals to work alongside community members around the world to develop solutions to critical issues like equitable housing, economic revitalization, and climate resilience. At The Octagon, we educate, entertain, and engage the local and national design community with programs and exhibitions that initiate important dialogues on historic preservation, sustainability, contemporary art and design trends, cultural and social issues, local history, and more.

About The Octagon

The Octagon house was built between 1799 and 1801 by enslaved workers for Virginia’s wealthiest plantation family, the Tayloes. The first architect of the United States Capitol, Dr. William Thornton, devised the home’s unique eight-sided design. A geographically and symbolically important building in our nation’s history, The Octagon served for six months as the home of President James Madison after the 1814 Burning of Washington. Recognizing The Octagon’s national importance, The American Institute of Architects (AIA) established their headquarters on site in 1898 and restored the building as one of the country’s earliest preservation projects. In the 1970s, the AIA constructed its current headquarters on the site of The Octagon’s original outbuildings, opening The Octagon to the public as a museum. Now the home of the Architects Foundation, this National Historic Landmark is a vibrant and dynamic home for the design community, and a catalyst for positive change.

About Heller

Heller began in 1971 and from the outset has been known for the true meaning of modern. Their timeless, functional designs are created without ego by some of the world’s greatest architects and designers – Frank Gehry, Massimo & Lela Vignelli, and Mario Bellini to name a few. Heller products have claimed the distinction of international design awards from the Compasso d’Oro to NeoCon and are featured in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art and recently, to the permanent collection at the Rochester Institute of Technology.  Heller continues to work with new technologies to create innovative products, explore new processes, and create a more sustainable, transparent manufacturing process for the future of design.  Made in America, with a strong commitment to sustainability, Heller will take back any of its products (and even pay for shipping) at any time during its lifecycle. Perfect indoor and outdoor, Heller is found in homes, restaurants, museums and offices around the world. We are proud to be the first company to work with the Digby Design Authenticator, guaranteeing authenticity in our designs and sustainability of our products for the future.

About Interface | FLOR

FLOR, the premium design brand of Interface, has brought high-end area rugs to homes, offices, and every space between since 2003. FLOR carpet tiles are beautiful, easy to install, and responsibly sourced. Our customizable designs are engineered for high-traffic spaces, from family room