Who said that chess is not about design and architecture?

Who said that chess is not about design and architecture?

In an attempt to gain global presence, the world’s oldest sport continues its makeover and appeals not only to chess fans (over 600 million around the world), but is also becoming a design and architecture showcase.

Following recent redesign of chess pieces by Pentagram, World Chess by Agon Limited, the company that owns commercial rights for the World Chess Championship cycle and organizes the World Chess Championship, commissioned Moscow-based Novoe to design a perfect chess tournament setting.

The architects, Moscow-based Novoe ('New') bureau, managed to transform the 17,000 sq feet historic former milk factory in the heart of Berlin, into a phenomenal chess championship venue with black and white design, stemming from the colors of the chess board. The strong visual and radiant light was applied to all decorative and architectural elements at the venue, making it attractive for both visitors and TV audience.

The idea to involve architects and designers for creating the visual appearance of the championship was proposed by v confession agency, the company which executes contemporary culture and art projects. Julia Chernova, partner of v confession agency comments:

Our company has big experience in organizing projects in fields of contemporary culture and art, and when we were proposed to participate in the World Chess Championship it became a challenge for us to present this new subject as beautiful and stylish as we can. We consider that chess combines elements of sport competition and intellectual art, and we see the great potential in it, and hope that chess players and game masters can become as influential as contemporary artists and as popular as football stars.