London to host its first ever design biennale

London is to hold its first ever Design Biennale with more than 30 countries signed up to take part, it was revealed Tuesday.

Participating nations will present newly-commissioned works in contemporary design and design research.

Nations from six continents are taking part including Indonesia, India, Germany, Mexico, Palestine, the United States, Nigeria, Turkey, Israel, Croatia, South Africa, and Tunisia.

The Biennale's 2016 theme is "Utopia by Design," chosen to mark the 500th anniversary of the philosopher Thomas More's book "Utopia" in London, which explored ideas behind what would make a good society.

Sustainability, migration, pollution, water and social equality are just some of the issues being explored.

Among the projects in the Biennale are Mexican architect and urbanist Fernando Romero's exploration of the potential of charter cities; German designer Konstantin Grcic's installation exploring the psychological roots of utopia; and a proposal for floating cities that could help tackle flooding in Nigeria.

Director of the London Design Biennale, Christopher Turner said: "The utopian impulse allows us to escape the blinkers of the present and dream, telling stories about alternative futures that ask important questions about the world in which we live."

He added: "It will feature some of these provocations, which aim to provoke real change by suggesting inspiring or cautionary futures."

The Biennale takes place from Sept. 7 to 27 at Somerset House in Central London. Endit