Philippe Starck has designed a surrealist hotel in Metz, France, built to embody the fictional tale The Meticulous Life of Manfred Heler, created by Starck.

Every part of the hotel, from the architecture to the rooms, is crafted as a physical expression of the literary story centered on the character Manfred Heler, culminating in a surreal 9-story monolith topped by a 19th-century Lorraine house—minimalism and romanticism juxtaposed as a living novel.

Maison Heler
Curio Collection by Hilton
Opening March 2025

Image credit: Maison Heler | Philippe Starck | Julius Hirtzberger

Mar 30, 2025

Kengo Kuma has designed a café in Fukuoka, an ethereal mesh-wrapped structure filled with a collection of charms that begin with the letter C, such as Cloud, Communication, and Chill.

Cs Somme Café
by Kengo Kuma and Associates

Drifting like a mirage in the city, the café’s spectral silhouette preserves visual lightness, while beneath the veil, its interlocking steel structure ensures earthquake resistance, expressing both symbolic and physical comfort through the language of architecture.

Image credit: Cs Somme Café | Kengo Kuma and Associates

Mar 29, 2025

Issey Miyake, in collaboration with Swiss design studio Atelier Oï, presents new possibilities of combining cloth and wire in cross-disciplinary design.

*Developed through A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE.

The exhibition, a dual vision of crafting simple material into poetic yet active objects, traces a shared creative process that reimagines material use and results in two sculptural lighting series that blur the boundaries between art, utility, and space.

TYPE-XIII Atelier Oï
April 8—13, 2025, Milan Design Week
Issey Miyake Milan flagship store

Image credit: Issey Miyake

Mar 28, 2025

The Louis Vuitton Carrousel is installed, inviting visitors to enjoy a whimsical ride at the Jardin d'Acclimatation, Paris’s beloved and oldest amusement park.

The layering of history and modernity transforms travel into a collective sensory encounter, elevating motion into narrative that feels theatrical yet composed.

Image credit: Louis Vuitton | Jardin d'Acclimatation

Mar 25, 2025

Jacquemus has partnered with Neiman Marcus to unveil a fully operational bowling alley, spotlighting the exclusive “Le Petit Turismo” bowling bag.

Open through April 2 at NorthPark Center in Dallas, the immersive installation invites customers to engage in actual gameplay, with attendants on hand to assist throughout the experience.

Image credit: Jacquemus | Neiman Marcus

Mar 23, 2025

Three design studios reimagined Herzog & de Meuron’s architecture through open-ended vignettes that dialogue with material, space, and perception.

Installed within the historically layered Am Tacheles complex, each vignette proposes domesticity through a unique architectural reading, opting for “unfinished” spaces that invite imagination and revealing how refined living spaces can be reframed as stages for conceptual storytelling and material inquiry rather than emblems of affluence.

"ROOMS of AM Tacheles"
Am Tacheles, Berlin

Image credit: Robert Rieger | Herzog & de Meuron

Mar 23, 2025

Lemaire, in collaboration with artist Carlos Peñafiel, hosts an exhibition intersecting art and utility through sculptural leather pieces that challenge traditional craftsmanship.

Rooted in the idea of objects as extensions of the human body, Peñafiel’s exploration of space, emotion, and tactile depth converges in an exhibition that reshapes the boutique into a flat tint-stage, where anthropomorphic forms appear as part of a continuous visual experience.

"Wearable Sculptures"
Lemaire flagship, Marais
Until March 23, 2025

Image credit: Lemaire | Guillem Cruells | Clement Vayssieres

Mar 20, 2025

Prada, in collaboration with influential filmmaker Wong Kar Wai, is opening its first standalone restaurant in Asia, Mi Shang, a dining experience with cinematic framing that takes cues from Wong’s films, playing with spatial tension and nostalgic settings.

Located in Rong Zhai, a 1918 cultural landmark in Shanghai restored by Prada over six years, Mi Shang will focus on Italian fine dining with Chinese influences, crafting flavors from both cultures in an all-day gastronomic experience and café.

Image credit: Prada | Wong Kar Wai | Wing Shya

Mar 18, 2025

Four Seasons, in partnership with Giorgio Armani, launches The Road to The Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic across four prestigious resorts, offering an exclusive doubles tournament series from March to June 2025.

Tennis legends, including Juan Martín del Potro and Venus Williams, will mentor Four Seasons guests enrolled as players, with winners advancing to the finals at London’s elite Hurlingham Club, where The Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic serves as the grand backdrop.

Image credit: Four Seasons | Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic

Mar 16, 2025

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao presents Refik Anadol's innovative exhibition at the intersection of art, architecture, and machine learning, as the first 'in situ' series.

Living Architecture: Gehry
March 7 — October 19, 2025

The installation reinterprets Frank Gehry’s architectural language through AI-generated landscapes, processing 35 million images with 50-channel projectors and incorporating multiple sensory elements. The work is powered by Google Cloud’s sustainable computing and integrates an immersive soundscape by composer Kerim Karaoglu.

Image credit: Refik Anadol | Museo Guggenheim Bilbao

Mar 14, 2025

Noma, the globally acclaimed dining innovator, unveiled Noma Kaffe, an experience driven coffee subscription that stays true to Noma's unwavering ethos.

The ingredient led approach follows Noma's ideals in fermentation, distillation, and preservation, prioritizing precision, seasonality, and sensory depth to offer more than just coffee—providing tasting notes, brewing guides, and rich stories of the farmers and their growing practices.

Image credit: Noma Projects

Mar 13, 2025

Estée Lauder and Ladurée have partnered, intersecting beauty and culinary beyond their domains by translating flavors into hues and textures into cosmetics.

This limited collection transforms Ladurée’s signature confections into wearable beauty—spanning makeup, skincare, and fragrance—illustrating how a brand's essence, whether in food or beauty, can be reinterpreted through form, shade, and scent.

Image credit: Estée Lauder | Ladurée

Mar 9, 2025

MATTER and SHAPE, a multidisciplinary design salon, returns to the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris during Paris Fashion Week, bringing together over 50 exhibitors across design, fashion, architecture, craftsmanship, and culinary arts.

With spatial design by Willo Perron, the event frames an intersection of form, function, and materiality, showcasing works including FLOS, Vitra, Kiko Kostadinov, and Byredo, alongside a restaurant by sacai and a culinary pop-up led by We Are Ona and chef Imogen Kwok, transforming dining into a choreographed performance.

March 7–10, 2025
Free admission

Image credit: MATTER and SHAPE | Zara Home | PROFIRST | Ark Kollekt | Tavares | Flos | UNTITLED 19 | We Are Ona

Mar 8, 2025

Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, % ΔRΔBICΔ opens in The Henderson, Hong Kong, seamlessly integrating into the structure as a natural extension of the lobby.

The café’s design by ZHA is conceptualized to match the sinuous, avant-garde sophistication of the landmark building they designed, harmonizing with its organic form, inspired by the buds of the Hong Kong orchid, and sculptural fluidity.

Image credit: % ΔRΔBICΔ | The Henderson | ko______b

Mar 5, 2025

Artist Do Ho Suh presents a major survey exhibition at Tate Modern, London, showcasing three decades of his work exploring home, identity, and memory.

The exhibition highlights his renowned fabric architectures, sculptures, and installations, forming a labyrinth of translucent structures and architectural imprints that trace themes of belonging, displacement, and the psychological dimensions of space.

The Genesis Exhibition: Do Ho Suh: Walk the House
May 1 — October 19, 2025

Image credit: Do Ho Suh | Tate | Genesis | Jeon Taeg Su

Mar 3, 2025

Baronne Restaurant, housed in the historic Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild, merges historic Parisian aristocracy with contemporary dining and nightlife.

The 19th century mansion, once the residence of Baroness Adèle von Rothschild, a member of the Rothschild banking family, has been revitalized by Paris Society Group, infusing it with modern refinement through the discerning design of Corinne Sachot.

Baronne
11 rue Berryer, Paris 8e arr.

Image credit: Baronne | Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild

Mar 1, 2025

Helmut Lang presents his first solo institutional exhibition in LA, showcasing sculptures made from repurposed materials that explore memory, form, and transformation.

Set within Rudolph Schindler's proto-minimalist architecture, the exhibit draws parallels between Lang’s reductivist approach and the renowned building’s architectural philosophy, dissolving boundaries of space, time, and identity through evolving artifacts that bridge personal and collective histories.

'What remains behind'
Feb 19 — May 4, 2025
MAK Center at the Schindler House

Image credit: Helmut Lang | MAK Center for Art and Architecture | Daniel Trese

Feb 27, 2025

Architecture firm Kalbod Design Studio's concept reimagines Ernan Castle in Mehriz, Iran, as a boutique hotel where architectural composition creates a sequential sensory journey.

The experience follows a rotational itinerary through four themed sections—Earth, Fire, Water, and Air—deepening sensory contrasts, dynamic circulation, and a juxtaposition of old and new.

Image credit: Kalbod Design Studio | Ziba Baghban

Feb 26, 2025

Burning Man, the annual celebration of creativity, community, and self-expression, gathers in the Nevada desert to construct the ephemeral Black Rock City.

At its heart stands the Temple, with the 2025 creation, Temple of the Deep, by architect Miguel Arraiz, serving as a sanctified space for reflection, communal healing, and personal connection.

The design draws from Arraiz's personal passage through loss and renewal, and its fractured shell reflects the Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken objects are repaired with gold to honor history rather than conceal imperfections.

Image credit: Burning Man | Miguel Arraiz | Danee Hazama | Duncan Rawlinson

Feb 23, 2025

Médongaule, a garden of revelation, unfolds an unspoken narrative where landscape and architecture compose a silent dialogue with Korea's story through nature.

Culminating 13 years of planning and creation, the 200,000m² estate in Yangpyeong brings together global architects and designers to create a humanities driven experience for contemplation and emotional healing, reviving the forgotten legacy of Korean landscaping after more than 100 years.

Image credit: Médongaule

Feb 22, 2025

Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul hosts Pierre Huyghe's solo exhibit, Liminal, in collaboration with the Pinault Collection's Punta della Dogana and in partnership with Bottega Veneta.

Exploring the evolving interaction between humans and non-humans through real-time data, biotechnology, and AI, the exhibit presents a constantly shifting environment where fiction and reality merge, challenging traditional narratives and hierarchies between humans, machines, and nature.

February 27 — July 6, 2025

Image credit: Leeum | Pinault Collection | Punta della Dogana | Pierre Huyghe

Feb 20, 2025

Saint Laurent, in partnership with chef Peter Park, brings Sushi Park to Paris—an exclusive omakase experience from LA revered by Hollywood's tastemakers.

Opens February 21, 2025
at Saint Laurent Rive Droite

Marking its first outpost beyond LA, Sushi Park upholds its commitment to elevated omakase centered on pure, seasonal ingredients in an intimate space that balances natural elements with brutalist influences.

Image credit: Saint Laurent | Sushi Park

Feb 19, 2025

Saint Laurent continues to spearhead its cultural footprint, harnessing the multidimensional context of its Paris venues as spaces of creative convergence.

At Saint Laurent Rive Droite, the newly opened boutique is reimagined with Donald Judd’s minimalist designs, alongside omakase dining destination Sushi Park in its basement.

At Saint Laurent Babylone, a cultural space for books, vinyls, and art, Alessandro Furchino Capria’s debut solo exhibition explores the interplay of time, place, and perception, focusing on the fleeting beauty of urban life.

Image credit: Saint Laurent | Donald Judd Furniture | Alessandro Furchino Capria

Feb 18, 2025

Daniel Arsham has collaborated with the World Poker Tour (WPT) to unveil a poker chip set, reimagining classic gaming through his sculptural language of future relics.

The limited edition set elevates a traditional game into a collectible statement piece that bridges design, materiality, and the physicality of gameplay experience.

Image credit: Daniel Arsham | WPT

Feb 16, 2025

Chef Dominique Crenn, the first female chef in the US to earn three Michelin stars, has partnered with Dior to open Café Dior in Dallas, unveiling an elevated fine dining concept inspired by the maison’s archival designs.

Rooted in sustainability with ingredients sourced from local farmers, the menu intertwines the splendors of nature with haute cuisine, reflecting Dior's primary sources of inspiration—the delicate beauty of gardens and flowers.

Image credit: Dior | Andrea Brizzi

Feb 15, 2025

Architect Kengo Kuma explores the language of sound in the fabric of architecture, showcasing how spatial form, materials, and sound interact in a multisensory dialogue.

Onomatopoeia Architecturez
Jan 24 — Mar 15
Former Public Tobacco Factory, Athens

The exhibition presents intricate models of his works, introduces the concept of onomatopoeia—the formation of words that mimic natural sounds—and emphasizes his philosophy that materials tell the story of a place, reconnecting humans with nature and fluidity in architecture.

Image credit: the Architect Show Athens

Feb 14, 2025

Leica unveiled the LUX Grip, a physical control gear that elevates photographic precision for iPhone, bringing DSLR ergonomics to the mobile camera system.

Designed to replicate the tactility of a classic Leica, the MagSafe-held gear provides mechanical actuation and recreates Leica lens simulations through the Leica LUX app, from bokeh and film grain effects to Leica Looks that mirror the visuals of iconic Leica lenses such as the Summilux-M and Noctilux-M.

Image credit: Leica

Feb 13, 2025

CHANEL and le19M will bring la Galerie du 19M to Tokyo in autumn, celebrating the artisanal craftsmanship of the Métiers d'art in fashion and decoration.

With a distinguished curatorial team, an architecturally immersive space, and an emphasis on interactive and sensory experiences, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to immerse in CHANEL's artisanal legacy and engage in a unique dialogue between French and Japanese craftsmanship.

Sept 30 – Oct 20, 2025
Mori Tower, Roppongi Hills
Free and open to all

Image credit: le19m | Lesage | Laurent Garnier | Jonathan Llense | Camille Brasselet | Lucie Khahoutian

Feb 12, 2025

Opera, the Norwegian browser maker, introduces Opera Air, the first web browser centered on mindfulness to enhance users' wellbeing while they browse.

With science backed mindfulness tools built in, the minimalist Scandinavian UI embeds solutions such as breathing exercises, meditation, and binaural beats to reduce stress, improve focus, and maintain emotional clarity during online activities.

Image credit: Opera

Feb 10, 2025

Therme Group announced the launch of Therme Dubai – Islands in the Sky, the world's tallest wellness resort, expected to be completed by 2028 at Zabeel Park.

Designed by renowned architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), the ambitious urban oasis, with sustainability at its core, will rise 100 meters high, housing cascading platforms of botanical gardens, pools, and terraces.

Approved by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and in partnership with Dubai Municipality, the project aligns with Dubai's Quality of Life Strategy 2033.

Image credit: Therme Group | DS+R

Feb 9, 2025

Belmond, part of LVMH, launched Long Shots, a series of ambient slow TV films promoting mindful living, capturing the sights and sounds of iconic destinations through prolonged, meditative escape.

Embracing 'Slow Luxury', the series gives mental health benefits with calming visuals and ambient sounds that enable a digital detox from fast paced modern life, inviting us to slow down, savor experiences, and envision future journeys within the serene allure of captivating destinations.

Image credit: Belmond

Feb 8, 2025

ICHION CONTEMPORARY gallery, an architectural marvel designed by Tadao Ando, opened in Osaka to foster cultural exchange, bridging architecture and creativity by transforming a narrow 3 meter site into a landmark.

The inaugural exhibition highlights the avant-garde Gutai Art movement with key works by renowned artists, creating a dynamic dialogue between art, sound, and architecture.

"GUTAI: An Enduring Spirit"
Jan 13 — Mar 29, 2025

Image credit: ICHION CONTEMPORARY

Feb 4, 2025

Casa Profumoir, in Florence’s historic San Niccolò district, is an immersive accommodation project by the fragrance brand Profumoir, founded by Daniele Cavalli, son of designer Roberto Cavalli, and Master Perfumer Sileno Cheloni.

Blending the art of perfumery, alchemy, and artisanal design, an intimate stay at the olfactory house offers personalized perfume creation, sensory rituals, and curated experiences, guided by expert craftsmanship and Florence’s rich olfactory heritage.

Image credit: Casa Profumoir

Feb 2, 2025

Abu Dhabi exclusively hosts Casablanca’s first regional tennis club by the sea.

Casablanca Tennis Club at Ilios Beach Club on Al Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi from February 1 to 7, 2025.

The rare occasion intertwines sport, fashion, and gourmet indulgence with curated tennis experiences, workshops, and a pop-up store showcasing Casablanca’s SS25 collection and a limited edition kids’ capsule.

Image credit: Casablanca | ADIO | Ilios

Feb 1, 2025

Designer Joel Seigle introduces a subwoofer dining table, "Table Bass", addressing spatial efficiency in urban living without compromising sound integrity.

Rather than concealing, the speaker takes center stage, reimagining ordinary furnishings into a bespoke creation of refined acoustics and sculptural poise.

Image credit: Joel Seigle

Jan 29, 2025

Khao Yai Art Forest, a visionary project by Marisa Chearavanont, transforms 85 serene hectares into a living canvas that fosters dialogue between art, nature, and biodiversity in a symphony of reciprocal healing, where nature heals people, people heal nature, and art bridges the two.

Conceptualized as 'Art on Earth 2.0', the forest’s artworks by renowned artists illustrate sustainability through material use and spatial integration, with the initiative bridging Marisa's passions for art, food, and education to ignite a journey of reflection and renewal.

Image credit: Khao Yai Art Forest | Stefano Rabolli Pansera | Andrea Rossetti

Jan 28, 2025

Alaïa unveiled its largest new Paris flagship, with a Sant Ambroeus café and curated spaces merging fashion, art, and architecture into an ethereal ambiance.

Designed by renowned architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA, in collaboration with Alaïa's Creative Director Pieter Mulier, the store draws inspiration from Alaïa's "second skin" aesthetic, reflecting soft, sculptural forms in its architecture and interiors, and accented with art pieces by Ron Arad, Philippe Malouin, and Diamond Stingily.

Image credit: ALAÏA | Sant Ambroeus | Katja Rahlwes

Jan 26, 2025

The Peninsula partnered with the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) to launch contemporary art installations, advancing access to creativity through its 'Art in Resonance' program, which aids emerging and mid-career artists.

Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 will mark the debut of this partnership with newly commissioned works that integrate art into the fabric of hospitality, fostering dialogue and supporting the growth of forward-thinking artists.

Image credit: The Peninsula | Art Basel

Jan 25, 2025

James Turrell exhibits a chronicle of his journey and a prelude to his monumental Land Art for Wadi AlFann, the Valley of the Arts, in AlUla's desert canyons.

The exhibit surveys his legacy as a master of Light and Space through iconic works while rendering a striking preview of the land art 'cosmic observatories', which will carve a planetary diagram into the desert, bridging celestial and terrestrial experiences through the interplay of the sun's path and shadow.

January 16 — April 19, 2025
as part of AlUla Arts Festival

Image credit: ArtsAlUla | Experience AlUla

Jan 23, 2025

Visionary chef Jean Imbert and luxury kitchen utensil brand Mauviel 1830 have partnered to open Le Logis Sainte Catherine, a restaurant at the foot of Mont-Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the culmination of two decades of partnership, Mauviel 1830’s first restaurant, with a design nodding to the brand’s core material, creates a harmonious balance of sacred and maritime inspirations.

Image credit: Le Logis Sainte Catherine | Mauviel 1830 | Jean Imbert | lecmn | Mont-Saint-Michel | BOBY | Carla Gilbert

Jan 22, 2025

Calder Gardens, a cultural destination honoring the art of Alexander Calder, will open in September 2025 in Philadelphia, with architecture by Herzog & de Meuron and gardens by landscape designer Piet Oudolf.

Designed to inspire introspection and community connection, the gardens of art, architecture, and nature will foster interdisciplinary collaboration and experimentation, with programs curated by Juana Berrío to cross-pollinate artistic and non-artistic practices.

Image credit: Calder Gardens | Calder Foundation | Herzog & de Meuron

Jan 21, 2025

Air France has partnered with master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian to launch its first signature home fragrance, AF001—a scent that recalls the very first journey.

Two years in the making, Kurkdjian's inspiration, "a ray of sunshine on the wings of an aircraft", ties the scent to a sense of space, serenity, light, and sunny vibrancy, with its delicate floral aura developed to take travelers on a real olfactory journey, capturing a specific moment in time.

Image credit: Air France | Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Jan 18, 2025

Southeast Asia’s first Prada Caffè opens at the brand's newly designed two-level boutique at ION Orchard in Singapore, currently in its soft launch phase.

Overlooking Orchard Road through its curved glass facade, with designs that nod to Prada's Milan heritage, the café offers a selection of pastries, desserts, and savory dishes, complemented by artisanal coffees and chocolates crafted by Marchesi 1824.

Image credit: Prada

Jan 17, 2025

Lightfall, a multisensory installation by Studio Lemercier in collaboration with electronic musician Murcof, explores the interplay of light, air, mist, and sound at Superblue Miami, crafting a surreal fourth-dimensional parallel that traverses time and space.

The installation, a dynamic yet serene experience, heightens sensory perceptions through subtle motions, textures, and temperature shifts, layering atmospheric phenomena evoked by mist curtains of near-invisible atomized water particles merged with Murcof's cinematic soundscape.

Image credit: Superblue | Mind The Film | Studio Lemercier | Murcof

Jan 16, 2025

Equinox Hotels has partnered with Dr. Matthew Walker, a renowned sleep scientist, to advance its hospitality offerings focused on sleep, which the brand identifies as the root of health and a driver of movement, nutrition, and recovery.

The partnership’s initiatives, which translate complex sleep science into actionable strategies, include the Sleep Lab, enhanced guestroom designs, and the Jet Lag Reset tool, alongside existing sleep amenities such as circadian rituals, curated food and drink menus for inducing sleep, and sleep driven spa treatments.

Image credit: Equinox Hotels

Jan 15, 2025

Maison Perrier-Jouët and design studio Formafantasma partnered on a multi-year ecological and artistic initiative, Cohabitare, in the Champagne region, demonstrating how design can serve as a medium for ecological improvement.

Their first initiative, Biodiversity Island, installed 74 ceramic pillars designed to foster ecological balance and provide habitats for insects, birds, and bats integral to vitality, an effort that counteracts monoculture's challenges by reintroducing diverse flora and fauna to enrich soil health and vineyard resilience.

Image credit: Perrier-Jouët | Formafantasma

Jan 13, 2025

Audemars Piguet launches its first-ever AP Café and a new AP House at the historic Raffles Hotel Singapore, merging the worlds of horology, gastronomy, and lifestyle experiences.

Housed in the storied Bar & Billiard Room with a timeless yet modern design, the café reimagines Swiss classic dishes through a Singaporean lens, crafting a fusion of flavors that reflect the artistry and craftsmanship of watchmaking.

Image credit: Audemars Piguet | Raffles Hotel Singapore

Jan 11, 2025

Rick Owens, with Michèle Lamy, presents BACKSTAGE, an exhibition showcasing their avant-garde furniture designs that merge brutalism, modernism, and archaism.

The collection reveals artisanal creations inspired by natural forms, crafted with rare earth materials, and showcases the Tech Glade, a modular structure designed with Travis Scott for his CIRCUS MAXIMUS tour.

Jan 10 — Feb 15, 2025
Salon 94 Design, New York

Image credit: Rick Owens | Michele Lamy | Salon 94 Design

Jan 10, 2025

Yukai Engineering unveiled Nékojita FuFu, a portable robot designed to cool hot food and drinks, at CES 2025, addressing the challenge of sensitivity to heat during consumption.

Inspired by a father who felt breathless cooling his son's hot baby food, the robot is equipped with a proprietary algorithm and versatile modes, replicating human cooling patterns and making it a playful yet practical tool well-suited for seniors and parents.

Image credit: Yukai Engineering

Jan 9, 2025

The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo hosts the first large-scale exhibition in Japan dedicated to Ryuichi Sakamoto’s artistic legacy, highlighting his multidisciplinary approach to bridging music, technology, and visual art.

Ryuichi Sakamoto: seeing sound, hearing time
Dec 21, 2024—Mar 30, 2025

Spanning indoor and outdoor spaces, the exhibit delves into his passion for three-dimensional sound, nature, and time, with immersive works and collaborations with renowned artists.

The museum restaurant '100 Spoons' invites a sensory connection to Sakamoto's life and work, offering a menu inspired by his favorite foods.

Image credit: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo | Ryuichi Sakamoto | 100 Spoons

Jan 8, 2025

L'Oréal unveiled the Cell BioPrint, a portable device that uses proteomics to provide skin analysis in just five minutes and predict skin issues before they become visible.

Developed in collaboration with NanoEnTek, a Korean startup specializing in biofluid-reading chip technology, the device reveals skin's biological age, sensitivity to skincare ingredients like retinol, and predictions of cosmetic issues like dark spots and enlarged pores.

Image credit: L'Oréal

Jan 7, 2025

Louis Vuitton and artist Takashi Murakami present their re-edition collection, reimagining the seminal partnership that shaped the industry’s approach to collaboration 20 years ago, with over 200 updated designs and a global pop-up rollout across seven major cities—London, Milan, New York City, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, and Singapore.

The pop-up, a prism of Murakami's whimsical artistry with a dynamic blend of retail, cultural narratives, and nostalgic allure, is structured into four zones: retail, care station, cinema, and café.

Image credit: Louis Vuitton | Takashi Murakami | Cafe Zingaro

Jan 4, 2025

Pharrell Williams has partnered with Launchpad Hospitality Group to open two Japanese temaki restaurants, Nami Nori and Matsuyoi, in Miami's Design District, specializing in open style sushi rolls that allow direct savoring of textures and flavors.

Founded by the trio who met under Chef Masa Takayama, the only 3 star Michelin sushi chef in the country, Nami Nori offers a light, beach inspired atmosphere on the ground floor, while Matsuyoi, with a design inspired by the influential artist Kawase Hasui, provides a more intimate setting upstairs.

Image credit: Nami Nori | Matsuyoi | Jihan Lee

Jan 2, 2025

Tom Dixon and A31 Architecture have designed the AIMASIA Residence, a villa at the crossroads of ancient and modern, nestled by Elia beach in Mykonos.

An existing ancient dry stone wall acts as the 'spine' of the structure, and the architecture gracefully flows around it, subtly carving into the hilly ground to minimize visual disruption of the natural landscape.

Image credit: Mike Kelley | A31 Architecture | Tom Dixon | Orizon Development

Dec 31, 2024

Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, the mystical garden built by Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, celebrates a century of art, nature, and culture in 2024, standing as one of the region's most treasured sites.

Yves Saint Laurent's muse came to life among the serene pathways and vibrant hues of the garden, where his ashes were scattered to rest, immortalizing his creative spirit in its sublime serenity.

Image credit: Jardin Majorelle

Dec 30, 2024

Patina Osaka, set to open in April 2025 by Capella Hotel Group, is an urban hotel that envisions a new paradigm of luxury hospitality, embodying sustainability and conscious living through creative expressions that intersect art, music, fashion, and gastronomy.

Through a creative partnership with artist and cultural icon Verdy, whose Osaka rooted presence serves as a cultural catalyst, Patina Osaka sets out to add a new dimension to transformative urban hospitality.

Image credit: Patina Osaka

Dec 28, 2024

Auberge TOKITO in Tokyo integrates the concept of artisanal cuisine and a traditional Japanese ryokan experience, enveloped in serene architectural design.

The Artisan Cuisine, centered on a collaborative ethos, is led by Chef Yoshinori Ishii, the UK's Michelin star pioneer of ikejime and a ceramic artist, while the design and architecture, by visionary Shinichiro Ogata, modernize traditional ryokan with warm timber, copper, and bronze to evoke serenity.

Image credit: Auberge TOKITO

Dec 27, 2024

The Icebreaker by Serene Industries is a mechanical keyboard designed by filmmaker and designer Denis Agarkov, drawing inspiration from New York's Flatiron Building.

The unorthodox brutalist design, which also nods to filmmaking gear, emerges as a sculptural yet functional and ergonomic piece, embodying a 'no compromise' vision.

Image credit: Serene Industries

Dec 26, 2024

CopenHill, designed by architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), is a waste-to-energy plant in Copenhagen that also serves as a recreational space with a ski slope, hiking trail, and climbing wall.

Illustrating 'hedonistic sustainability', the 41,000 m² space, which processes 440,000 tons of waste annually to power 150,000 homes and provide district heating, offers 9,000 m² of year round ski terrain made from artificial membrane, an 85 m climbing wall—the world's tallest—and more activity facilities.

Image credit: CopenHill | Hufton + Crow | Peter Rajkai | Amélie Louys | Ehrhornhummerston

Dec 24, 2024

Rimowa introduces Mahjong Attaché to its collection of gaming sets alongside Poker Attaché and Chess Attaché, crafting utilitarian companions as refined design artifacts to elevate travel and leisure.

Image credit: RIMOWA

Dec 22, 2024

Nomura Group has released 'noon', a speaker fabricated from unconventional materials—denim scraps, construction waste, ocean plastic, food waste, and rocket fuel tanks—giving new life to what would typically be industrial discard, under the ethos "material = earth's resources".

noon intersects contemporary architectural ideals with modular construction and acoustic engineering that manifests modernist spatial ingenuity, delivering a multisensory design experience where sound, touch, fragrance, and visuals intertwine with sustainability and creative transformation.

Image credit: Nomura Co., Ltd.

Dec 21, 2024

Rose McAdoo is a visual artist and former pastry chef who uses cakes as a medium to communicate science and environmental issues, particularly climate change.

Her edible art transforms complex scientific concepts into digestible visuals, addressing topics such as glacier retreat, species interdependence, and human activity's impact on the environment, while using ingredient substitutions like glacier water and algae to highlight biodiversity and extinction.

Image credit: Rose McAdoo | Rachel Heckerman | Tim Wenzel | Arctic Circle | Tyler Watson | Laura Cass

Dec 20, 2024

ICEHOTEL, a transient structure rebuilt annually in Sweden from river ice, launches its 35th edition with designs by 26 artists from 13 countries, integrating art, architecture, and nature into eco-friendly excursions.

This edition presents 12 unique art suites and 20 ice rooms, alongside Arctic gastronomy accentuating regional flavors and a suite of wilderness experiences that span from natural phenomena to cultural heritage.

Image credit: ICEHOTEL | Asaf Kliger

Dec 18, 2024

Simose, a one of a kind art resort and museum in Hiroshima crafted by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban, earned the 2024 Prix Versailles as the world’s most beautiful museum.

Eight movable art galleries float in a garden of architecture that connects the sea, sky, and greenery, while the Simose Art Garden Villa, offering stays in Forest Villas and Waterfront Villas, includes recreations of Shigeru Ban's iconic designs.

Image credit: Simose Art Museum | Simose Art Garden Villa

Dec 17, 2024

Assouline, a luxury publishing house, opened its flagship boutique with a restaurant and piano bar at Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Blending Mediterranean cuisine with the maison's celebrated collections in intimate settings, the flagship, in tune with the desert landscape and color palettes of Saudi architecture, merges tradition and modernity for a cultural fusion.

Image credit: Assouline | Bujairi Terrace | Diriyah

Dec 15, 2024

Alaïa has opened a bookstore and café in its London flagship through collaborations with Claire de Rouen, a prominent figure in the literary scene, and Violet Cakes by Claire Ptak, widely recognized for crafting the wedding cake for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The space, embracing a modernist design language that bridges transparency, lightness, and art, continues the tradition of intimate salons hosted by founder Azzedine Alaïa.

Image credit: ALAÏA | Violet Cakes by Claire Ptak

Dec 14, 2024

Nike has collaborated with British makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench, placing beauty and sport as non-opposing forces that jointly elevate confidence and performance, pushing the envelope by asserting cosmetics as a functional medium integral to boosting psychological readiness.

The partnership adapts principles of makeup to the palette of Air Max Dn, interplaying textures, contours, and depth to add multi-textural and tactile dimensions often seen in makeup.

Image credit: Nike | Isamaya Ffrench

Dec 12, 2024

Architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), in collaboration with Nokken, unveiled 'Softshell', a two story modular tent designed for sustainable glamping experiences.

The adaptable structure, with a timber frame and weather resistant, recyclable canvas fabric, is designed to integrate into natural settings, and its lightweight, modular design ensures easy transport and assembly, making it suitable for remote locations and reducing environmental impact.

Image credit: Bjarke Ingels Group | Nokken

Dec 10, 2024

Dior opens a new concept space, 'Dior Gold House', in Bangkok's Ploenchit district, blending local artistry with Michelin gourmet experiences within a house inspired by the iconic 30 Montaigne, set amidst a lush garden.

The site's diverse art collaborations orchestrate a resonant dialogue between Dior's French heritage and Thailand's traditional craftsmanship, brought to life by regional artists, designers, and architects.

Image credit: Dior | Pierre Mouton

Dec 8, 2024

The historic Reading Room at the British Museum in London has fully reopened to the public in July after its indefinite closure in 2013, revealing its illustrious architectural splendor, designed by architect Sydney Smirke in 1857 inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.

As an intellectual hub frequented by historical figures such as Karl Marx, Virginia Woolf, Lenin, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mark Twain, the dome, a cornerstone of cultural and scholarly history, has once again opened its doors, allowing general visitors to rediscover its architectural grandeur in its authentic role.

Image credit: Donald Macbeth | Bobulous | Diliff | Phil Armitage | Nordisk familjebok

Dec 5, 2024

Ginori 1735, the iconic brand epitomizing Italian porcelain artistry, has partnered with St. Regis Florence to launch the first permanent Café Ginori, unveiling creative plating and playfulness in the unique dining landscape.

Housed in the 18th century Palazzo Magli, every element of the interior—from the Oriente Italiano wallpaper to the embroidered fabrics on cushions—reflects the spirit and legacy that define Ginori 1735, redefining the rules of mise en place both visually and gastronomically.

Image credit: Michèle Lamy | House By | Hugo Souchet

Dec 1, 2024

Michèle Lamy, an emblematic figure in culture and fashion, partnered with House By, to create 'Object 001', an artistic interpretation of a candle that embraces unity around flame and her philosophy that art can be ephemeral yet hold deep meaning.

Drawing inspiration from Lamy's beloved piece of petrified wood, Object 001 is crafted from organic, unscented, long burning wax atop a hand painted brass stand with a bronze patina, and it burns for 400 hrs.

Limited to 700 pieces, each with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Image credit: Michèle Lamy | House By | Hugo Souchet

Nov 29, 2024

Gucci Giardino, the fashion house's second bar worldwide, has opened in Umeda, Osaka, fusing Italian and Japanese cultural elements in contemporary sensibility.

From its signature cocktails with a nuanced act of storytelling and exclusive aged sake to Michelin starred dining and Laboratory culinary experiences, Gucci Giardino offers an intersection of mixology, art, cuisine, and fashion.

The menu is created in collaboration with Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura Tokyo.

Image credit: Gucci | Sebastian Viguera

Nov 28, 2024

Transparent, the circular audio brand from Stockholm with striking designs, has released a speaker that embeds the bold, geometric forms of 1950s brutalist architecture, designed to stand as a 'monument of sound and design', harnessing a form that contributes to sound performance.

The towering structure encapsulates a vast acoustic volume, the geometric shape disperses sound waves uniformly, the dense material delivers optimal acoustic properties, and the elevated vantage points of tweeters at a 90° angle enrich broader dissemination of an immersive soundscape.

Image credit: Transparent

Nov 27, 2024

Architect Kengo Kuma and Swedish furniture brand Gärsnäs collaborated to create the HidaHida chair, blending Eastern architecture with Scandinavian design.

The chair, with its frame made of steam-bent beech or oak wood and upholstery in fabric or leather with pronounced seams that lend it a hand-sewn feel, exudes haute couture in its structural design.

Image credit: KKAA | Gärsnäs | The Conran Shop Daikanyama | COAD & Materials. PG gallery

Nov 26, 2024

ŌURA, the Finnish smart ring pioneer, is partnering with Dexcom, a leader in glucose sensing, to combine glucose data from Dexcom devices with health metrics collected by the Oura Ring, unlocking comprehensive insights into users' metabolic health, such as how diet, sleep, and activity affect glucose levels.

The partnership signifies a move toward healthcare consumerization, equipping individuals with not only diabetes management but also preventive care.

Image credit: ŌURA | Dexcom

Nov 24, 2024

Bottega Veneta has partnered with the lighting design brand Flos to recreate Gino Sarfatti's Model 600 lamp from 1966, a design that influenced the spirit of experimentation in the 1960s.

The lamp retains its original reflector shield, which swivels to adjust the light's direction and spread, and its flexible base that allows tilting or tumbling without falling, while incorporating Bottega Veneta's signature Intrecciato and Intreccio Foulard leather weaving techniques for the base.

Image credit: Bottega Veneta | Flos | Gino Sarfatti

Nov 23, 2024

Audemars Piguet and KAWS unveiled a collaboration that combines horological precision with contemporary art, culminating in a limited edition Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon 'Companion' watch and a sculpture positioned atop the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet in Switzerland.

The watch, with a new hand-wound movement designed specifically for this model, was developed over two years to merge art with the rigorous design demands, from horological precision to the strictest standards of materials.

Image credit: Audemars Piguet | KAWS

Nov 21, 2024

Jaime Hayon returns to the origins of his creative process with his solo exhibition 'Bestial' at Art Basel Miami, starting December 1, 2024, hosted at the Mindy Solomon Gallery.

The exhibition, which marks a quarter century of Hayon's journey, explores the intersection of nature and humanity, and the intrinsic connection between animalistic instincts and human emotions, continuing his odyssey of fragility, uncertainty, and self-discovery through hyperbolic creatures.

Image credit: Jaime Hayon | HAYONSTUDIO

Nov 20, 2024

Thomas Heatherwick unveils a limited edition hand-blown glassware collection that reflects the architectural ingenuity and biophilic vision behind his design of the Bombay Sapphire distillery at Laverstoke Mill, constructed a decade ago.

The collection presents gin and tonic glasses and decanters hand-blown by UK artisans, characterized by a pleated hourglass silhouette with a striking blue base.

Image credit: Heatherwick Studio | Bombay Sapphire

Nov 20, 2024

Maison Margiela has inaugurated its premiere flagship store in Seoul's Hannam district, revitalizing a 1970s residential structure with architectural elements that embrace the brand's unconventional 'appropriate use of the inappropriate' philosophy and décortiqué technique.

The space includes a garden and a café in partnership with Bonanza Coffee, and hosts an art project, 'Hacking: 5AC Bag', showcasing reinterpretations of its iconic 5AC bag by contemporary artists from Korea and Japan.

Image credit: Maison Margiela | Bonanza Coffee

Nov 19, 2024

Louis Vuitton has opened a five story experiential space in NYC that serves as a flagship during its Fifth Avenue renovation, blending its legacy with modern artistry through spatial designs by Shohei Shigematsu of the architecture firm OMA, as well as the US debut of Le Café Louis Vuitton, a library concept housing nearly 650 books, and Le Chocolat Maxime Frédéric.

Image credit: Louis Vuitton

Nov 17, 2024

Thom Browne has partnered with The Shilla Hotel in Seoul to launch the 'Thom Browne Experience', a first of its kind concept room that introduces Browne's new home collection, available throughout December 2024.

The room, exhibiting high standard craftsmanship and design from collaborations with esteemed brands—Baccarat, Christofle, Frette, and Haviland—is complemented by an exclusive package including a bottle of Thom Browne X Barons de Rothschild Champagne, executive lounge access, and more.

In conjunction with the experience, the hotel opens an ephemeral store for the Thom Browne Home collection.

Image credit: Thom Browne | The Shilla Seoul

Nov 16, 2024

Genki-ro, created by artist Takashi Kuribayashi, is an art installation set in a historic underground quarry that blends natural wellness with art, serving as an herbal steam sauna designed to stimulate all five senses.

The transporting experience, crafted to invigorate both spirit and body, is meant to evolve over time through visitor interaction, becoming a living piece of art.

Image credit: Genkiro No.06

Nov 13, 2024

Alessi, the renowned Italian design house, has launched its first café, Alessi Espresso, at Dosan Park in Seoul, blending coffee culture with its iconic design concept.

The space is designed by Michele de Lucchi, a luminary in Italian architecture and design, with coffee developed in collaboration with Jang Moonkyu, a distinguished finalist in the World Coffee Roasting Championship.

Image credit: Alessi

Nov 12, 2024

The Sun Tower, a multicultural venue designed by OPEN Architecture on the coast of the Yellow Sea in Yantai, serves as a giant sundial, with its alignment and openings precisely calibrated to follow the path of the sun.

The concave design amplifies the sounds absorbed from the ocean, funnels natural light, and optimizes airflow and tunnel cooling, transforming invisible energies into tangible experiences that connect urban life with nature's timeless rhythms.

It houses a library, an observatory, an outdoor theater, exhibition spaces, a café, and a bar, among others.

Image credit: OPEN Architecture | Jonathan Leijonhufvud

Nov 11, 2024

The Macallan Estate in Scotland, an architectural marvel that sculpts into the land as a verdant swell, has unveiled TimeSpirit, a new dining experience created in partnership with the 3 Michelin starred 'El Celler de Can Roca' and designed by David Thulstrup, the renowned architect behind Copenhagen's Noma.

Image credit: The Macallan

Nov 10, 2024

Lake Como’s air is contained in cans, enclosing 400ml of pure air purportedly collected from the lake.

The concept, aimed at providing a tangible memory to carry back home a piece of Lake Como's serene and elegant atmosphere, is intended as a souvenir that repurposes as pen holders, plant pots, or stationery containers once the air is dispensed.

Image credit: Lake Como Air

Nov 7, 2024

Designer and architect Philippe Starck has crafted LA Almazara in Ronda, Spain, a radical and transformative experiential space dedicated to olive oil and serving as a cultural center that encapsulates art, tradition, and gastronomy.

Image credit: LA Almazara | Philippe Starck

Nov 6, 2024

Ryosokuin, a historic temple in Kyoto known for its role in Zen and wellness practices, cultivates spiritual and cultural dimensions through Zen meditation, tea ceremonies, and yoga, as well as serving as a vital platform for contemporary art exhibitions.

The temple, with gardens and tea houses noted for their architectural and natural beauty, currently exhibits '黙: Speaking in Silence', exploring shared themes of nature and spirituality between artists Bosco Sodi and Izumi Kato.

Image credit: Ryosokuin

Nov 5, 2024

Arturel, a Danish design company dedicated to reducing unwanted noise and echoes to create healthy sound atmospheres conducive to relaxation, concentration, and mental wellbeing, specializes in crafting sound absorbing panels that effectively lower reverberation and improve room acoustics.

Through collaborations with Kvadrat, designers, and artists, Arturel integrates sustainable materials, cultural heritage, and artistic design to craft eco-friendly acoustic panels that merge art, heritage, and functionality.

Image credit: Arturel

Nov 4, 2024

Rick Owens has partnered with Moncler to create an off-grid mountain shelter inspired by architects Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé, as well as a clothing line, merging his gothic, avant-garde design with Moncler's utilitarian vision.

The 'refuge', crafted with support from Hugh Broughton Architects for structural design that ensures resilience and efficiency in extreme environments, harnesses advanced technology to meet modern needs for mobility and ecological responsibility.

Image credit: Moncler | Rick Owens

Nov 2, 2024

Stone Island unveils "Stone Island Sound", a music initiative formalizing its longstanding connection to diverse music movements and community ties.

Embracing the mantra of 'sound as a form of research', which reflects the brand's experimental approach, the project is structured into three categories:

_STONE ISLAND SOUND_FACTORY
_STONE ISLAND SOUND_CURATED BY
_STONE ISLAND SOUND_LIVE

Available on Apple Music and Spotify.

Image credit: Stone Island

Nov 1, 2024

Martin Margiela, the elusive icon who stepped away from fashion into art, unveiled his first public sculpture, Blinds, in Antwerp—a surrealist overlay of art and revitalizing urban space.

The sculpture, dialoguing with the curiosity of passers-by, is a thought provoking piece that illuminates the concepts of visibility, privacy, and perception, conjuring the hidden aspects behind the visible world and the concepts of seeing and being seen.

Image credit: Middelheim Museum | Tom Cornille | Maison Margiela

Oct 29, 2024

Marchesi 1824, the historic Milanese patisserie owned by the Prada Group, partnered with Assouline to publish 'Pasticceria Marchesi: Savoring the Spirit of Milan'.

The book captures how Marchesi 1824 merges tradition with evolving recipes, chronicling the storied journey of a passionate Italian taste; from the emblematic panettone to the rituals that elevate a caffeine break to an art form.

Available from both Marchesi and Assouline channels, as a standalone order, and as a set paired with Classic Panettone through Marchesi online.

Image credit: Prada Group | Marchesi 1824 | Assouline

Oct 28, 2024

Jean-Georges Vongerichten, a visionary chef of our times, steps beyond culinary, into creating a residential retreat where 'Taste is Everything'.

Partnering with Terra and Lion Development Group for completion in 2027, Jean-Georges' approach to living spaces influences everything from kitchen designs to culinary experiences that bridge culture and wellness, with the unique concepts brought to life by the acclaimed architects Arquitectonica and design studio Yabu Pushelberg.

Image credit: Jean-Georges Miami Tropic Residences | Jean-Georges

Oct 26, 2024

MM6 Maison Margiela has collaborated with Timex to reimagine the retro T80 timepiece, introducing it in the forms of a wristwatch and a ring watch, a novel concept that miniaturizes T80 into a wearable shape that challenges conventional notions of versatility and how a watch is structurally perceived.

Image credit: Maison Margiela | Timex

Oct 25, 2024

Naoshima, the revered island dedicated to art and architecture, welcomes a new space of artistic dialogues in 2025, designed by architect Tadao Ando, where his harnessing of natural light is captured in a structural flow, and natural elements are integrated to harmonize with the island's landscape.

The museum, directed by Miki Akiko, embraces a shift toward more dynamic perspectives, engaging with contemporary Asian art, with the inaugural exhibition showcasing 11 artists, including Takashi Murakami and Cai Guo-Qiang.

Image credit: Benesse Art Site Naoshima | Hamada Hideaki | Yoshihiro Asada | Mitsuo Matsuoka

Oct 24, 2024

Hyatt and Peloton have designed an experience that incentivize wellness by allowing you to earn Hyatt points for workouts completed on Peloton equipment at over 700 Hyatt hotels globally.

This wellness initiative, the first to merge a hospitality loyalty program with Peloton workouts, broadens practical motivation for fitness and mutual benefits for all parties involved.

Image credit: Hyatt | Peloton

Oct 22, 2024

Designer Giestas introduces "Baking Vegan Slippers", a DIY project that lets individuals craft personalized, biodegradable slippers at home using materials like cork, agar, and algae, which are then baked in an oven.

The freedom to stylize with a personal and creative touch encourages experimentation, signaling broader practical applications in the fashion industry.

Image credit: Giestas

Oct 21, 2024