DESIGN DISPATCH

Real-Estate and Art Development Ray Sets Its Sights on Nashville, and Other News

Our daily look at the world through the lens of design.

A rendering of Ray Nashville. Image courtesy of Ray.

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Dasha Zhukova Niarchos is set to bring Ray, her real-estate and art concept, to Nashville.

The art collector and Garage founder Dasha Zhukova Niarchos is teaming up with Johnston Marklee, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, and Parts and Labor to bring Ray to Nashville. After a successful debut in Philadelphia, the art-forward residential and creative space has slated expansions to markets including New York, Phoenix, and now Nashville. The development, slated for the Music City’s Pie Town neighborhood, will feature works from a yet-to-be-announced lineup of local artists, along with amenities including a gym, yoga studio, spa, outdoor pool, and co-working spaces. 

Luxury fashion’s slowdown persists: LVMH revenue fell for the second quarter in a row.

LVMH reported a 1 percent decline in second-quarter revenue, with organic sales growth of 2 percent, missing analysts’ forecasts of 3 to 4 percent. The luxury conglomerate faces challenges from slowing demand in key markets like China and the U.S., as growth slows significantly in Asia and modestly in the U.S. Retail categories like watches, jewelry, and wines have suffered, prompting LVMH to adopt a cautious outlook for the remainder of the year.

The new faux leather Eames chair. Image courtesy of Herman Miller.

In a win for vegans, Herman Miller has begun manufacturing faux leather Eames chairs.

Herman Miller has introduced a lower-carbon footprint version of its Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, in a bamboo-based faux leather called Banbū. The material, developed by materials company von Holzhausen, reduces the chair’s carbon footprint by up to 35 percent and maintains durability, softness, and scratch resistance. As the demand for more eco-friendly materials rises, Herman Miller continues to explore further integration of plant-based alternatives in its product lines.

Equinox unveiled visuals for a Neom resort that would be right at home in Star Wars.

Saudi Arabia’s Neom has partnered with Equinox Hotels to open a luxury getaway, Equinox Resort Treyam, on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. The property features a bridge-like structure over a desert lagoon, and will include a clubhouse, spa, and fitness center. Neom, a key part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda, aims to attract foreign investors and transform into a premier tourism and luxury destination despite facing significant budget cuts.

Alphabet is doubling down on its Waymo self-driving car tech to the tune of $5 billion.

Google parent company Alphabet plans to invest $5 billion more in its self-driving car unit, Waymo, to bolster its position as a leading autonomous driving company. This investment follows the recent expansion of Waymo’s rollout in San Francisco. According to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, the service currently provides 50,000 weekly paid trips, primarily in San Francisco and Phoenix, and has completed 2 million trips to date.

An Edward Hopper "painting" replica in Manhattan. Image courtesy of Meatpacking Business Improvement District.

Today’s attractive distractions: 

This week, New Yorkers inhabited life-size Edward Hopper “paintings.” 

In lieu of real intel, raging gossip has enveloped fashion’s leadership crisis.

Samsung’s AI Sydney Sweeney portrait proves we’re at peak slop.

Commodities. Cash. Kirkland. Step into a generic Costco vacation.

 

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