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Audo Brings Copenhagen Cool to Tokyo
It’s been a momentous year for Audo Copenhagen. First, brand director Joachim Kornbek Engell-Hansen stewarded a pivot from the company’s origins as Menu to Audo following the acquisition of by Lassen and Design Holding. Now, the brand is putting down roots in Tokyo with a new showroom in the vibrant neighborhood of Roppongi. Warm wood tones and time-tested classics—such as Flemming Lassen’s winged Ingeborg lounge chair in sherpa, and Norm Architects’ linen-shaded Hashira pendant—impart a distinctly Japandi touch to the space. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz
Approval for the final design of the world’s longest suspension bridge, spanning the Strait of Messina to connect Sicily and mainland Italy, is setting the stage for construction to potentially kick off this year. With a projected length exceeding 10,800 feet, the bridge, estimated to cost $5 billion, has faced decades of delays and political contention. Featuring three vehicle lanes and a central rail lane, the structure is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and seismic activity. Spearheaded by state-owned sponsor Stretto di Messina and led by the Eurolink consortium, the project aims to secure financing and regulatory approvals for a midyear start.
With an estimated one billion birds dying annually from building collisions, Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle Owl from Central Park Zoo, became a poignant symbol of this issue after dying due to a collision earlier in the week. His escapades in New York City captivated hearts, and has now even spurred legislative action leading to the renaming of the Bird Safe Buildings Act to the FLACO Act, highlighting the urgent need for bird-safe laws. New York’s efforts, including Local Law 15 and volunteer initiatives like NYC Audubon’s “Project Safe Flight,” underscore the importance of mitigating bird collisions.
Izumi Kato at Perrotin Los Angeles. Photography by Evan Bedford, courtesy of the artist and Perrotin…
Perrotin is preparing to open its newest location in Los Angeles, coinciding with the fifth edition of Frieze L.A. Housed in the former Del Mar Theater, the space seeks to preserve the city’s architectural heritage while embracing modernity. Its inaugural exhibition will showcase the work of Izumi Kato, highlighting the artist’s enigmatic blend of ancient inspiration and contemporary expression. The expansion reflects L.A.’s growing prominence as a global art hub.
Gensler has revealed plans for a major overhaul of JPMorgan Chase’s 55-year-old Chicago headquarters in the South Loop, aiming to create a cutting-edge workplace conducive to collaboration and aligning with the bank’s vision of the “future of work.” Serving more than 14,500 local employees, the renovation will revitalize the tower’s plaza, lobby, and work floors, incorporating modern amenities like a fitness center and world-class conference facilities while preserving Marc Chagall’s Four Seasons mosaic. This marks the building’s first renovation in more than two decades, with completion slated within the next two years.
Italy’s culture minister issued a statement that the Venice Biennale would not bar an Israeli presence despite calls from thousands of artists to do so, labeling Israel’s participation as a “Genocidal Pavilion.” The letter accused the Biennale of exhibiting a double standard regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine versus its silence on Gaza. While the Biennale has yet to respond, the culture minister criticized the letter as “shameful” and affirmed Israel’s right to participate, stating that culture should foster freedom and dialogue. The Art Not Genocide Alliance, behind the letter, countered that culture cannot bridge nations when one is involved in another’s elimination. Israel has had a pavilion at the Biennale since 1950, with artist Ruth Patir representing the nation this year.
A sculpture by Jean Jullien at Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche in Paris. Image courtesy of Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche…
