DESIGN DISPATCH

The Brazilian Pavilion Scoops the Golden Lion in Venice, and Other News

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The Brazil Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Photography by Matteo de Maya

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The Brazilian Pavilion scoops the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale.

The Brazilian Pavilion, titled Terra [Earth] and curated by Gabriela de Matos and Paulo Tavares, was awarded the Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale. The winning intervention focuses on rethinking the past to envision possible futures, highlighting overlooked actors in architecture and aligning with the theme of the edition, Laboratory of the Future. The ceremony also recognized other participants, including DAAR, Olalekan Jeyifous, Thandi Loewenson, Wolff Architects, Twenty Nine Studio, and the national pavilion of Great Britain. Additionally, a Special Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Demas Nwoko.

Ludovic de Saint Sernin reportedly departs Ann Demeulemeester after one season. 

Ludovic de Saint Sernin has reportedly left Ann Demeulemeester two months after presenting his debut collection for the brand in Paris. No statement was released by De Saint Sernin or Claudio Antonioli, who acquired the Demeulemeester label in 2020. Previously, the Ann Demeulemeester label was managed by its creative design team. De Saint Sernin’s inaugural collection, which embraced his gender-fluid aesthetic, gained significant attention from popular online influencers, with Hunter Schafer notably donning the show’s opening ensemble at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party. In discussing the look, De Saint Sernin expressed, “It’s my way of signaling that after this initial phase, I will explore new horizons to express myself.”

The Dadu Children’s Museum of Qatar by UNStudio. Image courtesy of UNStudio

UNStudio unveils a blocky scheme for the planned Dadu Children’s Museum of Qatar. 

UNStudio has unveiled its design for the Dadu Children’s Museum of Qatar at an exhibition during the Venice Architecture Biennale. The museum, located near Al Bidda Park in Doha, will be part of a group of museums being developed in Qatar. Designed as a series of interconnected blocky forms arranged in a circle, the museum draws inspiration from the layout of historic villages in the area, providing a safe central gathering space for children to play. Thematic galleries, interactive exhibitions, a restaurant, a cafe, and activity rooms will be incorporated into the museum’s design in order to offer engaging experiences for families.

Clare Waight Keller is rumored to be secretly working on a new collection for Uniqlo. 

According to sources, Clare Waight Keller, who has been quiet in the fashion industry since leaving Givenchy three years ago, has been secretly working on a collection for Uniqlo. It’s expected that her initial designs for the Japanese fashion retailer will hit stores as early as this fall. While a spokesperson for Uniqlo’s parent company declined to confirm any new projects, the collaboration with Waight Keller would follow in the footsteps of other renowned designers who have partnered with Uniqlo and expanded the brand’s offerings beyond casualwear.

The Dutch royal palace of Het Loo reopens after an extensive five-year renovation.

The Dutch royal palace of Het Loo, often referred to as the “Versailles of the North,” has undergone an extensive renovation that took five years and cost €171 million ($185 million). The transformation included the addition of a 53,820-square-foot underground extension, which remains unseen from the outside. The underground space, designed by KAAN Architecten, serves as the museum’s new entrance, featuring expansive glass areas that allow natural light to penetrate and provide views of the palace and its renowned water features.

The Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto, which Robin Guenther helped design. Photography by Emily Hagopian

Robin Guenther, an architect who revolutionized healthcare construction, dies at 68. 

Robin Guenther, an architect and environmental health advocate who designed sustainable healthcare facilities and co-wrote the first guide to building them, has died at 68. Guenther focused on eliminating toxic materials in construction, particularly polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and sought alternatives while raising awareness about its dangers. Her work revolutionized healthcare construction, and she played a significant role in promoting sustainable building practices in the industry. Guenther’s contributions included designing environmentally conscious facilities like the Center for Discovery and co-creating the Green Guide for Healthcare, which became the basis for LEED certification specific to the healthcare sector.

The New York Subway is testing a new turnstile system to help combat fare evasion.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is testing a new turnstile system as part of its efforts to crack down on fare evasion in the New York Subway. The prototype design at Grand Central Terminal replaces the traditional tripod gates with touchless, automatic transparent panels that swing open upon payment. The MTA has also released a comprehensive report by the Blue-Ribbon Panel, which aims to combat fare evasion across all MTA networks. The report suggests various strategies, including modernizing fare arrays, increasing enforcement presence, and focusing on education and equity to address the root causes of fare evasion.

The Skims pop-up shop at Rockefeller Center. Photography by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Skims

Today’s attractive distractions:

The earliest recorded kiss now goes back 4,500 years to Mesopotamia.

American workers are now testing positive for weed at record-high rates.

This museum is offering Rembrandt-inspired tattoos to grow its audience.

Skims opens a summer pop-up shop in the heart of Rockefeller Center.

All Stories