Coperni’s shop-in-shop at Printemps Haussmann. Image courtesy of Coperni…
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Coperni Fashions a “Techno-Chic” Boutique Using USM Cubes
USM’s Haller system has endured as an architect-favorite means of storage thanks to its streamlined appearance and foolproof assembly of simply affixing steel tubes to connector balls. Just when we thought we’d seen every Haller variation out there, Coperni entered the chat and brought the Swiss furniture mainstay’s winning formula to the next level. Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant, the work-and-life partners who founded the avant-garde Parisian fashion and accessories label a decade ago, partnered with USM to envision its first-ever boutique, a “techno-chic” shop-in-shop inside the tony Printemps Haussmann department store. USM’s cubic systems create tables, walls, and display areas—a language echoed on the Versailles parquet flooring, whose squares are punctuated by silver tubing. Coperni plans to bring the concept to Selfridges and China’s Duty-Free Mall in Hainan Island soon, too. —Ryan Waddoups
The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco has announced it will take legal action against wHY, the New York–based architecture firm responsible for its $38 million expansion. The museum claims the expansion, completed just before the pandemic in 2020, had multiple issues including leaks and an unusable rooftop terrace. The museum is joining an existing lawsuit filed by Swinerton Builders, the project’s contractor, who also blames wHY for “incomplete and inadequate plans.” wHY, led by founder Kulapat Yantrasast, is a well-known firm in the art world with a portfolio that includes projects for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. The museum’s lawsuit aims to defend both itself and the Asian Art Museum Foundation of San Francisco against claims made by Swinerton in the original suit.
The British Museum has taken steps to recover around 2,000 stolen Ancient Greek and Roman artifacts by firing a suspected staff member and launching a webpage to aid in the items’ recovery. So far, 60 objects have been returned and 300 more are expected soon. The webpage is intentionally sparse to deter illicit sales or destruction of the stolen items, and it includes features like a third-century CE Roman gold ring and a Hellenistic intaglio oval. The museum is also monitoring the art market, collaborating with police, and has established an anonymous tip email. The Art Loss Register is assisting in the recovery, and searchers can identify specific missing objects for a $95 fee. While reports suggest senior curator Peter Higgs may be involved, the museum has not confirmed this. The museum’s director, Hartwig Fischer, resigned shortly after the thefts were publicized, and Sir Mark Jones, former Victoria & Albert Museum Director, has been appointed as interim leader.
Ace Hotel Toronto. Photography by William Jess Laird…
Ace Hotel is rebooting its Artist In Residence program, initially launched in 2014, after a pandemic-induced hiatus. The program is now global, with eight locations including Brooklyn, Kyoto, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Palm Springs, Sydney, and Toronto, each in collaboration with local creative collectives and organizations. Four artists per year will be invited for a 30-day residency to create work that will be showcased in the hotel’s lobby. Past participants have included notable figures like musician Alexis Taylor and designer Cali DeWitt.
Van Cleef & Arpels has been named the main patron of The Prince’s Foundation Gardens and Estates, a charity founded by King Charles in 1986. The Richemont-owned jeweler will manage gardens at Dumfries House and The Castle and Gardens of Mey in Scotland, as well as Highgrove Gardens in England. Their first task is the preservation and renaming of the Rose Garden at Dumfries House to the Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Garden. CEO Nicolas Bos stated that the company will also focus on sustainability, adding electric charging points and transitioning to electric tools. The partnership aims to make the gardens valuable community assets while boosting their green credentials.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee recently updated its World Heritage List, adding 42 new sites during its 45th session in Riyadh. The new additions include 33 cultural and nine natural sites, raising the total number of sites to 1,199 across 168 countries. In the United States, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks in Ohio were added, marking the country’s 25th World Heritage Site. Africa gained several new sites, including Rwanda’s first two: Nyungwe National Park and multiple genocide memorial locations. Europe also saw new additions like the Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt in Germany and First World War funerary sites in Belgium and France. Despite recommendations, UNESCO decided not to add Venice to its list of endangered sites due to climate change and over-tourism. These newly designated sites will now have access to technical and financial assistance from UNESCO.
Shrek’s swamp in Airbnb. Image courtesy of Alix McIntosh…
