The Holmby Hills estate where Design Miami’s Los Angeles fair will be held. Photography by Walker Bunting…
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Design Miami Is Heading Out West
Design Miami is building momentum. After being acquired by online marketplace Basic.Space and launching a successful edition in Paris this past October, the collectible design platform will stage its first-ever Los Angeles fair in May. Expect a dynamic slate of global galleries offering hand-selected displays of contemporary furniture and objets d’art that have distinguished Design Miami in the past, but situated in a private, three-acre Holmby Hills estate designed by late architect Paul Williams. The platform also announced Mirage Magazine founder Henrik Purienne’s appointment as global creative director for the 2024 fair program and collectible design market advisor Ashlee Harrison as curatorial director for the Los Angeles edition.
In other people news, Jack Shainman announced the representation of Charisse Pearlina Weston, the Brooklyn-based conceptual artist whose sculptures and photography posits Black interior life as a central site of Black resistance. Enrique Vela has joined V Starr Interiors, the South Florida–based design firm owned by Venus Williams, as director of strategy. The Hispanic Society Museum and Library, which is dedicated to the preservation of art from Spanish and Portuguese–speaking countries, named Mark Rosenberg as its new chairman, succeeding Philippe de Montebello. The director of Paris’ Musée d’Orsay, Christophe Leribault, has been named chair of the Château de Versailles. —Ryan Waddoups
Aerial view of the Joslyn Art Museum’s expansion and site redesign in Omaha. Rendering courtesy of the Joslyn Art Museum…
The Joslyn Art Museum is set to reopen on Sept. 10 after undergoing extensive renovations and expansion, including the new $100 million Rhonda & Howard Hawks Pavilion that will increase gallery space by more than 40 percent. The pavilion, crafted in collaboration with Snøhetta and Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, features a façade that pays homage to the museum’s original Art Deco building. Alongside showcasing the Phillip G. Schrager Collection and works by Ed Ruscha and Clément Cogitore, the museum will debut Wopila, a 2024 beaded painting by Dyani White Hawk. The renovation also includes new sculpture gardens, a Great Lawn, and a reinstallation of collections aimed at recontextualizing its displays, particularly emphasizing inclusivity and showcasing more Native American art.
San Francisco’s Millennium Tower, known for its problematic foundation, faces new challenges as it continues to sink on its north and west sides. Despite attempts to anchor the foundation into bedrock, the reversal hasn’t occurred, leading to unexpected shifts and a sinking rate of one-tenth of an inch per year, termed “dishing.” Experts fear this may lead to more corrosion and affect the building’s integrity. Engineers attribute the issue to soil conditions, but solutions are ongoing, with costs exceeding $100 million and residents facing additional repair expenses.
Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter residence and architectural laboratory, is offering a rare opportunity for the public to explore the apprentice shelters that were integral to the Taliesin Fellowship’s learning experience. Previously exclusive to foundation members, the Shelters in the Desert guided tour now welcomes visitors to discover 13 individually designed shelters where apprentices lived and learned. The 90-minute tour, available until April 8, provides insights into Wright’s “learning by doing” philosophy and offers a deeper connection to nature and architecture. While the tour doesn’t include access to the main buildings, visitors can opt for other guided tours for a more comprehensive experience of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Los Angeles City Council approved $4 million to address graffiti and secure unfinished downtown skyscrapers, notably the Oceanwide Plaza, which has faced extensive tagging. Councilmember Kevin de León initiated the motion to allocate funds for property securing and public right-of-way restoration. The motion directs funds for fencing, security services, fire safety upgrades, and graffiti removal, with plans to hold property owners accountable for related expenses. The Oceanwide Plaza, stalled since 2019 due to funding issues, has become a target for vandalism, leading to arrests and straining police resources.
The finalists for the Mies van der Rohe Award have been revealed, showcasing a diverse range of architecture across Europe. Among them are a Czech art gallery, a revitalized urban space in Sweden, and a striking copper-clad convent in Corsica. These finalists, spanning six countries, include innovative educational facilities, adaptive reuse, and community-centric designs, all recognized for their potential to set new standards in inclusive urban development. The winners will be announced on April 25 during an event in Brussels.
