The Design Dispatch offers expertly written and essential news from the design world crafted by our dedicated team. Think of it as your cheat sheet for the day in design delivered to your inbox before you’ve had your coffee. Subscribe now.
Have a news story our readers need to see? Submit it here.
The U.S. government seeks forfeiture of a statue allegedly en route to Kim Kardashian.
Kim Kardashian is finding herself involved in a statue smuggling debacle. A newly filed lawsuit reveals that, in 2016, the U.S. government had seized an ancient Roman statue that was allegedly en route to the celebrity. The statue, which had been displayed at Axel Vervoordt gallery’s booth during TEFAF 2011 in Maastricht, is currently being held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A representative for Kardashian denies her involvement: “Kim never purchased this piece and this is the first that she learned of its existence. We believe it may have been purchased using her name without authorization and because it was never received, she was unaware of the transaction.”
Swarovski Foundation announces this year’s “Creatives for Our Future” grant recipients.
Swarovski Foundation: Creatives for Our Future is an international program that aims to identify the next generation of exemplary creative talent making headway on sustainable development to address the world’s most pressing challenges. More than 400 applicants from 72 countries applied to receive the program’s $15,000 grants, which will go to nine young creatives who work, study, and research in fashion, product design, biotechnologies, architecture, engineering, and visual arts. This year’s winners include Sejal Budholiya (India), Agnieszka Doczynska (Poland), Yara Mohamed Evida (Egypt), Daniele Ficarra (Italy), Ghislain Irakoze (Rwanda), Shuzo Matsuhashi (Japan), Osasumwen Obasogie (Nigeria), Benjamin Spencer (USA), and Camila Wandemberg (Ecuador). The nine grantees will receive a tailored mentorship provided by the Swarovski Foundation and the program’s star-studded list of Advocates, which includes Yves Behar, Rossana Hu, Prabal Gurung, and Nadja Swarorvski.
Daniel Libeskind will transform a Pittsburgh synagogue years after a deadly shooting.
Three years after 11 worshipers were gunned down during Shabbat services, the Tree of Life congregation has chosen Daniel Libeskind to help breathe new life into the building. Known for memorializing historical trauma—his parents survived the Holocaust—the architect will transfrom the synagogue into a home for worship again, while also establishing the structure as a commemorative site, a communal center, and a learning institution for people to learn about confronting hatred. “To me, in the end, the most critical thing is not that people stand there with their jaws literally hanging on the ground as they look at it,” Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers of Tree of Life says. “But that they can be able to say, ‘Well look what the Tree of Life has accomplished. In the wake of what happened to them, that they could be at this incredible moment.’ And we think Daniel Libeskind’s the one to be able to deliver that.”
A pair of residential towers by OMA tops out on the waterfront in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Two residential towers designed by OMA have topped out on the northernmost tip of Brooklyn. Marking the latest phase of development at Greenpoint Landing, the stepped 30- and 40-story towers will provide 745 units of mixed-income housing and feature the distinct shapes of a ziggurat and its inverse. “These towers, our first in Brooklyn, have reached an important milestone made possible by the perseverance of Brookfield, Park Tower Group, Beyer Blinder Belle, and the entire construction and design team during an unprecedented time,” Jason Long, OMA partner, said of the development. “It’s exciting to see our collective efforts take shape on Greenpoint’s dynamic skyline.”
A new history center aims to paint a promising future for Tulsa’s Greenwood District.
A century ago, one of the most shocking incidents of racial violence in United States history took place in Tulsa’s Greenwood District, when a heavily armed white mob reduced the thriving Black neighborhood to rubble. The Tulsa Race Massacre left thousands displaced and up to 300 dead, but some residents returned to the neighborhood to rebuild. Few Americans know about the incident today—a matter that Greenwood Rising, an 11,000-square-foot history center designed by Selser Schaefer Architects, hopes to change. Scheduled to open to the public later this month, the facility will tell the story of Greenwood and its involvement in the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Uber partners with electric-vehicle startup Arrival to design a car optimized for ride-sharing.
Along with Arrival’s previously announced bus and car, the car is intended to provide cities with zero-emission transport options as they attempt to meet their sustainability goals over the coming years. The Arrival car, designed in collaboration with Uber drivers, is expected to enter production in the third quarter of 2023. The ride-sharing app has committed to becoming a fully electric mobility platform across North America and Europe by 2030, and in London by 2025. “The Arrival Car will be designed to be an affordable, purpose-built electric vehicle for ride-hailing, and will be designed in partnership with Uber drivers. Uber drivers will now be invited to join the design process and ensure the final vehicle meets their needs,” Arrival said in a statement.
Today’s attractive distractions:
Tokyo’s upcoming esports gym will let novices train next to gaming professionals.
Cyril Lancelin explores nature’s abundance through an installation of giant melons.
This Met Gala dress pens a sartorial ode to getting vaccinated against Covid-19.
Sick of West Elm? This affordable Amazon brand offers a similar look and feel.
