Louis Vuitton’s Logo Gets a Green Makeover, and Other News

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Louis Vuitton’s latest sustainable sneaker gives a green focus to the house’s logo.

“Louis Vuitton has given its classic monogram a sustainability-focused makeover for its newest sneaker. The logo, emblazoned across the shoe in enlarged font, has been modified to resemble a recycling symbol, with the ‘L’ and ‘V’ losing their straight lines and ending in arrows. The trainer, which launches in September, is 90 percent recycled material, according to the brand. It’s not unusual to see big fashion brands seek to play up efforts to operate more sustainably these days. But adapting something as iconic and central to a major luxury label’s identity as its logo is a big deal, and Louis Vuitton isn’t the only brand experimenting with such moves for select products: Prada has tipped its iconic triangle with an arrow, reminiscent of a recycling sign, while Valentino has similarly added arrow heads to the ring around its ‘V’.” [H/T Business of Fashion]

Detroit’s historic Roosevelt Park will reopen in 2023 following an extensive makeover.

“Following a string of visionary revamp schemes over the years that all failed to achieve liftoff, Detroit’s historic Roosevelt Park is at long last being treated to a proper makeover. The city broke ground on the $6 million renovation project earlier this week at the scruffy and seldom-used expanse of green space located at the foot of Michigan Central Station. Slated to reopen in spring 2023, the 9.5-acre park will emerge from its overhaul with reimagined landscaping, new public amenities, and a larger footprint of 13 acres thanks to the removal of Vernor Road, which currently bisects the park.” [H/T The Architect’s Newspaper]

David Chipperfield, OMA, and Sou Fujimoto are designing a cultural hub in Shenzhen.

“A team consisting of David Chipperfield, OMA, and Sou Fujimoto is leading the design of an expansive, $1.4 billion cultural-retail complex on the coast of Shenzhen. Called K11 ECOAST, the development will span more than 2.4 million square feet and be located in Prince Bay in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District. The project is being jointly developed by Hong Kong billionaire Adrian Cheng’s New World Development Company Limited, along with China Merchants Shekou Holdings in Shenzhen. The project is part of the Chinese government’s effort to develop its Greater Bay Area region, which includes southern cities, such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou, into arts and business hubs by 2035.” [H/T Archinect]

New York approves a sweeping redevelopment of Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.

“New York State officials approved a sweeping redevelopment of Midtown Manhattan that would transform Pennsylvania Station, the busiest transportation hub in North America, from a run-down transit center into a city centerpiece. The eight-member board of Empire State Development, the state’s economic development agency and the group steering the project, unanimously voted in favor. The plan calls for constructing 10 towers around Penn Station and providing an estimated $1.2 billion in tax breaks to developers. The redevelopment would be among the largest real estate projects in United States history: roughly 18 million square feet of mostly office space, up to 1,800 residential units, retail space and a hotel. At the center would be a renovated Penn Station, which sits below Madison Square Garden and served 650,000 riders each weekday before the pandemic.” [H/T The New York Times]

The Stirling Prize shortlists buildings by Niall McLaughlin and Henley Halebrown. 

“The Royal Institute of British Architects has announced the shortlist for this year’s Stirling Prize, which includes buildings by Niall McLaughlin Architects, Hopkins Architects and Henley Halebrown. The six-strong shortlist for the Stirling Prize, which is awarded annually to the building judged to have made the greatest contribution to British architecture, includes two “ambitious” housing schemes and four places of learning.” [H/T Dezeen]

Ousted museum director Aaron De Groft has a history of discovering so-called lost art.

“Discovering lost artwork is nothing new for Aaron De Groft, the museum director recently ousted from the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) after a Jean-Michel Basquiat collection of questionable authenticity was seized by the FBI. Before coming to Orlando in February 2021, De Groft oversaw the discovery and attribution of numerous works at the Muscarelle Museum of Art. Located on the campus of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, the museum held an exhibition in 2017 dedicated to newly attributed artwork, an expanded version of which is currently exhibited at the Orlando museum. Another newly discovered piece, supposedly by American painter Jackson Pollock, was also scheduled to be shown at OMA under De Groft’s leadership.” [H/T Observer]

Apple’s newly unveiled CarPlay features may eventually help automakers sell vehicles. 

“Apple is using the iPhone’s popularity to push itself into the auto industry. Automakers are a little unsure how they feel about this. Apple announced the next generation of its car software CarPlay in June. It takes over the user interface on all interior screens, replacing gas gauges and speed dials with a digital version powered by the driver’s iPhone. It suggested CarPlay helps automakers sell vehicles. Apple engineering manager Emily Schubert said 98 percent of new cars in the U.S. come with CarPlay installed. She delivered a shocking stat: 79 percent of U.S. buyers would only buy a car if it supported CarPlay.” [H/T CNBC]

Today’s attractive distractions:

The CGI and editing in Marvel movies are coming under increased scrutiny.

Beverage brands are jumping on the minimalist bandwagon with mixed results.

Studies show that parents around the world speak to babies in similar ways.

A cheeky student swipes an honorary degree that was intended for Banksy.