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Prepare Yourself: Pantone Says “Peach Fuzz” Is Trending
Pantone has selected “Peach Fuzz” as its 2024 Color of the Year, so expect to see the warm, pink-orange shade everywhere from press-on wallpaper and ribbed glassware and slinky slip dresses. The not-millennial-pink shade is meant to evoke feelings of serenity, kindness, and coziness—a not-so-subtle antidote to a tumultuous year otherwise marked by geopolitical conflict. “We can all look through these past years and be pretty clear that this has been a time of ongoing turmoil,” Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Color Institute, tellsFast Company, “and that our need for nurturing empathy and compassion has grown ever stronger.”
A noble pursuit, but the news has already unleashed a torrent of gimmicky collaborations spanning Ruggable rugs and Cariuma sneakers festooned in peachy colors. Pantone’s intrepid team of trend prognosticators spends upwards of six months scouring markets and assessing our collective mood to make their decision, and this year they noticed the “nurturing” shade pop up everywhere from Kelly Wearstler’sinteriors portfolio to viral cosmetics. The shade evokes a sun-soaked Call Me By Your Name reverie and feels much more palatable than Pantone’s baffling entry into the “magentaverse” last year that only left us filled with existential dread. Still, something seems off about Peach Fuzz as this year’s color du jour. The wiseVanessa Friedman puts itbluntly: “When I think of peach fuzz—and Peach Fuzz—I think of pre-adolescents.” —Ryan Waddoups
Sweet Sparkman’s submission to The New College of Florida’s Reimagining Pei competition. Image courtesy of New College of Florida)…
Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors has been named the winner of the Reimagining Pei competition organized by the New College of Florida and Architecture Sarasota. The local firm will spearhead the transformation of the I.M. Pei–designed student dormitories at New College’s East Campus. Sweet Sparkman will also develop a comprehensive future campus plan including an athletic, retail, and entertainment complex. This project was initiated in 2021 due to the deteriorating condition of the Pei dormitories, with Sweet Sparkman’s proposal earning recognition for its pedestrian-friendly approach and preservation of Pei’s design, and inclusion of an athletic complex integrated with the dorms. The final design concepts are currently on display at New College’s McCulloch Pavilion.
LVMH and the Miami Design District have announced a sustainability partnership with the objective of achieving 100 percent renewable energy usage in their stores. The agreement involves LVMH’s 15 stores in the Design District, including brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Bulgari, Hublot, Tiffany, and Berluti, collaborating with Miami Design District Associates and Florida Power & Light Company’s FPL SolarTogether program. Their commitment includes transitioning to 100 percent green electricity by 2025, reducing water consumption by 20 percent, implementing centralized energy monitoring, stormwater management, using eco-friendly materials, and harnessing rainwater. This initiative underscores the luxury brand’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and minimizing its environmental footprint.
Infinite Maldives. Image courtesy of Shigeru Ban Architects…
Shigeru Ban designs timber “resort residences” located within the Maldives’ Malé Atoll.
Shigeru Ban has designed Infinite Maldives, a resort residence situated in the Malé Atoll. The 12-acre resort will feature 44 villas on the beach and over the water, connected by a wooden boardwalk. The houses will be built using timber and locally sourced materials, blending seamlessly with the surroundings of the Indian Ocean. The project emphasizes sustainability through innovative pre-fabrication methods, lightweight materials, and a focus on harmony with the environment, offering residents private spaces, infinity pools, and wellness facilities.
Google has unveiled its latest large language model, Gemini, marking the beginning of a new AI era for the company. Gemini includes various versions, such as Gemini Nano, Gemini Pro, and Gemini Ultra, with applications ranging from Android devices to enterprise solutions. Google’s benchmarks suggest that Gemini outperforms OpenAI’s GPT-4 in 30 out of 32 categories, with its standout feature being its ability to understand and interact with video and audio thanks to its multimodal approach. The model is also touted for its efficiency, being faster and cheaper to run, and represents a significant step in Google’s AI journey, promising transformative potential.
The Hammer Museum’s Made in L.A. biennial awards aim to recognize underrecognized or emerging artists from the Los Angeles area. The 2023 biennial’s $100,000 Mohn Award for excellence has been given to Akinsanya Kambon, while Pippa Garner received the $25,000 Career Achievement Award and Jackie Amézquita won the $25,000 Public Recognition Award, chosen by museum visitors. Kambon’s ceramic sculptures explore moments in African colonization and slavery, Garner’s work challenges notions of gender, identity, and consumer culture, and Amézquita’s installation features topsoil from different Los Angeles neighborhoods, etched with city scenes. These awards aim to spotlight important work that may not always receive widespread recognition.
