Sydneysiders Flock to a New Seafood Haven, and Other News

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Sydneysiders Flock to a New Seafood Haven

Sydney’s vibrant dining scene is rejoicing the arrival of Rafi, a 300-seat restaurant that fuses contemporary design and the city’s love affair with seafood. Conceived by local studio Luchetti Krelle, Rafi is a celebration of the abundant produce from Sydney’s coastline, offering a seasonal menu of small plates (butternut pumpkin with black garlic; grilled Glacier 51 toothfish with koji) courtesy of Peruvian executive head chef Matias Cillóniz.

Named after the children of owners Ben Carroll and Hamish Watts, the space is filled with childlike wonder and playful decor elements. From the trio of giant paper lanterns, mosaic flooring, and an open kitchen with a chunky red mantelpiece to Walmajarri artist Jimmy Pike’s stools lined with fabric inspired by the Australian desert, every corner of Rafi invites guests to bask in visual pleasures. The intimate private dining room, complete with a branch-like chandelier and abstract artwork, greenhouse-style dining room dubbed The Arbor, and sprawling terrace dotted with “Aperol-toned” umbrellas are just a few options to perch with a glass of local Pinot Gris and enjoy the Australian sun. —Nate Storey

The Bronx welcomes a new affordable housing project with a Tropical Modernist feel.

Alexander Gorlin Architects has added 148 units to The Bronx’s Morrisania neighborhood with El Borinquen Residence, its latest affordable housing project. Named after the Taíno name for Puerto Rico, the building will have 90 units reserved for formerly homeless individuals and young adults aging out of foster care, and 57 units for low-income seniors and community residents. The building is a modernist interpretation of the primarily Latino neighborhood’s vibrant culture, with a lobby featuring murals by artists Aurelio del Muro and Marta Blair, and a facade with a tropical modernist feel influenced by Le Corbusier’s Ministry of Education and Health in Rio de Janeiro and the paintings of Paul Klee.

Luxury group Richemont appoints two executives in a push toward sustainability.

Richemont is doubling down on sustainability with the promotion of two top executives. Bérangère Ruchat has joined the luxury goods giant’s senior executive committee as chief sustainability officer and Bram Schot has been nominated for election to the board of directors. Ruchat brings two decades of sustainability expertise, while Schot, who has worked for the likes of Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen Group, has a deep understanding of sustainability issues and the challenges of an energy transition. Schot will bring “unparalleled managerial experience and expertise in client-centricity, technology, sustainability, innovation, and risk management” according to Richemont Chairman Johann Rupert.

Adidas faces billion-dollar losses following the brand’s recent split with Kanye West.

Adidas has issued its fourth profit warning in the past six months and warned of major losses in 2023. The German sportswear company’s split last year with rapper Kanye West has been a major contributor to the company’s issues, with the estimated loss from the breakup potentially reaching $1.82 billion. Bjorn Gulden, the brand’s newly appointed CEO, is facing numerous challenges in addition to the breakup with Ye, including losing market share to competitors and underperforming partnerships. “I’m convinced that over time we’ll make Adidas Shine again,” Gulden said in a statement. “But we need some time.” 

MAD Architects reveals visuals for a feather-like airport terminal in Changchun, China.

MAD’s design for Terminal 3 of the Changchun Longjia International Airport in China will resemble “a feather floating in the breeze.” With a fan-shaped form spanning across 2.9 million square feet, the terminal will become the largest air transport building in Jilin province, accommodating 22 million annual passengers. To create a human-scale atmosphere, the Chinese firm incorporated light, airy interiors and 54 aircraft gates into the terminal’s design, which includes trees and water features for a “garden airport” feel. 

The Loewe Foundation Craft Prize’s 30 finalists are heading to the Noguchi Museum.

Every year, the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize celebrates the importance of craft in contemporary culture and recognizes artists whose talent, vision, and will to innovate can set new standards for the future. Conceived by creative director Jonathan Anderson as a tribute to the Spanish label’s beginnings as a collective craft workshop, the prize showcases unexpected forms, playful surprises, and artistic ambitions. The 30 objects vying for this year’s prize, selected by a panel of experts from more than 2,700 entries, are no different. The winner will be announced May 16 at the Noguchi Museum in New York, with all shortlisted works on display in Isamu Noguchi’s studio from May 17 to June 18. 

Ron Labinski, a game-changing architect of today’s biggest stadiums, dies at 85.

Ron Labinski, the visionary architect behind many of today’s iconic sports stadiums, has died. A pioneer in the field, Labinski specialized in designing single-sport stadiums, replacing the old concrete bowls that housed both baseball and football teams. Over a span of 30 years, he helped create fan-friendly venues like Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Oracle Park, while introducing a critical source of new revenue to team owners with the addition of club seats.

Today’s attractive distractions:

Researchers are turning agricultural waste into oil to fight food insecurity.

The East Village Eye’s archives are heading to the New York Public Library.

Once a snooty delicacy, caviar is now being served as a cheaper snack.

This Broadway electrician has seen Phantom of the Opera 13,000 times.