Rendering of “Archipelagic Void” by Mass Studies. Photography by Mass Studies, courtesy of Serpentine…
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A Star-Shaped Pavilion Is Headed to the Serpentine
The Seoul-based firm Mass Studies has been selected to design the 23rd annual Serpentine Pavilion, a temporary structure commissioned by the titular gallery in London’s lush Kensington Gardens. This year’s pavilion, a constellation-shaped structure titled Archipelagic Void, will consist of five “islands” (or “content machines,” as firm founder Minsuk Cho describes) designed around a central void acting as a madang, a small courtyard in old Korean houses. Assembled, the parts become a montage of ten surrounding spaces—five covered, five open—that serve various functions, from a gathering area to a place for quiet repose. “By inverting the center as a void,” Cho explains, “we shift our architectural focus away from the built center of the past, facilitating new possibilities and narratives.” The pavilion will be formally unveiled on June 5. —Ryan Waddoups
“Greenwood Pond-Double Site” in Des Moines, Iowa. Photography by Judith Eastburn, via The Cultural Landscape Foundation…
Mary Miss, a prominent American land artist, is facing the dismantling of her environmental installation Greenwood Pond: Double Site in Iowa. The Des Moines Art Center decided to remove the artwork due to the cost of $2.7 million needed for repairs. Created between 1989 and 1996, the installation is one of the few environmental pieces in American museum collections and represents the country’s first urban wetland project. The debate over its fate underscores the challenges of preserving public artworks, especially in environments with extreme weather conditions. Miss’s work focuses on creating awareness of nature in urban settings, and her situation has raised questions about the undervaluation of environmental art.
To address Seattle’s homelessness crisis, Amazon has provided space at its Nitro South Tower downtown for supportive housing managed by the nonprofit Mary’s Place Family Center. This eight-story space designed by Graphite Design Group, accommodates more than 300 people daily and offers semi-private rooms for families, dining facilities, hygiene areas, children’s play spaces, laundromats, and meeting rooms for family interactions with staff and volunteers. The project, which was a gift from Amazon, serves as a model for addressing homelessness in other cities, especially as office buildings in the U.S. have high vacancy rates.
Alter-Care Supplement from Stella McCartney. Image courtesy of Stella McCartney…
Stella McCartney has introduced the Alter-Care Supplement, a clean and vegan skin supplement as part of her skincare range. This ingestible product, priced at £60 ($76), contains patented Ceramosides to prevent collagen destruction, vitamin E, Omega 3 from micro-algae, and Omega 6 and 9 from evening primrose oil to enhance skin health. McCartney claims that after 30 days of use, it can improve skin elasticity by 25 percent, reduce wrinkles by 24 percent, and increase hydration by 23 percent. The supplement complements her label’s commitment to using natural-origin, vegan ingredients and eco-friendly packaging in her skincare line.
A two-alarm fire engulfed Seattle’s Davidson Galleries, resulting in the destruction of artworks by Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, and Francisco Goya. The fire, which started on January 12, began in the three-story building housing the gallery and was controlled by firefighters by 8 AM. Investigators determined the cause to be accidental, likely due to someone attempting to stay warm in the alley behind the building. Although some artworks were harmed by smoke, the gallery has expressed hope that the majority of its inventory could be preserved. The gallery had plans to relocate to a new address in Pioneer Square but has postponed the opening.
Italian contractor Webuild has secured a $4.7 billion contract to build the central man-made water feature as part of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM megadevelopment. The project includes the construction of three dams, an artificial lake, and a structure called the Bow, which will house a 3,600-guest hotel and residences, along with a ski resort and nature areas. The 1.7-mile-long lake is slated to become Saudi Arabia’s largest man-made body of water. Webuild is also responsible for the high-speed rail connection to Oxagon and The Line as part of the project, while AECOM is handling the NEOM International Airport and other satellite resort destinations. The Trojena resort concept is planned to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
Illustration from “Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go.” Image by Richard Scarry…
