Photography by Laurian Ghinitoiu/Bjarke Ingels Group…
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
Terraces Cascade Up Bjarke Ingels Group’s First Supertall
New York City’s skyscraper boom may bewaning, but Hudson Yards recently welcomed its latest addition: The Spiral, a 2.8-million-square-foot office tower marked by a continuous series of garden terraces wrapping its facade. At 1,031 feet tall, the ziggurat-shaped skyscraper becomes the Western Manhattan complex’s second-tallest building and the first completed supertall designed byBjarke Ingels Group, the Danish-American firm known for championing “hedonistic sustainability” by fusing joyful leisure and clean energy.
Both qualities shine at the foliage-friendly Spiral, whose cascading terraces sprout at the nearby High Line before forming a continuous line as they ascend its 66 floors. It provides tenants with the desirable post-pandemic amenity of outdoor green space and ensures longevity by selecting plant varietals—birch, wisteria, petunias—based on sun orientation. Back on terra firma, don’t miss a lobby installation by Dutch studio Drift and two dining concepts by Michelin-starred Chef Gabriel Kreuther, who plans to open a full-service restaurant and cafe this year, as well as a Peruvian-Japanese eatery by the owners of Llama San. —Ryan Waddoups
A new Banksy stop sign depicting war drones in London was swiftly snatched just hours after appearing on his Instagram. Two individuals, armed with bolt cutters and a Lime bike, brazenly removed the artwork as onlookers watched. This latest art heist adds to a year of eventful Banksy incidents, from a Valentine’s Day mural removed twice to a seagull artwork costing homeowners a fortune, solidifying the elusive artist’s ongoing ability to captivate and provoke.
After 38 years, pioneering magazine Design Week is folding, with its website staying online until mid-January. The publication’s parent company Centaur’s shift towards marketing services led to the decision to close. While the publication’s impact on the British design sphere in the 1980s was undeniable, it struggled to adapt to a digital media landscape and published its final print issue in 2011. The publication was launched in 1986 by writer Jeremy Myerson, who aimed to create a weekly magazine aimed at U.K. designers and their clients.
Gucci Vault, the experimental digital platform, is shuttering to make way for Gucci Vintage, a dedicated online space showcasing and selling curated vintage Gucci pieces. The focus shifts from collaborations to highlighting the house’s own legacy and craftsmanship, offering devotees a chance to own a piece of Gucci history. Vintage projects within Vault proved so popular that Gucci is consolidating and elevating them under the new unified banner.
Shohei Ohtani signing his 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers has inspired two instant murals in Los Angeles. Gustavo Zermeño incorporated the Japanese pitcher into a Kings-Dodgers mural in Hermosa Beach, while Jonas Never and fellow mural artist Droyce painted a large portrait of Ohtani in his No. 17 Dodgers jersey in the Fashion District. Both murals have attracted enthusiastic fans eager to celebrate the superstar’s arrival.
Prada has purchased the building of its long-standing Fifth Avenue store in New York City for $425 million, ditching rent for ownership. The prime location and 12-story building will allow the Italian fashion powerhouse to expand its office and storage space on the site, which may prove crucial for strengthening its presence in one of the label’s weaker markets. The move also positions Prada for long-term growth in America’s priciest shopping district.
