DESIGN DISPATCH

A Transfixing Reflection of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, and Other News

Our daily look at the world through the lens of design.

“Common Sky” by Studio Other Spaces at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. Photography by Marco Cappelletti

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

A Transfixing Reflection of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Enclosing the Seymour H. Knox Building’s courtyard at the newly restored Buffalo AKG Art Museum is a mesmerizing canopy of triangular glass and mirrored panels by Studio Other Spaces. A gem of the museum’s OMA-led refresh, the installation allows viewers to become part of the artwork as they move thanks to angled mirrors creating kaleidoscopic reflections of the scene below. “It sensitizes you to the world outside,” says Olafur Eliasson, who helms Studio Other Spaces with Sebastian Behmann. “It draws your attention to things difficult to measure, that depend on your active involvement. If you don’t get involved, nothing will change.” —Ryan Waddoups

Image courtesy of Guggenheim Bilbao

The Guggenheim Bilbao scoops the AIA Twenty-Five Year Award for its lasting impact.

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao has been awarded the 2023 AIA Twenty-Five Year Award for its lasting architectural impact. The museum, designed by Gehry Partners and unveiled in 1997, played a significant role in the renewal of Spanish town alongside projects by architects like Norman Foster, Santiago Calatrava, and James Stirling. Its distinctive undulating forms showcased Gehry’s innovative use of computer techniques and marked a milestone in his career. Despite initial skepticism, the Guggenheim Bilbao has remained relevant.

Cologne introduces a scholarship named after the renowned architect Gottfried Böhm.

The city of Cologne has partnered with the family of late Pritzker Prize laureate Gottfried Böhm to introduce a scholarship program in his honor. Administered by the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Technical University of Cologne, the scholarship will support postgraduate architects in developing visionary urban planning projects for Cologne and its surroundings. Recipients will receive free accommodations, a workspace at the Foundation for Art and Architecture, and a monthly grant of $2,700. The scholarship will continue for at least the next decade, reflecting Böhm’s vision to forward-looking architectural endeavors.

Rendering of 81st Street Studio designed by Koko Architecture + Design. Image courtesy of Brick Visual

The Met will launch the 81st Street Studio, an interactive children’s center, in the fall.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is preparing to launch the 81st Street Studio, an interactive children’s learning center designed by Koko Architecture + Design. The 3,500-square-foot facility will serve as a science and art play space, encouraging children to explore the Met’s collection with interdisciplinary and multi-sensory experiences. The studio aims to foster creativity, problem-solving, and a lifelong appreciation for art and science, offering activities such as woodblock carving and musical exploration with instruments provided by Yamaha. 

Nike is leaning into wellness on Nike Well Collective, the athletic giant’s latest initiative.

Nike has unveiled the Nike Well Collective, a new initiative aimed at promoting wellness beyond sports. Through its holistic fitness pillars of movement, mindfulness, nutrition, rest, and connection, Nike plans to transform its Nike Live stores into Nike Well Collective locations and rebrand its @niketraining Instagram account as @nikewellcollective. The company will hire more than 1,000 fitness trainers and collaborate with experts to expand content related to holistic fitness, including reproductive health, catering to diverse wellness journeys.

Maurizio Cattelan wins the copyright lawsuit over his duct-taped banana sculpture.

In a recent ruling, a Miami federal judge sided with Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan in a lawsuit brought by artist Joe Morford. The latter claimed that Cattelan’s artwork, Comedian, which featured a banana duct-taped to a wall, was based on his own piece from 2000. The judge concluded there was insufficient evidence that Cattelan saw Morford’s work and determined the concept of affixing a banana to a wall with duct tape is not protected by copyright law. This decision contrasts with a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the fair use doctrine, which has raised concerns among artists who incorporate appropriated images into their work.

Today’s attractive distractions:

A writer reflects on the childhood lessons she learned at the Chelsea Hotel. 

Meet Buoy and Beacon, the lifeguard dogs protecting beachgoers in Maine. 

Here’s a guide to the late Cormac McCarthy’s books and their film adaptations.

Lupita Nyong’o arrived at the Tony Awards wearing a mold of her naked body.

All Stories