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Corvas Brinkerhoff, co-founder of the immersive arts group Meow Wolf, is launching a venture called Submersive, a therapeutic spa set to open in Austin. The spa will cover 25,000 square feet and blend immersive art with wellness practices through amenities like steam rooms, lasers, and AI technology, all aimed at eliciting states of awe and euphoria. With an opening planned for 2026 and completion by 2028, Submersive expects to attract 200,000 annual visitors, capitalizing on his vision to fuse art with neuroscience to enhance well-being.
Inspiration for Submersive arose from Brinkerhoff’s extensive travel and research into global bathhouse cultures, discovering varied traditions from Europe to Japan and Istanbul, yet noticing a lack of a strong bathhouse culture in the U.S. The design scheme will feature 12 rooms arranged around a central gathering space, each offering different sensory experiences influenced by temperature, color, and sound. The project also aims to explore neuroaesthetics, partnering with experts to study how art affects the brain, with plans to use wearable technology to measure the physiological effects of the spa environment on visitors, pushing the boundaries of how multisensory experiences can impact overall health.
Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania has chosen Steven Holl Architects and Polish artist Agnieszka Kurant to design a new hotel, convention center, and wine museum in Tirana, detailing Albania’s 3,000-year history of wine cultivation. Their winning proposal includes innovative features like a large reflecting pool, recycled rainwater systems, and a facade that integrates local signatures through Kurant’s art project The End of Signature. The project, part of a wave of large-scale developments in Tirana, has yet to announce a completion date.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has unveiled plans for the world’s new largest-capacity airport terminal in Dubai, featuring a $35 billion development at Al Maktoum International Airport with 400 gates and capacity for 260 million travelers annually. The project, set for completion within ten years, will also include a satellite city housing one million people and a logistics hub for international carriers. Highlighting the project’s future impact, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized on his X account that this development aims to secure continuous growth for future generations and position Dubai as a global urban center.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) raised nearly $3 million during its 38th Collectors Committee Weekend, adding ten new works to its permanent collection, including a historic 16th-century Mexican devotional object and a painting by Impressionist Jean Béraud. For the first time, the event commissioned a new artwork by Los Angeles–based artist Todd Gray, which will explore the history of African diaspora across the Atlantic, broadening LACMA’s diverse collection. The acquired pieces, including a contemporary terracotta sculpture by Indian artist Manjunath Kamath and a historical painting by Jean Béraud, are set to feature in the new David Geffen Galleries upon their completion at the end of 2024.
The Art Fund has announced the shortlist for its Museum of the Year award, recognizing five UK institutions—the National Portrait Gallery, the Young V&A, the Manchester Museum, Dundee Contemporary Arts, and Craven Museum—for their contributions to culture and community. The winner will receive £120,000 ($150,000), making it the world’s largest museum prize, while each runner-up will be awarded £15,000 ($18,790). The shortlisted museums, selected for renovations and innovative projects, each demonstrate leadership in their field and the growing importance of museums in times of economic hardship. The winner will be named on July 10.
This bar dedicated to women’s sports is so successful that it plans to franchise.
Japan’s Kansai Airport hasn’t lost a single piece of luggage in three decades.
This shop in Bath recycles orphaned piano parts into materials for sculptures.
An influencer in Derbyshire is busy knitting blankets in memory of his grandma.
