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With a sprawling new Chicago flagship, Wayfair seems to be taking aim at Ikea.
The online homeware retailer has opened its first large-format physical store in Chicago, a 150,000-square-foot space designed by Gensler. Unlike Ikea’s labyrinthine, room-by-room footprint, Wayfair is offering a more flexible shopping experience with a variety of departments that allow shoppers to peruse at their own pace. While Wayfair provides interactive elements like customizable furniture and a shower “experience station,” early reviews suggest its food court offerings pale in comparison to Ikea’s beloved meatballs.
A SOM-led overhaul is finally coming for L.A.’s long-ridiculed bus stop shelters.
In April, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) reported around 20 million bus boardings, yet the city has long suffered a dearth of adequate bus shelters—especially in low-income neighborhoods. A new Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program (STAP) aims to provide 3,000 smart, solar-powered bus shelters with real-time bus arrival displays and phone chargers, with a rollout prioritized based on ridership and equity data. Led by Tranzito-Vector and designed by SOM, the shelters will include adaptable designs with larger canopies, enhanced lighting, and wheelchair access, with 250 expected to be installed by June 2025.
New York City sculpture park Elizabeth Street Garden is facing eviction in September.
Elizabeth Street Garden, located in Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood, is facing a September 10 eviction date for demolition to make way for affordable senior housing—despite community efforts to preserve the beloved space. The garden, which is filled with antique sculptures and hosts numerous community events, has launched a letter-writing campaign and is exploring legal options to halt the project. The city plans to replace the garden with Haven Green, a mixed-use building that includes green space, but significantly less than the current garden, sparking continued opposition from advocates.
Cult-favorite indie jeweler Catbird is expanding to metro hubs across the United States.
The Brooklyn-based jewelry brand founded by Rony Elka Vardi and Leigh Batnick Plessner two decades ago in Williamsburg is in the midst of expanding nationwide. Starting from a 200-square-foot Williamsburg storefront, the brand now has multiple locations in New York, as well as in Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington, with plans for further growth. Best known for its dainty, demi-fine jewelry made from recycled 14-karat gold, Catbird has found its biggest successes with Millennial and Gen Z customers.
After more than 50 years of delays, Milan’s Brera museum slates a December opening.
After 52 years of delays across 39 Italian governments, the Brera Modern art museum is finally scheduled to open in Milan on December 7. Located near the Brera Painting Gallery, it will showcase more than 100 contemporary artworks previously kept in storage. Together, the museum and painting gallery, led by director Angelo Crespi, aim to attract 500,000 visitors this year. The museum’s opening date of December 7 coincides with La Scala’’s opera season gala premiere, capitalizing on increased foot traffic to the area.
Today’s attractive distractions:
Greece is rolling out a six-day workweek in an effort to bolster its economy.
Meet a woman who creates the “algorithmically covetable” lives of influencers.
In her new book, bestselling author Amy Tan embraces birdwatching and drawing.
Thanks to architect Tim Bushe, north London has its own hedge menagerie.
