Five on Friday: July 31st, 2026
This article was written by Hospitality Design. Click here to read the original article How Minecraft is helping shape real cities, Aalto’s modernist masterpieces earn UNESCO status, and the daybed’s…
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Caitlin St John
44 posts
Designers Integrate Hospitality, Wellness, and Entertainment in Hybrid 'Third Spaces' to Enhance Community Engagement and Interaction
🏠 The Willow Play Cafe in Toronto’s Junction district, designed by Denizens of Design and DS Studio, transforms a former dive bar into a family-friendly destination combining café atmosphere with play areas. London’s Everyman at the Whiteley, revamped by Fusion Design & Architecture, offers six auditoriums and vibrant bar spaces. Mason & Fifth in Westbourne Park, by AHMM and TiggColl, integrates wellness, coworking, and social spaces. Moments Tirol in Austria, by Büro Schmücking, merges café, bar, and store into a cultural hub.
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CERSAIE 2026 in Bologna to Feature Over 600 Exhibitors and 100,000 Visitors from 160 Countries
📦 From September 21-25, CERSAIE in Bologna gathered 600+ manufacturers and 100,000 visitors from over 160 countries. The event showcased innovations in ceramic and porcelain tiles, emphasizing durability and aesthetics for hospitality spaces. Keynotes included architect Alejandro Aravena on September 26. The 2026 Ceramics of Italy International Tile Competition winners were announced, celebrating creativity and sustainability. The exhibition also featured discussions and live demonstrations on installation techniques and new design trends.
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Boutique Design Announces Judges for 46th Annual Gold Key Awards in Hospitality Design, Set for November 9th in NYC
🏆 46th annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design will be judged by industry leaders like Dala Al-Fuwaires and Paul Haslhofer. The awards cover 24 categories, including hotels and restaurants. Winners will be announced on November 9th, 2026, at Cipriani 42nd Street, New York, during BDNY. Submissions are open until July 31, 2026. The event will honor the 2026 Ones to Watch class and BD's Up-and-Coming Hotelier of the Year.
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Studio Paolo Ferrari Discusses Challenges and Inspirations in Leading International Design Projects Since Founding in 2016
📰 Vanessa Watts and Erika Dray, founders of Watts & Dray in New York, launched their studio in 2021. They interviewed Paolo Ferrari and Courtney Lauderdale from Studio Paolo Ferrari, founded in 2016 in Toronto. The studio has worked on projects like Long Bar, Shebara Resort, Desert Rock, and Peridot. Ferrari, emphasizing the value of discipline, states, "It's about the idea," not just the object. They would still maintain their design studio even if they won the lottery.
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Six Senses Opens First UK Hotel and Spa with Members Club at London’s Historic Whiteley Development
🏨 Six Senses opened its first UK hotel and spa in March at the Whiteley in London, a mixed-use redevelopment of a historic department store. The hotel features 109 guest rooms, a spa, and a new members club. Key architectural elements include a restored marble staircase and biophilic design. The Regenerative Impact Fund allocates 0.5% of revenue to local initiatives. Sustainability is emphasized with over 1,000 air-purifying plants and eco-friendly materials.
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Jim Henson's Creature Workshop Opens for Public Tours in New York, Showcasing Muppet-Making Process
📖 Snarkitecture's installation "THE PLAYGROUND" is at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC until August 30, featuring nine play zones including a slide and a climbing wall. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding had over 1,000 guests at Madison Square Garden on July 1, with a menu of chicken, lobster, and 30 cakes. Jim Henson's Creature Shop in New York now offers weekend tours. BDNY 2026 will be held at Jacob K. Javits Center, New York, from November 8-9.
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BDNY 2026 Returns to Javits Center on November 8-9 with Global Hospitality Focus and Design Collaborations
🏢 BDNY returns to New York’s Javits Center on November 8-9. The event, presented by *Boutique Design*, will feature global hospitality discussions, custom-designed spaces, and the BDNY Power Players: Women Leaders in Hospitality Breakfast. Notable collaborations include IHG and CRÈME, and Ennismore with Avenue Interior Design. The 46th Gold Key Awards concludes BDNY on November 9 at Cipriani 42nd Street. The Platinum Circle gala kicks off on November 6 at Cipriani Wall Street.
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Design-Led Restaurant Concepts Highlight Global Creativity: 12 New Projects from Hong Kong to New Delhi
🍴 Peridot in Hong Kong, designed by Studio Paolo Ferrari, features 20,000 steel-capped frosted acrylic cylinders and a green marble bar. Limusina in New York showcases 1980s-inspired maximalism with a clandestine 12-person dining room. Motorino in London, designed by North End Design, seats 150 with a 1970s recording studio-inspired private room. Genso in Hong Kong, at Sha Tin Racecourse, combines Japanese street food with retrofuturism. Olia + Mimi in Edmonton spans 8,500 square feet, featuring dual concepts: an Italian eatery and a cocktail lounge.
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Approximately 125 Industry Professionals Gathered at Viceroy Chicago for Hospitality Design's CitySCENE Networking Event
📱 In June, 125 industry professionals gathered at Viceroy Chicago for *Hospitality Design*’s CitySCENE: Next Generation networking event. Sponsors included Better Designed Lighting, Durkan | Mohawk Group, Kimball Hospitality, Solaire Lighting, Waterworks, Williams-Sonoma Business to Business, and Wolf-Gordon.
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