Miscellaneous

🌈 *Chromatic Architecture* by Adam Nathaniel Furman and Kate Mazade explores color in architecture through 34 projects worldwide. The 200-page book features Dan Friedman's New York apartment and Iran’s Shah Mosque with 1.5 million ceramic tiles. Notable projects include Verner Panton's 1971 Varna restaurant in Denmark and a multi-purpose building by Suphasidh Architects in Thailand. The book highlights color’s socio-cultural impact and encourages creative courage in design.

🍖 Man Hon Luk founded Vinyl Pimp in 2007, then transitioned to cooking after a 2021 Austin event where he trained in Texan smoking at InterStellar BBQ. He brought his skills to London, securing a permanent spot above Crate Brewery following a £36k crowdfunder. His restaurant in Hackney Wick offers Chinese dishes with Texan BBQ flavors. Open daily from 5 AM, guests are advised to pre-order due to limited daily servings. The standout dish is beef short ribs with Sichuan peppercorn sauce.

🍵 Years ago, at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo, a Louis Vuitton leader envisioned a restaurant concept, but it stalled due to cost concerns. Later, as Louis Vuitton's President in China, I revisited the idea but found it economically unfeasible. Now, luxury brands like Prada, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren integrate cafes and dining experiences to draw customers, transforming stores into destinations. This shift emphasizes selling experiences over products, as almost everything is now buyable online, altering traditional retail strategies.

🏨 BWH® Hotels, as of March 31, 2026, operates 3,864 global properties, with 2,051 in the U.S. Key brands include Best Western®, franchising since 1946, with 1,659 properties and 121,774 rooms. Application fees for most brands are $49,000, with royalty and marketing fees at 5% and 2.1% of GRR, respectively. SureStay® has 391 properties, the highest room count at 331,776. Contact: Brad LeBlanc for franchise opportunities.

📚 Tan France launched an 18-piece furniture collection with Castlery, featuring lighting and furniture inspired by his British and South Asian roots. The Internationales Congress Centrum (ICC) in Berlin, opened in 1979, is undergoing redevelopment by nine firms to emerge as a cultural hub. Camp Wandawega in Wisconsin now hosts glass office pods repurposed as cabins. The BDNY Power Players women’s event returns on November 9, 2026, at the Javits Center, New York.

📰 Googie architecture, a futuristic style from the 1950s and 60s, flourished in Los Angeles. Key examples include Norm’s diner (1957) by Louis Armét and Eldon Davis, and LAX’s Theme Building (1957-1961), designed by Pereira & Luckman. Other notable sites are Pann's (designed by Helen Liu Fong), the Cinerama Dome (1967), and Bob’s Big Boy (1949). The style featured bold signage and futuristic motifs, influencing culture and architecture. Many original structures have been lost, but some iconic examples remain.

🌳 Bernardo Paz, a 76-year-old visionary, is creating the Museu Bernardo Paz on 126 hectares near Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Having sold his business for $300 million, he aims to establish 20 galleries quickly, drawing inspiration from Inhotim. Since December 2024, 15,000 trees have been planted. Designs evolve rapidly, with Maria Paz's reception building designed in three weeks. The Casa Comun in Brumadinho, opening April 2027, fosters community ties. The museum will feature 3,000 artworks, including Michael Heizer's first permanent Latin American installation.

📚 The Architecture Association (AA) unveiled its Department of Tropical Architecture Archive, a digital platform documenting projects from 540 alumni. Over 2.5 years, the archive digitized numerous drawings and photos, including works by Dr. Otto Koenigsberger (1957-71). Projects from 1927-2012 across Sri Lanka, India, and other regions demonstrate climate-responsive design. Koenigsberger's pedagogical focus on climate and context influenced notable alumni, shaping global architecture. The project is ongoing, serving as a resource for researchers worldwide.

🍴 Chef Medeu in Almaty, Kazakhstan, opened in the foothills near the high-altitude skating rink. The 112 sq m restaurant seats 32 guests and features a 2.6m ceramic fireplace by Svetlana Plotnikova. The menu, inspired by an 1881 cookbook, includes air-dried meats, pelmeni, and a contemporary oxtail dish. Signature dishes include a truffle burger and Kazakh tea. The restaurant is located at 582/3 Kerey-Zhanibek Khandar Street.

🍴 L’ETO Restaurant, renovated by YODEZEEN, debuts in Abu Dhabi as an all-day dining venue with a DJ station. The 8,912 sq ft space includes a 4,240 sq ft terrace and 936 sq ft kitchen. Key design features include a woven structure wrapping columns and a long bar counter as the central axis. The design combines Japanese weaving techniques with natural materials, adapting to Abu Dhabi's climate, creating a seamless experience from breakfast to evening.