Architecture and design news:
attractions & entertainment
Bob Iger's return to Disney sparks major restructuring focused on creativity and storytelling
by Tom Walker | 25 Nov 2022
Disney is set to undergo a "major restructuring" following the shock return of CEO Bob Iger. Iger, who steered Disney as CEO from 2005 until 2020 – when his contract expired – returned to the entertainment giant recently. His return follows the exit of Bob Chapek, who took over as Disney CEO from Iger in February 2020 – just as the COVID-19 pandemic began hitting the entertainment and visitor attraction industry
Digital art installation in Nanjing helps the public keep an eye on exoplanets
by Tom Walker | 23 Nov 2022
A permanent public art sculpture allows the public to observe the galaxy's exoplanets – which human life could potentially exist on. Data Gate is the brainchild of creative media studio, Ouchhh, and is comprised of 360 LED installations. Commissioned by the Chinese Government and located in Nanjing, the installation utilises NASA's Kepler data sets to create AI-driven content. Weighing 15 tons, the sculpture was created in collaboration with Dawn Gelino,
Warner Bros. and Infinite Reality launch metaverse experiences for live sports fans
by Frances Marcellin | 07 Nov 2022
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports (WBD Sports) and metaverse services provider Infinite Reality have entered into a multi-year agreement that will deliver new immersive and interactive metaverse experiences to sports fans. The scope of what’s on offer – described as “new avenues for sports communities, athletes and brands to interact with each other within unique virtual environments” – can be experienced and previewed for the first time at the UCI Track
Storyland Studios' Nigeria's film city project will break ground in Q1 2023
by Tom Walker | 04 Nov 2022
A huge "film city" and visitor attraction project in Nigeria has reached a major milestone, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between marketing and development agency Del York International Group and The Lagos State Government. The two partners signed what they described as a "monumental agreement to transform the face of the creative industry on the continent of Africa". The deal will see the state government officially
WilkinsonEyre-designed Battersea Power Station development opens as leisure district following £9bn redevelopment
by Tom Walker | 15 Oct 2022
The iconic Battersea Power Station on the south bank of the River Thames, London, UK, has finally reopened, following a £9bn redevelopment project. The Grade II* listed former coal-fired power station has been transformed into an entirely new district featuring a blend of residential and leisure, with health clubs, a visitor attraction, spa and wellness offerings, retail, bars, restaurants, entertainment venues, parks and historic spaces. Developments within the 42-acre site
Foster and Partners reveal design for sustainable marine life centre on the Red Sea
by Tom Walker | 30 Sep 2022
The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), the developer behind the AMAALA tourism project on the shores of the Red Sea, has revealed detailed plans for a marine life institute. Designed by Foster and Partners, the institute will function as both a scientific research centre and a tourist destination, with 10 zones providing a range of experiences, from augmented reality to submarine dives. The 10,340sqm institute will be built three levels
HBG Design behind Michigan’s six-storey Aquadome inspired by the sun’s path across the sky
by Megan Whitby | 12 Sep 2022
Hospitality and entertainment design firm HBG Design is helming the design of Michigan's new Gun Lake Casino Resort Aquadome – a glass-roofed, climate-controlled, indoor landscaped pool and event centre atrium environment. The six-storey, 32,000sq ft Aquadome is part of a US$300m (£259.1m, €298.4m) site-wide overhaul of the casino. The investment is also funding the construction of a 252-room hotel and further entertainment amenities. “The Aquadome is sure to become a
Seventh International Museum Construction Congress to be held in Norway this year
by Tom Walker | 11 Aug 2022
The International Museum Construction Congress (IMCC) will take place in the Norwegian capital city, Oslo, from 6 to 8 November 2022. Now in its seventh edition, the three-day IMCC is designed for international museum leaders, architects, project managers, museum leaders and any other professionals involved in the construction, renovation and expansion of museums. The planning committee for this year's event is chaired by Göran Joryd, project manager for the new
The 'world's most anticipated museum' to finally open this year
by Tom Walker | 11 Aug 2022
The Grand Egyptian Museum is set to finally open its doors after a design and construction project which has taken more than 20 years to complete. Touted as the world's most anticipated museum – thanks to both its unique design and the treasures it will house – the attraction was first announced to the world in 2001. A design competition in 2002 received more than 1,500 entries, from which Heneghan
David Adjaye and Ralph Appelbaum selected for £57m International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum project
by Tom Walker | 07 Jul 2022
Adjaye Associates and Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA) have been named as the preferred bidders to lead the design of a £57m redevelopment of the International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum in Liverpool, UK. National Museums Liverpool (NML) picked the two design firms for the project which will see the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Building become a prominent new entrance to the International Slavery Museum. According to NML, the work
Swedish architects Wingårdhs create year-round resort with waterpark and hotel for Liseberg
by Tom Walker | 30 Jun 2022
Liseberg theme park in Sweden has confirmed the opening date for its new Grand Curiosa hotel. A highly themed family hotel, the Grand Curiosa will have 457 family rooms, a restaurant with a fully functional merry-go-round from 1923, and a rooftop bistro with a view of the park and several bars. The theming has been inspired by the history of its home city, Gothenburg, and the West Swedish East India
Juneteenth Museum by Bjarke Ingels Group has been designed to inspire spiritual uplift
by Tom Walker | 22 Jun 2022
Detailed plans have been revealed for the National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, US. Designed by architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the 50,000sq ft visitor attraction will anchor a larger mixed-use development on the Historic Southside of Fort Worth. It will explore the events of June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger issued Order No. 3, in essence declaring that “all slaves are free” in the state of
Mather & Co-designed Gretna Green Experience opens to the public
by Tom Walker | 10 May 2022
A visitor attraction celebrating the history of the Scottish parish of Gretna Green – and its heritage as a destination for 'runaway marriages – has opened to the public. Gretna Green, located just inside Scotland on the border with England, first became famous for its weddings nearly 260 years ago, following the Clandestine Marriages Act 1753. The act prevented couples under the age of 21 from marrying in England or
Project to save last major bellfoundry which cast bells for St Paul's and Washington National Cathedral
by Tom Walker | 28 Apr 2022
A project to save the UK's last major bellfoundry has moved to the next stage, with the launch of a tender to find contractors for the redevelopment work. The Loughborough Bellfoundry was built in 1859 and has since cast and sent 25,000 bells to more than 100 countries. Bells made at the foundry can be found at some of the world's most iconic buildings, including London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, the
World’s first living waterslides announced for Therme Manchester
by Tom Walker | 25 Apr 2022
Therme Manchester – the £250m indoor ‘next generation’ waterpark, thermal bathing and a wellbeing spa, opening in 2025 – will include the world's first "living waterslides". The waterslides are part of the resort's focus on biophilic design and will feature 3D-printed structures housing thousands of biodiverse plants. Thanks to their design, the slides will be made to look like tree trunks, with plants growing out of them. Due to its
Natural history museum planned for Abu Dhabi
by Tom Walker | 06 Apr 2022
A new natural history museum in Abu Dhabi will take visitors on a 13.8-billion-year journey through time and space. Called the Abu Dhabi Natural History Museum and set to open in 2025, the museum will be located on Saadiyat Island, in the Saadiyat Cultural District. The project was officially unveiled by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of the
Controversial London music venue, MSG Sphere, gets full planning permission
by Liz Terry | 06 Apr 2022
The MSG Sphere, a controversial auditorium and music globe designed by Populous, has been given full planning permission by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). If built, the Sphere would tower 90m above Stratford, London, and in addition to the auditorium, would include a nightclub, bars, restaurants, cafés, shops and parking. The sphere would boast the “largest and highest resolution LED screen in the world” – in the form of
Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment
by Tom Walker | 06 Apr 2022
Clifford’s Tower in York, considered one of England’s most important buildings, has opened to the public following a £5m redevelopment. The structure is all that remains of York Castle, which was built on the orders of William I and once dominated the former Viking city of Jórvík. While the landmark has played a crucial role in English history during its 800-year-old history, it had been pretty much an empty shell
Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment
by Tom Walker | 06 Apr 2022
Clifford’s Tower in York, considered one of England’s most important buildings, has opened to the public following a £5m redevelopment. The structure is all that remains of York Castle, which was built on the orders of William I and once dominated the former Viking city of Jórvík. While the landmark has played a crucial role in English history during its 800-year-old history, it had been pretty much an empty shell
Glasgow's iconic Burrell Collection reopens after five-year, £68.5m revamp
by Tom Walker | 05 Apr 2022
The Burrell Collection in Glasgow, UK has reopened following a £68.25m refurbishment which took five years to complete. Exhibiting objects from Europe and Asia, the vast collection was donated to the city and people of Glasgow by art collector Sir William Burrell in 1944. A museum housing the collection, which includes more than 9,000 objects, was then built and opened in Pollok Park in 1983. The collection holds items from
Hot Pickle design £73m Guinness visitor attraction for Diageo in London
by Tom Walker | 14 Feb 2022
Brewing giant Diageo has revealed plans to create a Guinness-themed cultural hub and microbrewery in London, UK, with design by London-based agency, Hot Pickle. Called Guinness at Old Brewer’s Yard, the visitor attraction is set to open in London’s Covent Garden in Autumn 2023. Located on a historic brewing site – the Old Brewer's Yard was the site of beer brewing as far back as 1722 – the £73m development
Amsterdam's new digital art centre Fabrique des Lumières will use tech to bring art alive
by Tom Walker | 06 Feb 2022
Culturespaces has announced that its new digital art centre, Fabrique des Lumières, will open in Amsterdam on 22 April 2022. Located in the historic former gas plant of Westergasfabriek – built in 1885 by the Imperial Continental Gas Association – the cultural attraction will use "cutting-edge technology" to create immersive exhibitions devoted to some of the most celebrated figures in art history. The venue has a total surface area of
Dubai Expo hits 10 million visits
by Tom Walker | 25 Jan 2022
The number of registered visitors to Dubai's Expo 2020 has passed 10 million. Expo 2020, which was, as the name suggests, originally scheduled for 2020 but had to be moved due to the pandemic, is the largest major global event to be held since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to physical visits, the Expo's digital platform had seen 37 million visits by 27 December 2021. The Expo
Universal Beijing Resort reveals expansion plans for second phase
by Tom Walker | 10 Dec 2021
Universal Beijing Resort in China is preparing to embark on the second phase of its construction programme. The project will add around 2.2sq km to the total park area and will include up to five new hotels. This means the second phase will more than double the current size of the 1.8sq km park. The announcement comes less than three months after the park opened its doors to the public,
John McAslan + Partners-designed M7 cultural hub and museum opens in Doha
by Tom Walker | 23 Nov 2021
A new creative hub in Doha looks to position itself as the new heart of Qatar’s fashion and design industry – as well as a public showcase for innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. The M7 Design and Cultural Hub, designed by John McAslan + Partners, is the architectural anchor of the 31-hectare Msheireb mixed-use development. Established by Qatar Museums, under the leadership of Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin
Herzog and de Meuron’s M+ museum of visual culture distils essence of Hong Kong
by Tom Walker | 17 Nov 2021
M+, described as Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture, has opened in Hong Kong. Located in the city state's West Kowloon Cultural District, the museum features six thematic exhibitions housing more than 1,000 works. Designed by architects Herzog and de Meuron, M+ will act as a cultural centre for 20th and 21st-century art, design, architecture, and the moving image. As well as the 33 exhibition galleries, the complex
Grimshaw partners with Eden Project for pavilion at COP26
by Tom Walker | 01 Nov 2021
Grimshaw has partnered with The Eden Project to create a special pavilion at the COP 26 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. Located in the Blue Zone in the Scottish Exhibition Campus, the Eden Project Pavilion has been designed by Grimshaw as a showcase of – and call to arms for – the actions needed to regenerate the planet. It harnesses the geodesic design reminiscent of the Eden
V&A renames childhood museum as part of £13m redevelopment
by Tom Walker | 13 Oct 2021
Construction work has begun on a £13m redevelopment project which will look to transform the V&A Museum of Childhood into the UK’s "premier national museum" entirely dedicated to children. Designed by De Matos Ryan and AOC Architecture, the revamp of the iconic Grade II* listed site in Bethnal Green, London, UK will provide the museum with an entirely new visitor experience. Plans include three new galleries – called Play, Imagine
New champagne visitor attraction by Casson Mann and Atelier Phileas takes visitors on a journey 'from the earth to the bubble'
by Tom Walker | 31 Aug 2021
A new visitor attraction and cultural destination, located at the foot of the historic slopes of Aÿ-Champagne commune, is taking a fresh approach to exploring the history of champagne. Pressoria – designed by Casson Mann and Atelier Phileas Architecture – blends original heritage architecture and contemporary interiors with sensory and digital installations and event spaces to present the culture of the appellation. Described as a sensory experience that blends elements
Saudi Arabia offers US$133m in loans to create 50 new attractions
by Tom Walker | 12 Jul 2021
Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has pledged to provide SAR500m (US$133m, €112m, £96m) worth of loans to companies, in order to create new attractions and entertainment projects in the country. GEA has signed a memorandum of understanding with the country's Social Development Bank (SDB), which will see soft financing opportunities being made available to investments that contribute towards the growth and sustainability of the Saudi attractions and entertainment sector
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DJW offer a way to interpret your story through the use of technology. We can provide Audio Visual consultancy to assist in the planning stage, follow up with AV system design, supply and installation, and provide a bespoke control system to suit your operational needs.
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