Global design and production agency BRC Imagination Arts has appointed Christian Lachel as chief creative officer, taking over the role from BRC founder Bob Rogers. Previously vice president and executive creative director, Lachel first joined BRC in 1997. Since then, he has helped guide the company during a period of rapid GLOBAL growth, and has taken lead roles on projects including Destination Scotland (Johnnie Walker Princes St, Glenkinchie Distillery), Jameson Distillery

The historic Terminal Warehouse, in the West Chelsea area of New York, is being transformed by COOKFOX Architects into a mixed-use destination with retail units, hospitality outlets, open spaces and offices. Originally designed by architect George Mallory and built in 1891, the 1.2 million sq ft (111,000sq m) warehouse occupies an entire city block in Manhattan. With good access to the water, rail and road transportation networks, it became a

The Rothko Chapel will reopen in Houston this June after a 14-month restoration project by Architecture Research Office that is part of a wider $30m (€28m, £23m) masterplan project the studio is carrying out. Opened in 1971, the chapel was created as a place for interfaith worship and contemplation by its founders – artist Mark Rothko and John and Dominique de Menil – and has 14 huge Rothko canvases on

RDH Architects have converted an old derelict post office in the Candian city of Cambridge, Ontario, into a bookless library with new glass volumes that are cantilevered over the adjacent Grand River. The Idea Exchange provides a free community hub with spaces for learning, creativity, meeting and socialising. The $11.1m (US$8.4m, €7.6m, £6.5m) project combined contemporary additions and design with restored elements of the original building, which was built in

Global architecture and design practice Populous has opened an office in the Dubai World Trade Centre, its first in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region. The move coincides with the company’s additional announcement at the beginning of the week that it would also open an office in Dallas. Ben Vickery, senior principal and Dubai office lead, said: “Establishing an office in the Gulf will enable Populous to be closer

MVRDV founders Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs and Nathalie de Vries have announced the opening of a new office in Spaces Réaumur, Paris, reflecting the firm’s long line of forthcoming projects in France. This year, construction has already begun on the reconstruction of the Part-Dieu shopping centre in Lyon and the extensive renovation of the Gaite-Montparnasse shopping centre in Paris, with a porous façade connecting the mall to the street,

An unremarkable office building in Fuzhou, China, has been transformed by the Yiduan Shanghai International Design studio into a striking restaurant set within “a magical bamboo forest”. The 2,000sq m (21,500sq ft) Shandao Restaurant features a dramatic and unifying tile facade designed to draw the attention of passers-by. Inside, winding pathways across five floors and a mezzanine level lead to dining areas separated by multi-layered bamboo partitions. A lobby, banqueting

Sports and leisure architects Populous have announced the opening of a new office in Tokyo as the firm continues its global expansion. The decision to establish an office in Japan expands Populous’ global footprint to 15 branches worldwide, including six in the Asia-Pacific region. The organisation now has more than 500 employees around the globe. “Japan offers a wealth of opportunity with its strong culture, burgeoning sports scene and as

The landmark London building where British prime minister Winston Churchill worked during the Second World War is to be transformed into a luxury hotel and residence operated by Raffles; the group’s first property in the UK. The Grade II* listed Old War Office building in Whitehall is located close to 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. It was designed by Scottish architect William Young before his

The plan to demolish Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge ground and replace it with a 60,000-capacity stadium has received a recommendation by planning officers. A 300-plus page document delivering the recommendation said the stadium would be a “high quality development, which would make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the local area”. Architects Herzog & de Meuron were credited with developing a “high quality piece of design” and

Canadian architects Office OU have been announced as winners of South Korea's international competition to masterplan a National Museum Complex (NMC) in the new administrative city Sejong. Choongjae Lee, the city’s administrator, has vowed to build “the world's most beautiful and liveable city” through investment in architecture, technology, urban planning and design and environmental sustainability. The design contest was held to select a vision for a complex containing five museums:

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) have today (7 November) opened a new office within the Dubai Design District in the United Arab Emirates. The practice have 30 years experience working on 16 projects in the Middle East and North Africa – recently including a masterplan for Lusail City in Qatar and a cultural and research complex in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia – and have opened the new office in response to “solid

Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ first Dutch property, W Amsterdam, is due to unveil a series of gastronomic experiences and some accommodation before the full hotel’s debut in December, designed by Office WINHOV and BK Architects. The historic former KAS Bank building and neighbouring Exchange building – a former telephone exchange – are both part of the W Amsterdam. Parts of the KAS Bank building are already open to guests, including

The old War Office building in Whitehall, London, has been sold to investment conglomerate Hinduja Group, in partnership with Spanish group Obrascon Huarte Lain Desarrollos, for £300m (US$472m, €378m). Opened in 1906, the War Office was recently sold off by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in a cost cutting move after being declared surplus to the ministry's requirements. Boasting over 1,000 rooms and two and half miles of corridors, it

A development group led by tennis coach Judy Murray, mother of star Andy Murray, has been dealt a blow after a prominent member of Stirling Council’s planning office said that it could not support plans for the creation of the Park of Keir sporting hub in Scotland. Led by Murray and the King Group, the project is also backed by her son Andy and former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie,