Architecture and design news:
museums & heritage
Daniel Libeskind unveils secret seven-year design plans for Kurdistan Museum
by Kim Megson | 12 Apr 2016
Daniel Libeskind yesterday (11 April) publicly revealed for the first time that he has been developing a Kurdistan Museum in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region. The Polish American architect spoke out about the secretive, long-gestating project during an appearance at Bloomberg Design Week in San Francisco. The project was commissioned by the prime minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani – who approached Libeskind seven years ago
Dutch exhibition celebrates influential interior designs of the Amsterdam School movement
by Kim Megson | 08 Apr 2016
Dutch exhibition designers Kossmann.dejong have created a show celebrating the “spectacular” interior designs of the Amsterdam School of architecture in the early 20th century. The exhibition, called Living in the Amsterdam School: Designing for the Interior 1910-1930, will open in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam tomorrow (9 April). The Amsterdam School – which grew out of international Expressionist architecture – is famous internationally for the progressive buildings its followers produced,
Museum of London architecture competition: BIG, Caruso St. John and Studio Milou make the shortlist
by Kim Megson | 04 Apr 2016
The Museum of London has announced today (4 April) the six architectural teams shortlisted to design its new museum in a Victorian market hall complex. The museum, which has a construction budget of around £150m (US$214, €188m), will be located in a 25,000sq m (269,000sq ft) collection of buildings in West Smithfield, providing much-needed extra space for its enormous archaeological archive and thousands of exhibits exploring the history of London.
V&A reveals ambitious plans for Chinese museum designed by Fumihiko Maki
by Kim Megson | 04 Apr 2016
The UK’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has revealed new details of its biggest ever international collaboration: a design museum in Shenzhen, China, created by Japanese architecture studio Maki & Associates. The new museum, called Design Society, is scheduled to open in early 2017 within a larger cultural complex called the Sea World Culture and Arts Centre. The V&A has now announced it will curate a special gallery devoted to
Competition win: Ney & Partners to build bridge for crumbling castle linked to tales of King Arthur
by Kim Megson | 30 Mar 2016
English Heritage have announced the architectural team led by Ney & Partners have won the design competition to build a new footbridge at Cornwall’s Tintagel Castle, a site long associated in the UK with the legend of King Arthur. The firm beat 136 others – including shortlisted firms Wilkinson Eyre, Marks Barfield Architects and Niall McLaughlin Architects – in the two-stage international design concept competition to secure the commission for
Abandoned socialist landmark in Montenegro to be revitalised as urban space
by Tom Anstey | 23 Mar 2016
A design collective made up of SADAR+VUGA, HHF architekten and local consultant Archicon have been selected for the redevelopment of a project in Montenegro, which is to be turned into an urban space after being abandoned in 1989. Dom Revolucije (Home of Revolution) in Nikšic was originally designed by Slovenian architect Marko Mušic in the 1970s, but work was halted and abandoned after 11 years of development, leaving the site
Iconic Marcel Breuer gallery re-opens today to showcase Metropolitan Museum's contemporary art
by Kim Megson | 18 Mar 2016
New York’s iconic Met Breuer building re-opens today (18 March) following a period of renovation to recreate Hungarian architect Marcel Breuer’s original vision for the structure – which will house some of the world’s finest modern and contemporary art works. The building first opened in 1966 to display the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art. However, following the Whitney’s 2015 move to its new Renzo Piano-designed home in
David Chipperfield Architects to introduce remote Sudan museum project at Venice Biennale
by Kim Megson | 17 Mar 2016
David Chipperfield Architects have been invited to participate in the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale with a contribution on their museum project in the ruined ancient city of Naqa in Sudan. The festival, curated by Alejandro Aravena, will be themed Reporting from the Front and will focus on the myriad of challenges facing architects around the world. Naqa contains the ruins of a former trading city that once belonged to the
American Air Museum in UK prepares to reopen after people-focused revamp of Norman Foster building
by Tom Anstey | 17 Mar 2016
The Imperial War Museum (IWM) in Duxford, UK, is about to relaunch its American Air Museum following a five-year redevelopment project, switching the focus of exhibits from the aircraft on display to a collection of extraordinary people linked with those machines. Reopening to the public on 19 March, IWM’s newly-transformed American Air Museum has undergone a £3m (US$4.2m, €3.8m) redevelopment, with financial support provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)
Work begins on Snøhetta's MX$1bn Museo de Ciencias Ambientales
by Tom Anstey | 16 Mar 2016
Mexico’s University of Guadalajara has broken ground on its new MX$1bn (US$55.9m, €50.4m, £39.6m) Museo de Ciencias Ambientales (MCA), a national institution exploring the future sustainability of the region and its relationship with the metropolitan city of Guadalajara. Designed by Snøhetta, with interior design on six galleries by MET Studio, the 20,000sq m (215,000sq ft) museum will sit at the heart of a cultural district next to the main University
Snøhetta, BIG and OMA among big names fighting for Albright-Knox art museum expansion contract
by Kim Megson | 15 Mar 2016
New York’s contemporary art museum the Albright-Knox Art Gallery has announced its intention to launch an US$80m (€72m, £55.8m) expansion of its Elmwood Avenue campus, with five high-flying studios in the running to design the project. Allied Works Architecture, Bjarke Ingels Group, OMA, Snøhetta and wHY have all been shortlisted for the tender, with the final selection due in June 2016 and the design phase set to take place in
Indonesia's first international modern art museum opening in Jakarta in 2017
by Tom Anstey | 14 Mar 2016
Indonesia’s first major museum dedicated to international modern and contemporary art will open its doors in Jakarta in 2017. The brainchild of Indonesian philanthropist and collector Haryanto Adikoesoemo, the multi-million dollar Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (MACAN) is currently under construction. The private institution will house Adikoesoemo’s personal collection built over a quarter-of-a-century, which is being curated by Thomas J. Berghuis – formerly curator of Chinese art
LA arts centre Hauser Wirth and Schimmel launches in converted flour mill
by Kim Megson | 14 Mar 2016
Hauser Wirth and Schimmel – a new Los Angeles arts centre located in a converted flour mill – held its grand opening ceremony yesterday (13 March) with the launch of its inaugural exhibition. Architect Annabelle Selldorf and local studio Creative Space have retrofitted seven interconnected late 19th and early 20th century buildings in the city’s arts district. The result is a 100,000sq ft (9,300sq m) complex featuring galleries, a bar,
Whistler's CA$30m Audain Art Museum set to open to the public
by Tom Anstey | 11 Mar 2016
A new art museum, dedicated to the art of the people of British Columbia, is about to open its doors in Whistler, Canada. Opening on 12 March, the CA$30m (US$22.6m, €20.5m, £15.9m) Audain Art Museum, designed by Vancouver-based design firm Patkau Architects, sits within a grove of trees and is designed to blend in with its surroundings, with only a single tree having to be removed to build it. Nestled
Coop Himmelb(l)au design House of Bread museum in Austria
by Kim Megson | 10 Mar 2016
Construction has begun on a museum and events centre designed by architects Coop Himmelb(l)au for Austrian bread company Backaldrin. The Haus des Brotes (The House of Bread) will be a shimmering, sculptural creation located at the company’s headquarters in Asten, northern Austria. The building – formed of a concrete rectangular base supporting a wooden and steel-clad structure – will contain a customer information centre, events rooms and a two-storey ‘cabinet
New book by former Disney creative takes a design journey through the themed entertainment industry
by Alice Davis | 10 Mar 2016
A new book devoted to the art of theme park design is to launch on 28 March 2016. Theme Park Design & The Art of Themed Entertainment, aimed at designers, students and theme park fans, brings together a wealth of tips and advice from design experts from Disney, Universal and Merlin’s creative studios, as well as many more. The book promises to be a comprehensive study of experience design in
New images of London's Olympicopolis revealed
by Kim Megson | 08 Mar 2016
New images have been released of the ambitious Olympicopolis cultural development planned for London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. A selection of renderings and models show the scheme’s main leisure institutions located on Stratford Waterfront, including a new V&A museum, a Smithsonian gallery and a 600-capacity theatre and hip hop academy. Olympicopolis – which is a legacy project inspired by the successful London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games – has been
Second World War museum takes shape in Gdansk ahead of 2017 opening
by Kim Megson | 08 Mar 2016
The construction of the Museum of the Second World War – described by its director as “one of the biggest cultural investments being undertaken in Europe” – is on course to open in early 2017 in Gdansk, Poland. Building on the project, which has been designed by Polish practice Studio Architektoniczne Kwadrat, began in 2012 and is now entering its final stages. The museum will seek to explore the course
Jean Nouvel's Geneva museum expansion rejected by public vote, opening door for new proposals
by Kim Megson | 04 Mar 2016
Jean Nouvel’s long-running bid to renovate and expand Geneva’s Museum of Art and History has received what appears to be a fatal blow after his plans were narrowly rejected in a public vote. Despite receiving planning approval and funding, the 131m CHF (US$129m, €120m, £93.4m) project to refresh Marc Camoletti’s 1910 neoclassical landmark faced a local referendum after criticism from campaigners. According to Swiss reports, 54 per cent of voters
Shakespeare theatre on Chicago's Navy Pier to undergo US$35m expansion
by Tom Anstey | 03 Mar 2016
The Chicago Shakespeare Theater is expanding its footprint on the city’s iconic Navy Pier, with US$35m (€32.2m, £24.9m) being used to develop a flexible third stage capable of being adapted based on the performance. With audience capacity ranging from 150 to 850 in an enclosed space beneath the domed Skyline Stage area, the theatre, known as The Yard at Shakespeare, will have the capability to project images onto the underside
Design Museum Dharavi opens with two exhibitions in Mumbai slum
by Kim Megson | 29 Feb 2016
Design Museum Dharavi - a portable museum in one of the world’s largest slums – has opened in Mumbai, India with exhibitions on terracotta pottery and cricket. Spanish artist Jorge Mañes Rubio and art critic Amanda Pinatih have launched the project for an initial two month run to host workshops, exhibitions and cultural events showcasing the skills of local artists and designers in Dharavi – home to more than 1m
Shell-shaped Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology nears completion in Lisbon
by Kim Megson | 26 Feb 2016
The new Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), designed by British architecture firm AL_A, is entering the final phases of construction along Lisbon’s waterfront. Designed as a new landmark for the city and Portugal, the museum will cross the disciplines of art, architecture and technology with a cultural programme masterminded by Pedro Gadanho, the former curator of architecture and design exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in New
EXCLUSIVE: FIFA museum MD promises 'special visitor experience' ahead of opening weekend
by Tom Anstey | 26 Feb 2016
FIFA’s World Football Museum will launch this weekend in Zurich as a "playful, emotional voyage of discovery for world football,” the project's managing director has told CLAD. Speaking in an exclusive interview, Stefan Jost said that there is a "positive buzz and a lot of anticipation" around the project, which is part of a larger CHF150m (US$151.1m, €137.7m, £108.6m) development which also includes luxury apartments, a restaurant, a sports bar,
Winnipeg Art Gallery adds 8,000 artefacts to collection as CA$60m Inuit Art Centre plans advance
by Tom Anstey | 22 Feb 2016
More than 8,000 artefacts of Inuit origin will soon go on display at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in Canada as part of a CA$60m (US$43.7m, €39.4m, £30.5m) project to create an Inuit Art Centre. With more than 13,000 pieces, including 7,400 sculptures, 4,000 prints, 1,800 drawings and hundreds of artefacts, The Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Inuit collection is the largest in the world and represents half of its overall collection. The
James Goldstein gifting US$40m Big Lebowski house to Los Angeles County Museum of Art
by Tom Anstey | 19 Feb 2016
The owner of a US$40m (€36m, £28m) luxury house, famous for its role in 1998 comedy The Big Lebowski, is to donate the property to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) with the intention of turning it into a museum and example of creativity within architecture. James Goldstein, who owns the Sheats Goldstein residence in the Hollywood hills, has pledged the building to LACMA, along with its gardens,
Damien Hirst has designed his own restaurant at Newport Street Gallery
by Kim Megson | 18 Feb 2016
A medical-themed restaurant designed by Damien Hirst will open at London’s Newport Street Gallery next week (23 February). Hirst has collaborated with chef and restaurateur Mark Hix to open Pharmacy 2, which will serve British and European dishes to visitors at the Vauxhall gallery – which was designed by architects Caruso St John and opened in October 2015 to house Hirst’s personal art collection. The restaurant features Hirst’s own artistic
Precipitous triangular viewpoint latest addition to Norway’s tourist routes
by Alice Davis | 18 Feb 2016
Norway’s famous network of architecture tourist routes is set to get a new viewpoint attraction in June – a concrete triangle slab balanced on a dramatic mountainside. Designed by Norwegian architects Code, the Utsikten (the View) is being built on the Gaularfjell National Tourist Route (NTR). The NTR project began in 1994, combining the 18 most spectacular roads in Norway with modern architecture attractions designed to complement the scenery, such
Film City Tower: Architecture competition launched for Bollywood landmark building as Mumbai takes on LA
by Kim Megson | 15 Feb 2016
Designs are being sought for a large-scale cultural landmark celebrating the Indian film industry in Mumbai. Competition organiser Archasm is embarking on a mission to “put Bollywood on the global map” by organising a design contest for a “vertical Film City tower” which will emulate Los Angeles’ film industry neighbourhood and the iconic Hollywood sign. “The film industry in Mumbai is scattered and too low profile to match the cult
Stunning digital installations encourage creativity, play and immersion at Silicon Valley art show
by Kim Megson | 15 Feb 2016
Japanese digital art collective teamLab have partnered with Silicon Valley gallery Pace Art + Technology to create a large-scale interactive art exhibition described as a “digital playground for all ages”. The exhibition, called Living Digital Space and Future Parks, features 20 innovative art pieces spread across several rooms and 20,000sq ft (1,850sq m) in the Californian gallery. The show encourages participants to embrace their curiosity by interacting directly with the
Herzog & de Meuron complete €47m renovation of historic Unterlinden Museum in France
by Kim Megson | 12 Feb 2016
After three years of work, the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar, France has re-opened to the public, with a new subterranean gallery space created by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. The museum – which exhibits historic works of art from the likes of Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso – has almost doubled its interior space by linking the museum with an adjacent complex of historical buildings, including a 13th century
company profile
TechnoAlpin Indoor offers expert consultation for indoor snow concepts, assisting customers with the integration of snow in the initial design phase of spa concepts and this way providing individualised solutions for any business in order to elevate the guest’s spa experience.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
cladkit product news
Studiotamat has teamed up with Ariana de Luca to create the Balera range
The new Balera Collection sees design studio Studiotamat team up with ceramic artist Arianna De Luca and lighting designer Ninefifty ...
Wake is crafted from hand-spun ceramic and pressed glass, behind which a gentle light emanates to improve sleep routines and wellbeing
Design firm Heatherwick Studio and British lighting brand Tala have teamed up to create a sleep light called Wake. The ...
cladkit product news
The new club aims to connect children with nature
Bespoke play environment design and manufacturer TouchWood Play has announced that it is responsible for the creation of a new Kids’ ...
In the world of wellness, the age-old tradition of sauna bathing is synonymous with relaxation, detoxification and rejuvenation. But, a ...
cladkit product news
The Iris Pod features vibro-acoustic technology, aromatherapy, light therapy, music, guided meditations and soundscapes
OpenSeed has launched its multisensory Iris Meditation Pod, designed in collaboration with Fuseproject – a design and innovation company founded ...
Porada's new Enook Brillo coffee table
Maurizio Marconato and Terry Zappa have created the Enook Brillo coffee table for Italian design studio Porada – a retro-inspired design ...



















