Architecture and design news
New renderings for Moomin Park as opening date set for Japanese nature attraction
by Tom Anstey | 16 Apr 2018
A theme park based on The Moomins will open in Japan’s Saitama Prefecture in March 2019, after its developers confirmed construction plans for the nature attraction in the city of Hanno. Called Moomin Valley Park, the attraction will sit on an area around Lake Miyazawako, owing to the area’s resemblance to the nature-rich homeland of the Moomins. The 190,000sq m (2,000,000sq ft) park will celebrate Nordic culture, with plans calling
ACE Hotels announce Kengo Kuma will design its first property in Japan
by Kim Megson | 16 Apr 2018
The Ace Hotel Group has announced it will open its first property in Japan, with architect Kengo Kuma commissioned to design a “monument to the beauty and unique legacy of Kyoto”, transforming the city’s 92-year-old former Central Telephone Office. The company has partnered with the Japanese NTT Urban Development Corporation to open the Ace Hotel Kyoto in winter 2019. Located on the former grounds of the imperial palace, the project
U2’s iconic Claw stage to become permanent fixture at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
by Tom Anstey | 13 Apr 2018
A unique construction created for U2’s most recent world tour has been purchased by Salt Lake City's Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, where it will now become a permanent fixture at the Utah attraction. From the mind of the late Mark Fisher of London-based architects Stufish, the 250-ton, 165ft-tall (50m) ‘Claw’ was designed by the firm and created by construction company Stageco, with three different versions built for the three-year tour.
FC Barcelona make breakthrough in bid to build new stadium and 'Barça' district
by Kim Megson | 13 Apr 2018
FC Barcelona’s ambitious plan to create a vibrant district dedicated to the club and its brand around a redeveloped Camp Nou stadium has been given the provisional green light by the city council. An agreement between the club and the city was reached yesterday (12 April) paving the way for a Modification to the General Metropolitan Plan (MPGM), which would allow the creation of Espai Barça, or ‘Barça Space’. The
Maria Sharapova and Dan Meis join forces to design boutique sport and fitness facilities
by Kim Megson | 13 Apr 2018
Tennis star Maria Sharapova has joined forces with US sports architect Dan Meis to start a new design venture creating “inspirational” health, fitness, sporting and wellness facilities for the hospitality sector. Inspired, in part, by hotelier Ian Schrager’s boutique hotel revolution, the pair are already in talks to create branded experience-led training venues for hotels, resorts and sports clubs that will help budding and professional athletes reach their peak performance.
CannonDesign's Baltimore basketball arena 'embraces movement' through design
by Kim Megson | 12 Apr 2018
The University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) in the US has completed work on its new Event Center, designed as one of the most advanced college basketball facilities in the country. The all-in-one athletics venue is the new home of the UMBC Retrievers’ men’s and women’s basketball teams and women’s volleyball squad. Designed by architects CannonDesign to be flexible and multi-purpose in nature, the stadium bowl has a capacity of
China clamping down on unsustainable theme park boom
by Tom Anstey | 12 Apr 2018
China’s central planning body has warned developers about the country’s ongoing theme park boom, raising concerns over potentially unpayable debts and low grade or copycat developments, as new parks continue to spring up across the country. As of the end of 2015, China had 59 parks planned or under construction, with the figure now thought to be in the hundreds. This explosion in theme park development in the country is
Winning design revealed for Montreal contemporary art museum expansion
by Kim Megson | 12 Apr 2018
Montreal’s contemporary art museum has unveiled the design for its new home, after selecting the winning proposal from a hard-fought architecture competition. Quebec studios Saucier+Perrotte Architectes and GLCRM & Associés Architectes unanimously swayed the judges with a vision described as “luminous and relevant”. The Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (MAC), located in the city’s Quartier des spectacles, is one of Canada’s most important national museums, dedicated exclusively to the promotion
MVRDV win competition for landmark public installation in Den Helder with 'infinite loop' design
by Kim Megson | 12 Apr 2018
The Dutch municipality of Den Helder has today (12 April) announced MVRDV as the winners in a competition to design a new public installation on the city’s northern dike representing the connection between city and sea. The design, called SeaSaw, is a viewing platform that takes the shape of an infinite loop, with visitors able to walk across it in either direction. Den Helder is located on the country’s northernmost
FC Nantes reveals proposed design for striking new stadium
by Kim Megson | 11 Apr 2018
French football club FC Nantes has revealed the first design sketches for its planned new 40,000-capacity home stadium in western France. US sports architects HKS and French practice Atelier Tom Sheehan & Partenaires (ATSP) have created the concept for the YelloPark Stadium, which includes a fixed roof with a retractable oculus. The traditional horizontally stratified organisation of a stadium will be reinvented to create “a tailor-made experience for each ticket
Bjarke Ingels Group reveal zigzagging hotel with ski roof for Audemars Piguet visitor attraction
by Kim Megson | 10 Apr 2018
Bjarke Ingels Group are designing a hotel next to their forthcoming Audemars Piguet watchmaking museum in the village of Le Brassus, Switzerland. As with that subtly spiralling attraction – which is due to open in 2019 – the new project, Hotel des Horlogers, will be integrated into the topography of the landscape. Five zigzagging room slabs will expand into a gently sloping exterior path, leading directly to the museum and
W Hotels opens first Central American property with colourful W Panama
by Kim Megson | 10 Apr 2018
W Hotels Worldwide, owned by hospitality giant Marriott International, has opened a boutique property in Panama – the first W in Central America. The W Panama is situated in the newly-opened, 50-storey Evolution Tower located near Uruguay Street in the Panama City’s business district. The hotel’s design – created by Studio Gaia and the internal design team of W Hotels – was conceived to “blend centuries of history and culture
Swansea council strikes deal for 'state-of-the-art' waterfront arena with vast digital façade
by Kim Megson | 09 Apr 2018
New details have been announced for the entertainment arena being developed in Swansea as part of a £1.3bn leisure investment designed to reinvigorate the Welsh city centre's cultural scene. Swansea City and County Council has announced the signing of a deal with live entertainment company the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) to operate Swansea Arena, construction of which will begin this year. Architecture practice ACME is designing the 8,825sq m (95,000sq
FXCollaborative selected to transform landmark New York church into vibrant home of Children's Museum of Manhattan
by Kim Megson | 09 Apr 2018
Architecture and planning practice FXCollaborative have been selected by the Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) to transform a historic New York church into the attraction’s new home. The 1903 building, located on 96th Street in Manhattan, was originally designed by architects Carrère & Hastings to house the First Church of Christ, Scientist. The site has now been acquired by the museum, which wants to adapt it into “an ever-evolving place
Heritage masterplan for Edinburgh sets out sustainable tourism model for World Heritage Site
by Tom Anstey | 06 Apr 2018
A blueprint designed to create a sustainable tourism model for, and to protect, the world heritage of Edinburgh has been revealed, with the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh World Heritage and Historic Environment Scotland uniting to develop the five-year masterplan. Edinburgh is made up of two distinct areas – the Old Town and the New Town. The former is dominated by a medieval fortress, while the latter has been developed
Want to recreate an airport in your nightclub? Entire contents of Heathrow's Terminal 1 to go under the hammer
by Kim Megson | 06 Apr 2018
Those with deep pockets and a passion for the world of aviation have been presented a rare opportunity to own a piece of flight history, with the entire contents of Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 1 about to go under the hammer in London. Lots up for grabs include airport furniture, working baggage carousels, check-in desks, the terminal’s signage and clocks, and a series of large murals created in the 1950s by
The show must go on: BRC masterminds new PT Barnum Museum in Connecticut
by Alice Davis | 06 Apr 2018
BRC Imagination Arts is undertaking the renovation of a museum dedicated to the life of circus showman PT Barnum. Based in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the original 1893 museum suffered damages after being hit by a series of fires, tornadoes and hurricanes over the years. The new-look attraction will use state-of-the-art technology and special effects, original artefacts, cinema and visitor immersion in exhibits and installations that inspire guests and educate them about
Construction set to begin on Australia's first surf park
by Tom Walker | 06 Apr 2018
Work is set to begin on Australia's first surf park, after Urbnsurf – the company driving the plans – secured AU$28.3m (US$18, €15m, £13m) in funding to develop a site in the city of Melbourne. The firm has already secured planning consent for a site adjacent to Melbourne Airport and now expects construction work to begin during April 2018. Described as a "sports, leisure and entertainment facility", Urbnsurf Melbourne will
Rio's beachfront Museum of Image and Sound enters final development stages ahead of 2018 opening
by Tom Anstey | 05 Apr 2018
The new home for Brazil’s 50-year-old Museum of Image and Sound (MIS) is entering the final stages of its development, with the Diller Scofidio + Renfro-designed (DS+R) building taking shape on Rio’s beachfront. Opened in 1965, MIS offers a vast archive of photographs, film, documents and sound recordings reflecting the cultural history of Rio. In 2009, DS+F were selected from a number of world-class architects, beating the likes of Daniel
Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts planning Paris hotel with Antonio Citterio
by Kim Megson | 05 Apr 2018
The hospitality arm of luxury goods giant Bvlgari has announced plans to open a hotel in Paris in 2020, bringing its international collection to eight properties. Italian design firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel and Parisian architects Valode & Pistre are converting a historic building on Avenue George V – adjacent to the Champs Elysees in the famous and fashionable Triangle d’Or area of the French capital – into the 66-room
Chicago Children's Museum reimagined as Navy Pier redevelopment continues
by Tom Anstey | 05 Apr 2018
Visitors to Chicago’s historic Navy Pier will soon be able to enjoy a new streamlined experience for its children’s museum, which is currently undergoing an extensive design overhaul. Reimagined by local firm Krueck+Sexton Architects (K+S), the Chicago Children’s Museum redevelopment plan calls for a cleaner, less cluttered appearance, with refreshed exhibition spaces and a significantly more streamlined visitor experience, relocating all access to the main floor of the museum. “The
Renderings released for London's state-of-the-art MSG Sphere arena
by Kim Megson | 05 Apr 2018
The first renderings have been released showing what the Madison Square Garden Company’s (MSG) striking spherical entertainment venue will look like in London. Designed by Populous, the MSG Sphere London has been conceived as the conglomerate’s first international arena, and an “iconic venue that will feature game-changing technologies and pioneer the next generation of transformative, immersive experiences.” It will host concerts, live shows, expos, esports and other large-scale events. MSG
The eight key cultural buildings for Paris's EuropaCity leisure destination revealed
by Kim Megson | 05 Apr 2018
The developers of EuropaCity in Paris have provided a first glimpse at the eight key leisure buildings that will be constructed for the €3.1bn (US$3.8bn, £2.7bn) project. Following a competitive six-month competition process, several established and emerging architecture practices from France and further afield have been selected to work on the accommodation and attractions that will form the cultural heart of the vast scheme – which has been masterplanned by
Construction firm files suit against Miami's Frost Museum
by Alice Davis | 05 Apr 2018
After a long and difficult construction process, Miami’s Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science opened to the public last May. However, with only the first phase of the major attraction completed, more problems are arising, with construction firm Skanska filing a lawsuit against the museum. With the US$300m (€244.5m, £213.6m) building project facing so many financial shortfalls over the years, the contractor alleges it was not paid for work
Delays hit Sir Peter Jackson’s proposed Movie Museum
by Tom Anstey | 04 Apr 2018
A much-hyped movie museum in the home city of famed director Sir Peter Jackson could be in need of a reshoot, with the movie mogul calling for a temporary cut on the long-delayed project after locking horns with the city council. Located in a prime tourism spot, opposite the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the proposed Movie Museum development includes the visitor attraction occupying two floors of the
Stefano Boeri launches nature-inspired interior design studio following public transformation of Shanghai Stock Exchange
by Kim Megson | 04 Apr 2018
Italian architect Stefano Boeri, best-known for his ‘Vertical Forest’ tree-lined towers, is launching a division of his practice dedicated to interior and product design, he has told CLADglobal. SBA Interiors will also deepen Boeri’s research into sustainability and ways in which to make spaces better for human health and wellbeing. The decision to start the new branch of his firm, Stefano Boeri Architetti, follows the Italian’s involvement in three interior
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland now open
by Jane Kitchen | 04 Apr 2018
The Blue Lagoon in Iceland, one of the 25 Wonders of the World, has undergone a significant expansion with the opening of its first luxury opening, the Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland. A four-year endeavour, the Retreat is the result of a partnership between Blue Lagoon; Basalt Architects, the firm that designed the complex and made significant contributions to its interior design; and Design Group Italia, the agency that conceived
Winning design chosen for Lithuania's 'inspiring and emblematic' Science Island
by Kim Megson | 04 Apr 2018
SMAR Architecture Studio have won the international design competition to create a Science Island attraction in Kaunas, Lithuania. The practice, with offices in Australia and Spain, were selected ahead of SimpsonHaugh and Donghua Chen Studio for the prestigious €25m (US$30.6m, £21.8m) project, which will be officially known as the National Science and Innovation Centre. Expected to open a year in advance of Kaunas’ tenure as European Capital of Culture 2022,
'We all have to be fortune tellers': Ed Ng on the changing nature of hospitality design
by Kim Megson | 03 Apr 2018
Hospitality designer Ed Ng has said the increasing length of time between the design and completion of large-scale projects poses a growing challenge to the industry, because “all designers have to be fortune tellers.” In an interview with CLADglobal’s quarterly magazine CLADmag to mark the opening of Mei Ume restaurant in London – designed with his AB Concept co-founder Terence Ngan – Ng argued that “we always need to design
Avani’s second Australian location to include two outdoor spas
by Jane Kitchen | 03 Apr 2018
Avani Hotels & Resorts is continuing its expansion in Australia with the development of Avani Central Melbourne Residences, its second property in Australia. Due to open this year, the 456-bedroom, 55-storey hotel will draw inspiration from the brands contemporary design and will include an indoor swimming pool with floor-to-ceiling windows as well as two outdoor spas. The hotel also will include a sauna, steamroom and a dedicated yoga room. The
featured supplier
Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI) invites cruise lines, shipyards, design studios, outfitters,
and suppliers to take part in CSI Design Expo Americas in Miami, Florida, the region’s only
event dedicated to cruise ship interior design.
company profile
Based in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, The Wellness are the next generation of wellness consultants providing spa, fitness, hydro engineering and leisure related concepts for the global Wellness markets.
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
features
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
features
cladkit product news
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta
...
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and
...
cladkit product news
The Clematis design
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and
...
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for
...
cladkit product news
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion
...
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from
...