Kengo Kuma’s U.S. debut takes shape in Pennsylvania, inside the glittering homes of Las Vegas showgirls, and Michael Anastassiades steps away from his lighting business. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
A dispatch from NYCxDesign
The Luminous collection by Suchi Reddy for Calico Wallpaper, available in six colorways (shown: Flash)
NYCxDesign is well underway with still plenty more products to see, talks to enjoy, and complimentary wine to sip. But, before tonight’s marathon, a quick recap. The week kicked off with the launch of a special English edition of Italian design magazine Interni with Carlo Ratti serving as guest editor, along with the launch of a new publication from bicoastal design practice Mouthwash Studio. Buzzy new product designs from Athena Calderon, D’Haene Studio, and ATRA FORM were fêted, while collaborations between Calico Wallpaper and Suchi Reddy as well as comedian Julio Torres and Sabai were heralded as well. Office of Tangible Space and VERSO also teamed up for the exhibition “Nothing Comes from Nothing,” which showcased work from leading contemporary designers alongside historic pieces from Alvar and Aino Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames, Charlotte, Perriand, Frank Lloyd Wright, and more. The show also offered attendees a glimpse inside SO-IL’s new condominium project at 144 Vanderbilt in Brooklyn. Tom Dixon and Manes are both christening new showroom spaces, while rollouts from Maiden Home, Devin Wilde and Atreus Clarke, and Goodrich and Jamie Stern are not to be missed. Catch this designer during Afternoon Light at WSA tomorrow—that is, if I’m still standing after tonight’s parties. Cheers!
Kengo Kuma’s first U.S. project set for 2029 completion
Rendering courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates and Field Operations
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has revealed a first look at the design of his maiden U.S. project: the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art in Pennsylvania. Designed in collaboration with Schwartz/Silver Architects Inc. and Field Operations, the project is conceived as a series of wooden pavilions embedded into the landscape of a bucolic campus totaling 40,000 square feet, Designboom reports. The project will further expand the site to a whopping 325 acres, connecting the new museum building with Brandywine’s historic mill structure. Exhibition space will be augmented across both museum volumes as well. The project is slated to begin construction spring 2027 and open fall 2029.
Michael Anastassiades shutters lighting brand
Michael Anastassiades; photo by Anne-Emmanuelle Thion
After 20 years, designer Michael Anastassiades plans to close his eponymous lighting brand. Launched in 2006 with pieces fashioned by the design maestro in his London home, the brand soon blossomed into an expanded catalog that comprised numerous collaborations with Flos. The Tube Chandelier and the Tip of the Tongue collection are key standouts among his collection along with the Mobile Chandeliers, which debuted in 2020. Studio operations, including the production of limited edition furniture and lighting will continue as normal along with design collaborations, Wallpaper reports. “I am proud to see how these designs have found their place in both private and public spaces around the world,” Anastassiades says. “What comes next for me as a designer is a deeper focus on the creative process, and the freedom to explore new directions in design, in all its forms.”
At home with the showgirls of Las Vegas
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Not only is the Las Vegas metro area emerging as an oasis of affordable housing, but its star is rising along with a distinctive aesthetic full of the kitsch and glitz you would want from Sin City. Moreover, the city’s leading ladies are helming the trend. That’s right—today’s Vegas showgirls are transmuting the archetype of the previous century into a contemporary new ethos highlighted in a recent Architectural Digest deep dive. Midcentury interiors once frozen in time are reanimated in homage to heritage glam while also embracing the playful shapes and textures of today. If this isn’t real estate porn, I don’t know what is.
Don’t miss ICFF this weekend!
A sketch of the Post Company-designed Bespoke Salon coming to ICFF 2026
ICFF is set to become a fall program next year when it moves to November 2027—but there’s plenty you won’t want to miss at this weekend’s show! Chic product debuts from staples like Ethnicraft and Moroso will be showcased alongside pieces from Lightexture, Tikamoon, and A-N-D also certain to elevate a range of interiors. Returning with a broader scope is Bespoke: The Art of Making, presented in partnership with Hospitality Design and Mayfair Design District. Hosted at the Bespoke Salon designed by Post Company, a series of talks celebrating craftsmanship will span the weekend, including “The Art of Making: Where Material Meets Meaning” and “Inside the Studio: The Ideas and Influences Shaping Post Company.” Join us this weekend at the Javits Center in New York for a deep dive into design, and so much more!