James Turrell goes monumental with a new Skyspace in Denmark, inside the over-the-top world of reality TV real estate, and Saudi Arabia cancels several NEOM contracts. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
NEOM contracts get axed
The Raffles Trojena resort is slated to open in 2027; rendering courtesy of Raffles Hotels & Resorts
Three companies have cancelled contracts for the Line and Trojena ski resort development, two key fixtures of the NEOM megaproject in Saudi Arabia. Although the ski project is currently under construction in the Tabuk mountains, steel company Eversendai and Italian contractor Webuild have ended their contracts, Dezeen reports. Hyundai Engineering & Consulting, meanwhile, announced that its contract with Samsung Construction and Trading and contractor Archirodon to build a tunnel for the Line was cancelled. The terminations arrive on the heels of news that Trojena will no longer host the 2029 Asian Winter Games. Progress on the mega-development appears to have slowed amid geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East, though Eversendai insists its other projects in the region remain stable.
An Eames house could be yours (kind of)
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The Eames Office and Spanish furniture manufacturer Kettal have announced a buzzy collaboration as part of this year’s Milan Design Week. According to Fast Company, a modular construction system based on Charles and Ray Eames’ iconic Case Study #8 house in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades will be introduced and available to own for about $52,000. The catch? The indoor pavilion spans roughly 170 square feet. While not a one-to-one replica, design fans will be able to combine and stack models for a more expansive footprint. An outdoor version is slated to launch with limited availability in 2027, but will set you back nearly $69,000.
James Turrell to launch largest Skyspace yet
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This June, James Turrell will unveil the largest entry into his Skyspace series at Denmark’s ARoS Aarhus Art Museum. A permanent addition to the museum, the design will comprise a large-scale dome defined by a void framing the sky that will filter in natural light to redefine the physical thresholds between architecture, light, and perception. The new Skyspace, dubbed “As Seen Below – The Dome,” will also mark the culmination of ARoS’ expansion project led by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Atmosphera reports that Turrell’s forthcoming space will measure 52 feet high and 131 feet in diameter. This writer has only visited one Skyspace and needs to remedy that. Who wants to book my flight to Denmark?
Take a walk through reality TV real estate porn
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This week, Dwell managing editor Jack Balderrama Morley joins New Yorker writer Emma Allen for a walking tour of Manhattan’s most memorable reality TV locales. Morley is, after all, the authority on the topic, authoring the new book “Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV.” The text examines the multimillion-dollar homes hosting all kinds of shenanigans every week on Bravo and beyond and how they tend to reflect a trend toward whitewashed living often linked to displacement as well. Nevertheless, they remain covetable. Highlights include Bethenny Frankel’s original Upper East Side apartment as well as Sonja Morgan’s notorious townhouse, which finally hit the market in 2024. Perhaps most worthy of review is the knockout Meyer Davis-designed Soho loft owned by Jenna Lyons, who enjoyed a two-year stint on RHONY. Seriously, it’s incredible. You gotta see it.
HD Expo unveils a new look
It’s time for spring cleaning—and HD Expo is already abloom with a new brand identity that reflects the next chapter in its evolution. Setting a new precedent as the hospitality design industry’s largest annual gathering, the rebrand is predicated on discovery, learning, and connection. Conceived in collaboration with global creative agency forceMajeure, the show’s refreshed design is distinguished by an arch motif inspired by architectural thresholds and spatial transitions. Bold coral and magenta tones further imbue the new look with energy and effervescence, mirroring the creative drive pushing the industry forward right now. To experience HD Expo’s branding refresh in person, join us May 5-7th at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
