Journey is tapped to design Starlab’s next-generation space station, a cultural campus in Abu Dhabi nears completion, and registration is opens for BDNY in November. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Journey heads into orbit with Starlab
A rendering of the Starlab space station; courtesy of Starlab
Starlab Space is bringing design to the final frontier. Announced in a press release, the commercial space station developer has tapped Journey—the experience agency behind the Sphere in Las Vegas and the Empire State Building observatory in New York—to craft the interiors and experiential design of its next-generation orbital outpost. Journey joins existing collaborators Hilton and Airbus to elevate daily life aboard Starlab, which is slated to launch ahead of the International Space Station’s planned retirement. The partnership aims to merge design, digital infrastructure, and spatial innovation to create a livable, intuitive environment for astronauts. “Our mission is to create multidimensional experiences for the world’s most compelling and ambitious projects,” says Lionel Ohayon, Journey’s chief creative officer and cofounder. “We’re applying our decades of design expertise to humanity’s next frontier: space. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Starlab to bring this world-shifting vision to life.”
Saadiyat Cultural District nears completion
Louvre Abu Dhabi, part of the Saadiyat Cultural District; photo courtesy of Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District is almost complete, with several landmark openings slated by the end of the year, reports CNN. Located on Saadiyat Island, the 2.43-square-kilometer campus will soon allow visitors to stroll between architectural icons like the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Jean Nouvel’s latticed marvel, and Frank Gehry’s long-anticipated Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Also on the horizon is the Zayed National Museum by Norman Foster, the Natural History Museum featuring a rare T. rex skeleton, and teamLab Phenomena, an immersive art venue shaped like a soft cloud. While the project has drawn criticism over labor conditions and censorship, it continues its push to become a global cultural capital.
A streaming platform for architecture lovers
The Dome Cupole, built in 1970 by Dante Bini, in Costa Paradiso Sardinia; photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
In a sea of streaming services, Shelter stands out as a platform solely dedicated to architecture and the built environment, according to The Architect’s Newspaper. Launched by Australian actor Dustin Clare, the ad-free service features hundreds of global films on topics like urbanism, biophilic design, and prefab housing. Highlights include Here are the Arquitectas, spotlighting female architects in Mexico, and La Cupola, an exploration of a Sardinian concrete dome built for Michelangelo Antonioni and Monica Vitti. With high production values and thoughtful curation, Shelter is becoming a go-to for design enthusiasts, offering content on iconic names like Mies and Doshi to lesser-known figures and socially driven projects like the Mexity series, which highlights designers working with low-income communities.
Reuben Wu blurs the line between earth and ether
A lightscape part of Reuben Wu’s Thin Places series; photo by Reuben Wu
Multidisciplinary artist Reuben Wu pushes the boundaries of landscape photography through his latest series, Thin Places. Known for merging technology and art, Wu uses drones, lasers, and long-exposure techniques to “draw” ephemeral geometries across remote terrains, capturing each composition in-camera, without post-production, writes Designboom. The new work builds on his earlier SIREN series and explores the Celtic concept of thin places, where the veil between physical and spiritual worlds dissolve. In Surface Tension, for example, a laser glides over a salt lake under a moonless sky, creating a shimmering curtain of light between earth and stars. Entirely analog and executed onsite with a 102MP Fujifilm medium format system, Wu’s process depends on precision and the unpredictable forces of nature. The result is a haunting language of synthetic light that transforms untouched, natural environments into surreal scenes.
Don’t miss out—register for BDNY 2025 today!
The 2024 BDNY show floor; photo by PWP Studio
BDNY returns to New York’s Javits Center this fall, taking place November 9–10th. The annual trade fair and conference brings together the best in boutique hospitality design, featuring four immersive Designed Spaces and more than 30 conference sessions covering everything from what owners want and the rise of soft brands to AI, social media, and other pressing industry topics. This year’s event will also include the return of Client Confidential: Lunch with the Owners and BDNY’s signature Women Leaders breakfast. Register now!
BDNY officially kicks off with HD’s Platinum Circle Gala on November 8th at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, where we’ll honor lifetime achievement in the industry (buy your tickets here). The celebration continues with the 45th annual Gold Key Awards on November 10th at Cipriani 42nd Street, recognizing standout projects and visionary designers. There is still time to submit your projects for consideration—the deadline has been extended to August 8th. We hope to see you in New York this November!
