Airbnb broadens its horizons beyond short-term rentals, Pharrell Williams wants the Olympics to bring back arts competitions, and Snoop Dogg launches Gin & Juice canned cocktails. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Pharrell Williams wants to revive arts competitions at the Olympics
Pharrell Williams and entrepreneur David Grutman at the Goodtime Hotel in Miami; photo by Alice Gao
Pharrell Williams is on a mission to revive the long-lost tradition of arts competitions in the Olympics, which has been missing from the Games for nearly 80 years, writes the Associated Press. He made his pitch at a star-studded Louis Vuitton event in Paris, advocating for the return of categories like sculpture, architecture, and visual arts to the Olympic stage by 2028. The arts were first introduced to the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, where medals were awarded in five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture. However, the International Olympic Committee ended the competitions in 1948. An attempt to bring it back was denied four years later.
Ini Archibong designs packaging for Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s Gin & Juice
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Ini Archibong teamed up on Gin & Juice. Photo by Dominic Leon
Nigerian-American designer Ini Archibong has teamed up with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg to create the distinctive packaging for the duo’s new luxury spirits brand: Gin & Juice. Drawing on cultural and artistic influences, Archibong’s design honors the 30th anniversary of Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle album with the packaging featuring the iconic Parental Advisory label and the classic lowrider hand-drawn by Los Angeles artist Wayne Johnson. “The goal with the design was to encapsulate the spirit and era of the West Coast when the original Gin and Juice track was released,” Archibong told Dezeen. “I wanted to transmit the reverence and unique culture of the era that has now become known worldwide.”
Airbnb looks beyond short-term rentals as growth slows
Photo courtesy of Airbnb
Airbnb is preparing to broaden its horizons beyond short-term vacation rentals, CEO Brian Chesky said during the company’s Q2 earnings call. The upcoming offerings aim to diversify Airbnb’s revenue streams, with new products like co-hosting and the relaunch of the popular “experiences” feature, writes TechCrunch. Co-hosting, expected to debut this fall, will connect homeowners too busy to manage their listings with individuals who have the time but lack a property. This pairing is designed to increase inventory on the platform. Additionally, Airbnb plans to bring back “experiences” next year, focusing on affordability and uniqueness. These experiences, which allow guests to book activities such as tours and outings, were previously paused to refocus on core services. Chesky also nodded to expanding into in-home experiences with the addition of personal chefs, massages, and mid-stay cleanings. “[Airbnb is] going to be about longterm stays, it’s going to be about guest services, host services, and many new offerings,” Chesky told investors. These announcements follow a challenging second quarter for Airbnb, marked by a 15 percent drop in profits and a decline in stock value due to slowing U.S. travel demand and shorter booking lead times.
BIG’s Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art tops out
A rendering of the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art; courtesy of ATCHAIN, BIG, and Bucharest Studio
The Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art, envisioned as a village of 12 pavilions that blends Suzhou’s historic architectural elements with contemporary design, has topped out. Set to open in 2025, the museum—a collaboration between Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), ARTS Group, and Front—reinterprets the traditional Suzhou garden, weaving art, nature, and water into a cohesive experience. The cultural institution’s standout feature is its ribbon-like roof, extending into eaves that double as sheltered walkways, which connect pavilions that house galleries, a multifunctional hall, a theater, and more. “Against the open space of the lake, the gentle catenary curvature of the roofs forms a graceful silhouette on the waterfront. Viewed from above, the stainless roof tiles form a true fifth façade,” says Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of BIG. The pavilions’ façades, made of rippled glass and warm-toned stainless steel, reflect the surrounding gardens, further enhancing the connection between the structure and its natural environment.
Meet the 2024 Wave of the Future class!
For two decades, Hospitality Design has honored a handful of designers, architects, brand executives, and owners as our Wave of the Future—those who are young enough to be considered visionary, but tested enough to be accomplished. Representing a new era of hospitality, the 11 ambitious thinkers who make up this year’s class are challenging the status quo with their thought-provoking work. Honorees will be featured in HD’s October issue and celebrated during the HD NextGen Forum, a two-day invitation-only event hosted at the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District, October 28–29th. Read more about them here.
